Silina to discuss "flight case" with Karins on Thursday

RIGA - Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) will meet with Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) this Thursday to discuss the private flights Karins took while serving as Latvia's prime minister. 

"The situation is quite serious and I think it would be wise to first discuss [it] with the minister himself... how he sees the development of this situation," Silina said.

Silina noted that after the receipt of the Prosecutor General's Office's submission, she had instructed the State Chancellery, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to draw up a regulation that would clarify the conditions for the use of special contractual air services.

The prime minister has also instructed the State Chancellery to develop its internal regulation to ensure the process of planning, organizing and monitoring the execution of procurement contracts in accordance with the requirements of the Public Procurement Law and to inform the Prosecutor General's Office about the measures taken by July 1, 2024.

Citing the prosecutor in charge of the case, Silina said that the prime minister should not be prevented from using special flights for working trips, but that an appropriate legal framework is needed for that. 

As reported, the Prosecutor General's Office has opened and handed over to the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) for investigation the use of contract flights by former Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) for working trips during his time in office.

According to public information, the General Prosecutor's Office carried out an investigation into the use of contract air travel services during the former PM's working trips.

The Prosecutor General's Office does not dispute that in the course of the performance of the duties of senior state officials, situations may arise when it is necessary to use the services of a contracted air transport for the purpose of securing a working trip.

As reported, the special air trips made by the delegations led by Karins during his office as the prime minister, which have attracted criticism from a part of the public, cost EUR 613,830 from the state budget between 2021 and September 2023, according to the information gathered by the State Chancellery.