There is still no information about bribery cases mentioned in FinCEN report – Kucinskis

RIGA – Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis (Greens/Farmers) during the planned meeting with representatives of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury hopes to find answers to a number of questions, especially regarding the bribery cases mentioned in FinCEN’s report as so far no detailed information or facts to prove them have been made available.

Kucinskis said in an interview with commercial LNT television today that the meeting with FinCEN representatives is planned for tomorrow.

"This is one of the most important questions to which we have not received any further information," said Kucinskis, commenting on the FinCEN’s mention of bribes given to Latvian officials.

The Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) has not provided any information whether it has received additional proof from FinCEN in relation to bribes allegedly given by ABLV Bank to Latvian officials. KNAB chief Jekabs Strraume just said that this issue will be discussed during the meeting with FinCEN representatives this week.

As reported, the Finance and Capital Market Commission, acting on the instructions from the European Central Bank (ECB), ordered ABLV Bank to stop all payments as of February 19 following a report by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the U.S. Department of Treasury about ABLV Bank's involvement in international money laundering schemes and corruption. On February 24, the Finance and Capital Market Commission made a decision on occurrence of unavailability of deposits at ABLV Bank.

Shareholders of ABLV Bank at an extraordinary meeting last Monday made a decision to start the liquidation process in order to protect interests of its clients and creditors. ABLV Bank believes that in this way it will be possible to ensure active protection of its customers, the bank said in a statement.

The bank’s management has rejected all the allegations made in the FinCEN report and is determined to refute them.