Two women accuse Lutheran pastor of sexually abusing them as minors

RIGA - Two women have claimed to the Delfi web portal that they were sexually abused as children and teenagers by Lutheran pastor Rolands Eimanis, Delfi web portal reports.

Eimanis, born in 1968, has been reserved in his comments and denies ever abusing or seducing anyone.

The aforementioned events took place in the early 2000s, when the women were minors and joined a Lutheran congregation in Baldone. The women claim that Eimanis gradually developed a relationship of trust with them and later engaged them in sexual activities, which took place several times in the pastor's home.

Years later, one of the women, as an adult, reported her experience to the State Police, which refused to initiate criminal proceedings on the grounds of the statute of limitations, because at the time, the alleged acts were qualified under Section 161 of the Criminal Law as a minor's voluntary involvement in sexual activities. Until 2006, such an offence had a limitation period of five years. Prosecutor Baiba Balode stresses that a retroactive application of stricter provisions adopted later is not possible.

The alleged victim admits that it was only in recent years, during therapy, that she became aware of the nature of what she had experienced. She has not appealed the police refusal to initiate criminal proceedings, but is considering filing a new statement to law enforcement authorities.

Both women have given public statements to Delfi under their own names to encourage other alleged victims to seek help.

The women state, among other things, that Eimanis frequently used marijuana. According to the Delfi report, they are convinced that photos of a marijuana farm in Baldone published by the State Police at the time show Eimanis' greenhouse.

As Delfi was told at the prosecutor's office, an individual born in 1968 was given a suspended sentence of 3.5 years in connection with the Baldone marijuana farm in 2018.

Janis Vanags, the archbishop emeritus of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church, confirmed that he knew about Eimanis' marijuana habit, which he allegedly developed because of a health condition, and had received information about the pastor's moral misconduct.

Vanags also told Delfi that Eimanis' actions had once led to a divorce and his transfer from ministry in Riga to a province.

Vanags noted that he had heard about Eimanis' extramarital affairs, but not about alleged offences against minors. The archbishop emeritus underlined that the church considers sexual abuse or the involvement of minors in sexual relations impermissible.

Eimanis later joined the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in the World, whose archbishop, Karlis Zols, explained to Delfi that at the time of Eimanis' admission his criminal record was not visible in the register. He promised to initiate a thorough internal inquiry into Eimanis' admission.

Eimanis stated in writing to Delfi that he "has not used or seduced anyone", but did not provide clarification regarding other questions.