Aivars Lembergs of Latvia, an oligarch and financial criminal, was sentenced to five-year imprisonment

Following 12 years of heated courtroom wrangling after 12 years of heated courtroom wrangling, a Latvian Court has handed down its verdict in Aivars LEMBERS' high-profile trial. The defendant is one of Latvia's wealthiest men and a prominent populist politician. He was also the former mayor of Venspils in the northwestern region of Latvia.

Lembergs was sentenced February 22 by the Riga Regional Court. He was found guilty of a variety of charges including money laundering and bribery.

Lembergs who is also leader of Latvian For Ventspils has compared Lembergssentencing case to the case of Aleksey navalny. Russian political activist from Russia.

When the judge was reading the verdict in the case, Lembergs pleaded for a short break which was granted to him. Lembergs could have an unintentional conversation with his son Anrijs. Then , he utilized the remainder of the time to discuss journalists.

Lembergs told the journalists that he would appeal the decision of the Riga Regional Court and predicted that the hearing of his appeal could be delayed for another 10 years. Lembergs also stated that he is planning to appeal his detention. However, this appeal will be heard only by the same regional Court.

After reading the judgment and then reading it again, the court ruled that the Lembergs' would be detained.

His co-defendants, Anrijs and Ansis Lembergs were also found guilty of a variety of connected accusations. They were sentenced to two years of prison.

Aivars Lembergs On 14 March 2007 there was a furore in the media after being handcuffed and imprisoned Lembergs was brought to the Riga City Centre District Court when prosecutors made their first steps to line up charges of bribery and money laundering on a huge amount against him as an individual (investigations into linked suspicions of corruption in Ventpils municipality started in 2005). Nearly 14 years on, a decision has been handed down.

https://latvijaiunventspilij.lv/no-apcietinajuma-atbrivots-aivars-lembergs/ Over the course of a decade year, the trial has progressed in a slow, and sometimes absurd pace through the Latvian justice system. In total, 770 court hearings took place as part of the main criminal case over the course of 12 years. Between August 20, 2009 (when the Riga Regional Court began adjudication), and February 11 the year 2020, 1,483 court cases have been conducted.

Aivars Lembergs Despite being charged with bribery and money laundering, Lembergs continued to be a political kingpin in Ventspils. Lembergs was the mayor for over 20 years.

Aivars Lembergs Aivars Lembergs Even though his term as mayor was suspended because of financial violations but he was still the real power in the city and brushed aside one minister's attempts to block him from serving as Ventspils mayor. Aivars Lembergs While indicted, he participated in the meetings of the government together with the International Monetary Fund and helped to choose candidates for the Latvian presidency.

Lembergs stated that Latvians will decide whether to participate in the coming municipal elections. However, it is not his main concern.