KNAB CHIEF DISMISSED

UNCLAS RIGA 000386 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KCOR KJUS LG SUBJECT: KNAB CHIEF DISMISSED REF: RIGA 363 ¶1. Summary: On Sunday, June 29 the Latvian Saeima (Parliament) dismissed Anti-Corruption Bureau (KNAB) Chief Aleksejs Loskutovs in a secret ballot vote of 52 to 40. The vote followed a four-hour debate, dominated mostly by opposition party members. Opposition party New Era (JL) spearheaded a protest outside the Saeima building, where Loskutovs appeared early in the day to accept flowers and express his thanks for the support. The result to dismiss Loskutovs was never really in doubt. Juta Strike, a KNAB Deputy Chief, will be the acting Chief until Andris Vilks, another KNAB Deputy Chief, returns from vacation on July 16 to take that role. The Saeima will determine the legal procedure for appointing a new Chief and that decision is expected on August 2. Separately, press reports state that Prosecutor General Maizitis has offered Loskutovs a job. End Summary. ¶2. On June 29, in an extraordinary Sunday session of the Saeima, KNAB Chief Aleksejs Loskutovs was dismissed from his position. In a secret ballot, Saeima members voted 52 to 40 to remove him. This session was part of a larger meeting in which, following three hours of debate, the Saeima rejected motions of no confidence in the Defense and Agriculture Ministers. Protests and Debate -------------- ¶3. A protest rally spearheaded by opposition party New Era (JL) began at 8am on Sunday morning. As many as 500 people gathered in front of the Saeima to express their thanks and give flowers to Loskutovs. He, himself, was not allowed to address the Saeima during the Sunday session, but he arrived at around 9:30 to accept the flowers and thank the crowd. He said that he was touched by the turnout, and reiterated that he was innocent. When the result of the Saeima vote was announced, the crowd yelled for the dissolution of Saeima, but the group was much smaller than it had been eight hours before. Opposition MPs urged the crowd to turn out for the August 2nd referendum to amend the Constitution to allow the public to dismiss the Saeima through a referendum vote. ¶4. Opposition members spoke for most of the four-hour debate preceding the vote. Ainars Latkovskis (JL) read a statement from Loskutovs, "I made a commitment to do my job well and I have never failed to fulfill that commitment." Solvita Aboltina (JL) stated that the Saeima library had suddenly become very popular, as Saeima members did not want to venture outside and face the protesting crowd. Former Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis, who failed in his own attempt to oust the KNAB Chief last fall, proclaimed angrily that Loskutovs felt he was above the Saeima and the government, and that "as long as the People's Party is in power," Loskutovs and others like him "will not work for any governmental institution." Most of the opposition focused on stating sarcastically that the coalition had discovered a new standard of accountability in government officials. The coalition mainly sought to justify their decision with the findings of the Special Committee's report (reftel) and evoked the names of Prosecutor General Maizites and Constitutional Protection Bureau (SAB) Chief Kazocins who were members of that Committee. The result to dismiss Loskutovs was never really in doubt and opposition MPs gave up on some delaying tactics they considered earlier in the day. New Jobs -------------- ¶5. Juta Strike, KNAB Deputy Chief has been named as the interim Chief until July 16 when her colleague Alvis Vilks returns from vacation and takes over the job. The Saeima has not determined the legally correct way to appoint a new KNAB Chief, and Vilks will hold that position until new rules are established. ¶6. Prosecutor General Maizitis has reportedly offered Loskutovs a job. Neither the position, nor Loskutovs' response is known, but the press states that Maizitis and Loskutovs will discuss the matter during the week of July 7. ¶7. Comment: Loskutovs' dismissal comes as no surprise. The opposition was never in any doubt that it would happen, but the turnout at the protest showed the continued level of visibility and support for the KNAB. We do not expect any further protests during the Saeima's session on Thursday, July 3, and anticipate appointment of the new KNAB Chief possibly on August 2. It will be interesting to see what happens in the future when a member of the coalition is accused of financial mismanagement, and if their colleagues hold them to the same standard with the same penalties as they held Loskutovs. We are inclined to doubt it. End Comment. LARSON