VASKEVICS CLOSER TO JUSTICE?

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000700

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2018
TAGS: PGOV KCOR KJUS PSNR LG
SUBJECT: VASKEVICS CLOSER TO JUSTICE?

REF: RIGA507

Classified By: Ambassador Charles W. Larson Jr. for reason 1.4 (b)


1. (C) Summary: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (KNAB) has
forwarded the case of Vladimirs Vaskevics, former head of the
Customs Police and current Deputy of the State Revenue
Service, to the Prosecutor General's office for prosecution.
Proposed charges against Vaskevics include participation in
unlawful property transactions and incorrect income
declaration. Although there is no stated timeframe for
pressing charges, Vaskevics cannot leave Latvia. There are
many hurdles to overcome before this case is closed and the
final outcome is not sure. End Summary.


2. (C) In August Valdimirs Vaskevics lost his security
clearance and was no longer able to perform his duties as the
head of the Customs Police (reftel). In early September he
was promoted to the position of Deputy of the State Revenue
Service, where a security clearance was not necessary. Since
that time, three Anti-Corruption Bureau (KNAB) investigators
who work for KNAB Deputy Juta Strike, the head of the section
investigating Vaskevics, have undergone tax audits by the
state revenue service. This is a disproportionate percentage
compared to other agencies and is inconsistent with
investigations of members of other institutions. According
to one opposition parliament member, Vaskevics is responsible
for the audits of the KNAB investigators.


3. (C) On November 6 the KNAB forwarded the Vaskevics case to
the Prosecutor General's office. Charges against him include
violations of income declaration procedure and conflict of
interest. The KNAB determined that from 2002 to 2007
Vaskevics participated in unlawful property transactions and
did not correctly declare income from these deals. He
potentially faces a maximum of up to 8 years in prison
for both charges. Pending the decision of the prosecutor on
how to handle these charges, Vaskevics cannot leave Latvia.
A KNAB employee states that there is no set timing for action
and no estimate on the whether or when the prosecutor will
press charges against Vaskevics. KNAB sources confirm that
the main case against Vaskevics is complete, but it is
possible there will be additional charges filed against him
in future.


4. (C) Comment: The fact that Vaskevics' "punishment" for
losing his clearance was a promotion and pay raise
demonstrates the pervasive nature of corruption in Latvia.
That the State Revenue Service is investigating KNAB
employees on a seemingly disproportionate basis is also a
demonstration of the nature of the problem here. That the
public largely shakes their head at these things and
continues to accept that "this is how things work"
underscores the challenge of changing the system. If the
prosecutor presses charges in the near future, and we expect
he will, and a court convicts and sentences Vaskevics, this
case would be a significant step in fighting corruption by
state officials for the KNAB and the Prosecutor General.
But, there are far too many steps before a conviction to call
it a done deal. With appeals, stalling techniques and
continued individual attacks on those involved in the case
through the State Revenue Service, the process will certainly
take months if not years to play out, during which Vaskevics
will likely retain his job or at least his salary. End
Comment
LARSON