Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RIGA364
2009-07-07 11:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Riga
Cable title:
527 REPORT: EMBASSY RIGA SUBMISSION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRA #0364 1881128 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 071128Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY RIGA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5937
UNCLAS RIGA 000364
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/IFD/OIA (GOETHERT)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV CASC KIDE OPIC PGOV LG
SUBJECT: 527 REPORT: EMBASSY RIGA SUBMISSION
REF: STATE 49477
UNCLAS RIGA 000364
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/IFD/OIA (GOETHERT)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV CASC KIDE OPIC PGOV LG
SUBJECT: 527 REPORT: EMBASSY RIGA SUBMISSION
REF: STATE 49477
1. Post is aware of two (2) outstanding claims of United States
persons against representatives of the Government of Latvia. The
claims are being adjudicated in the Latvian courts.
2. a. Claimant A
b. 2004
c. According to Claimant A, it obtained a lease for a parcel
of land in Gudenieki district that included rights for oil
exploration and extraction. Three years later, the local government
attempted to repudiate the contract. The lease rights were then
transferred to a third party with connections to government
officials. The issue of whether the local government can nullify
the contract is currently being considered in the courts. According
to statements made by the Claimant, the claim was rejected by a
lower court and by an appellate courts on subsequent appeals. The
judiciary most recently upheld the ruling against the claimant in
October 2008. . Claimant indicated his intention to continue
pursuing appeals. Information was last received on the claim in
June 2009.
3. a. Claimant B
b. 2008
c. According to Claimant B, it purchased a parcel of land from
the Ministry of Finance in Riga, with the understanding that the
parcel included the right to access from the nearest street via an
adjacent property. The right to access was not recorded in the land
registry, preventing the claimant from any access to the land or
ability to use or develop it. Claimant sued the government for
access and won, but the Government has filed an appeal, which will
not be heard until 2010. The Government argues that it cannot grant
the right to access via the adjacent property, which is now owned by
a third party. Post has arranged multiple meetings with the GOL and
inquired about the claim with several agencies. Information on this
claim was last received in May 2009.
4. Claimant A; Otis Armstrong (US Citizen).
Claimant B: Baltic Capital Management, a US-owned firm.
ROGERS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/IFD/OIA (GOETHERT)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV CASC KIDE OPIC PGOV LG
SUBJECT: 527 REPORT: EMBASSY RIGA SUBMISSION
REF: STATE 49477
1. Post is aware of two (2) outstanding claims of United States
persons against representatives of the Government of Latvia. The
claims are being adjudicated in the Latvian courts.
2. a. Claimant A
b. 2004
c. According to Claimant A, it obtained a lease for a parcel
of land in Gudenieki district that included rights for oil
exploration and extraction. Three years later, the local government
attempted to repudiate the contract. The lease rights were then
transferred to a third party with connections to government
officials. The issue of whether the local government can nullify
the contract is currently being considered in the courts. According
to statements made by the Claimant, the claim was rejected by a
lower court and by an appellate courts on subsequent appeals. The
judiciary most recently upheld the ruling against the claimant in
October 2008. . Claimant indicated his intention to continue
pursuing appeals. Information was last received on the claim in
June 2009.
3. a. Claimant B
b. 2008
c. According to Claimant B, it purchased a parcel of land from
the Ministry of Finance in Riga, with the understanding that the
parcel included the right to access from the nearest street via an
adjacent property. The right to access was not recorded in the land
registry, preventing the claimant from any access to the land or
ability to use or develop it. Claimant sued the government for
access and won, but the Government has filed an appeal, which will
not be heard until 2010. The Government argues that it cannot grant
the right to access via the adjacent property, which is now owned by
a third party. Post has arranged multiple meetings with the GOL and
inquired about the claim with several agencies. Information on this
claim was last received in May 2009.
4. Claimant A; Otis Armstrong (US Citizen).
Claimant B: Baltic Capital Management, a US-owned firm.
ROGERS