The Latvian Prosecutor General's Office announced Friday that it had opened an investigation into the plane trips of former Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, suspecting a waste of funds.
The prosecutor
“took the decision to initiate criminal proceedings”
to elucidate the nature of the thefts carried out between 2019 and 2023, the time when Mr. Karins remained head of government, according to a press release from the prosecution.
According to Latvian law, civil servants must choose the cheapest services, including flights.
However, Mr. Karins, currently head of Latvian diplomacy, and his delegation would have taken flights at the time, at least 18 times, without respecting this principle, passing on their costs to Latvian and European taxpayers.
Mr. Karins then mainly traveled to countries with which there are direct regular flights from Riga.
The investigation by the state comptroller found that flights were booked without mandatory tenders.
The investigation was entrusted to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau.
“I rely on the investigation and the ability to review the decisions taken at the time by the State Chancellery
,” the body responsible for the prime minister's travel plans, Mr. Karins said in a statement. communicated.
Born in the United States, Mr Karins served as prime minister from 2019 to 2023, before resigning following a loss of popular support following the departure of Edgars Rinkevics, then foreign minister, who was elected president.