Given that the Latvian citizen Aven is included in the European Union sanctions list, the Civil Aviation Agency prohibited the use of the “Bell 429” helicopter. Since the imposition of sanctions, it has been standing in the territory of Rīga Airport.
In the past, the $7.5-million helicopter belonged to Aven and Shefler through the company Country Heli. The firm had accumulated a €75 thousand tax debt since the war began. Therefore, the State Revenue Service (VID) decided to recover the money by holding an auction.
The auction details were not initially disclosed by the VID or the bailiff, referring to data protection.
De Facto appealed to the court for information on this auction to be made public on the basis of the public interest in knowing the price at which the aircraft was sold and whether the helicopter had not been purchased by related persons, thereby possibly circumventing sanctions.
The court fulfilled the request, and the bailiff Elīna Balasanjana provided information that the “Bell 429” helicopter, formerly owned by Country Heli, had been sold at the first auction to the bidder SPVholding for EUR 2,979,000.
The amount promised was subject to VAT, thus the total bid price is EUR 3.604,590.
From the information available in the Enterprise Register, the true beneficiary of SPVholding is Lithuanian Arturas Rakaukas. He owns the DIY store network “Kesko Senukai Lithuania” (KSenukai).
