Ķirsis said that in order to find solutions to the situation with the land plots near Riga Airport, a working group together with the airport and the Ministry of Transport has been set up, and negotiations on this issue are currently continuing.
At the beginning of February, Riga City Council received a submission from the General Prosecutor's Office regarding the illegal privatization of undeveloped land in the territory necessary for the further development of the national airport.
Back in 2012, 22 plots of land belonging to the capital were handed over for privatization. In 2022, they were sold at auction for 5.7 million euros to the company SIA "Cella investment 3" belonging to the real estate developer "Sirin Development".
According to the Prosecutor's office, during the privatization process, the municipality did not properly assess the land plots at the time they were sold. All 22 land plots are located in the territory necessary for the further development of Riga Airport.
In March, the Riga City Council decided to void the decision on the completion of the privatization of 22 land plots near Riga Airport. Thus the council restored the ownership rights to these land plots.
The airport has now indicated that it needs four out of a total of 22 plots of land that are closer to the airport area and where the Rail Baltica tracks and the terminal are planned.
A solution is being worked out to avoid litigation and loss of land for idle time. "This solution could be as follows - the airport gets the land it is interested in. Those that are left over go to the investor at the auctioned price," said Ķirsis.
In this case, the parties would sign an administrative agreement that they have no claims against each other. However, this possible solution still needs to be agreed with all parties involved, including the Prosecutor General's Office.
The investors have indicated that they would be satisfied with such a solution, said Ķirsis.
"I would like to think that by September we will know where we are going."
