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.
The Prosecutor General's submission obliges the municipality to restore its possession and property rights to 22 plots of land and suspend the development of the local plan for this area.
The Prosecutor has asked Riga City Council to restore the ownership rights to the original 22 owners, but the municipality has twice failed to even take a vote on the matter.
Bērziņa said that she had also spoken with the Prosecutor General about this situation. "If the Riga City Council does not make a decision, the Prosecutor General will appeal to the court, and then the court will decide who is right," she said.
She said that her fellow party member, Rīga Mayor Vilnis Ķirsis was in favor of resolving the matter speedily but party rivalries have resulted in a quorum failing to be reached when it comes to decisive votes.
"It is incomprehensible why the deputies of several parties do not join the opinion of Ķirsis and several deputies and do not support this decision of the Prosecutor General. The deputies should be asked why this is being done," Bērziņa said.
On the indication of whether this indicates the inability of the ruling coalition to ensure a quorum for decision-making, the minister said the question was one for the mayor and council members.
invited to turn to the mayor of Riga, but admitted that questions should also be asked to council members of the coalition.
