Rīga Mayor sacks department head over alleged bogus employment practices

Take note – story published 3 years ago

Rīga Mayor Mārtiņš Staķis (Development/For!/Progressives) has dismissed Anatolijs Aļesejenko, director of the Department of Housing and Environment of Rīga City Council (Honor to Serve Riga), Staķis said at a press conference January 19.

The City Council's management sees a conflict of interest and potential false employment practices, with Aļeksejenko paying salaries from the department to both his former and current life partners. 

Staķis said that he was "tired of the official [Aļeksejenko] avoiding responsibility, even though the conflict of interest is obvious." Several disciplinary proceedings have also been initiated.

The Riga City Council will now turn to the courts in order to terminate its employment relationship with Aļeksejenko. 

Ilona Dimante, Aļeksejenko's alleged partner, was recruited in 2009. Dimante's remuneration is set at €2264. Her duties include managing, planning, organizing, controlling and improving the work of the Financial and Economic Administration.

Aļeksejenko had previously denied that Dimante was his partner. But he had to admit that she was the mother of Aļeksejenko's children.

Riga City Council Housing and Environment Committee Chairman Edmunds Cepurītis said that Dimante had always had the highest evaluations, so she also received the highest pay bonuses. No one can track how Dimante's work has been evaluated.

Since the disciplinary proceedings began for this case, Aļeksejenko has fallen ill and has long been on sick leave.

This in turn has prevented any explanation regarding another person, Vera Bobrova, who is Aļeksejenko's former partner. The Department of Environment employs Bobrova freelance. Her salary is set at €1050 per month. According to the labor law, Bobrova should by now have been recruited on a permanent basis.

Aļeksejenko previously commented that his dismissal was an act of political revenge. He explained that he had not committed violations of the law and that there was no reason for his dismissal. Aļeksejenko expressed confidence that he would win in court and continue to lead the department.

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