Ieva Šomina, spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, confirmed that the case was received last week and the prosecutor is currently deciding on the filing of charges. No further information will be provided at this stage.
As Latvian Television (LTV) program "De Facto" reported this summer, the criminal proceedings were initiated by the Military Police (MP).
The MP searched VALIC and detained Kopeika, but later requested his suspension. It was not officially disclosed what exactly the criminal proceedings were about, but LTV reported that the investigation could be related to the incorrect write-off of assets.
At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, in late May 2020, the US donated €13,500 to Latvia to buy disinfectants and disposable gloves for safe centralized exams in Latvian schools. The supplies were purchased and delivered to schools by the National Armed Forces (NBS) in cooperation with local authorities. The donation was first registered in the balance sheet of the then National Defense Military Objects and Procurement Center. This institution was later reorganised as VALIC.
After the reorganization, disinfectants and gloves, which had long been distributed to schools, were transferred to VALIC. It is therefore possible that criminal proceedings have been initiated for incorrect write-offs.
Kopeika was suspended as head of VALIC this spring in connection with criminal proceedings. Kopeika was subsequently dismissed by President Edgar Rinkēvičs.
