Lembergs, who has been sanctioned by the United States since 2019, now finds himself the subject of an asset freeze after being included on a list of people "who are or have been involved in serious corruption."
In its announcement the UK government describes Lembergs as: "one of Latvia’s richest people, who abused his political position to commit bribery and launder money. Lembergs has attempted to hide the proceeds of his corruption in investment trusts and other corporate structures, including in the name of his daughter, Liga Lemberga – also sanctioned today. In 2021, Lembergs was found guilty of 19 charges including extorting bribes, forgery of documents, money laundering, and improper use of office in a court in Riga."
The longtime kingpin of the Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS) party, which is part of Latvia's current ruling coalition, is joined on the UK sanctions list by his daughter, Liga Lemberga, but other members of his family are not on the list.
However, various other unsavory characters from around the world do keep him company, including pro-Russia Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash, his wife Lada and a fixer named Denis Gorbunenko; Isabel Dos Santos, the daughter of Angola’s former president who systematically abused her positions at state-run companies to embezzle at least £350 million (420 million euros), along with her friend and business partner Paula Oliveira, and her Chief Financial Officer Sarju Raikundalia.
As previously reported by LSM, Lembergs, long-time big cheese of Ventspils and frequently referred to as one of Latvia's main "oligarchs", was on trial on corruption charges for more than a decade and was eventually found guilty and sent to prison.
Latvian courts started hearing the Lembergs case back in 2009 and its on-again, off-again character over the next decade became increasingly absurd as delays were encountered on a remarkably consistent basis.
Despite the fact that he was being tried on serious fraud and corruption charges, Lembergs continued to play a very active role in politics, via his patronage of the Greens and Farmers Union political force. On a weekly basis, he would also opine on matters of world and domestic politics via the Ventspils municipal website, frequently referring to himself in the third person.
The imposition of U.S. sanctions in 2019 courtesy of the Department of the Treasury saw his untouchable reputation shattered, though astonishingly, despite being found guilty of massive corruption, he continues to garner surprising support among sections of society.
It should be recalled that as recently as 2022 he was the official pick of the Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS) party for the post of Prime Minister ahead of Saeima elections – despite the fact he had already been sentenced to jail time and was out on bail while participating in election publicity. It is a matter of conjecture as to how much influence he continues to wield within ZZS and, by extension, Latvian politics as a whole.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "These unscrupulous individuals selfishly deprive their fellow citizens of much-needed funding for education, healthcare and infrastructure - for their own enrichment. "
How much of an inconvenience the UK listing proves to be remains to be seen. Following the imposition of U.S. sanctions he complained that it might make it difficult for him to buy sausages at one of his self-centered press conferences.
Lembergs has in the past displayed a penchant for buying expensive clothes from upscale London tailors, albeit hampered by a tendency to combine them in a somewhat gaudy sartorial style.
Visits to Savile Row and Jermyn Street to have his trousers hemmed will no longer be an option for the diminutive Lembergs. As well as an asset freeze that prevents any UK citizen or business from having dealings with him, a travel ban means that Lembergs and daughter are now personae non gratae in the United Kingdom.
