Kopeika was suspended from his post as head of the State Center for Defense Logistics and Procurement (VALIC) this spring in connection with criminal proceedings for alleged forgery.
According to Latvian Television's "De Facto" program, the criminal proceedings were initiated by the Military Police. The investigation was initiated under the article of the Criminal Law on forgery of office. The police raided 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 might 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 reorganized 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.
The NBS officially confirmed only that the Defense Ministry has opened an investigation against one person for forgery.
Kopeika also did not elaborate on the accusations against him.
The duties of the head of VALIC were entrusted to the Director General of the Latvian Geospatial Information Agency, Mārtiņš Liberts.
