Corruption, Direct Speech, Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation

The verdict of acquittal of Riga city District court under all articles for Raimond Shtalberg, who was found guilty by the court of first instance on November 8, 2012 under all four criminal charges and sentenced to 7,5 years of deprivation of liberty for extortion of 7,7 million euros from entrepreneur Inara Vilkaste. More than 100 court hearings in 10 years! And here is the result. And it is just one of “longplaying” cases in Latvia.

For your reference. 457 public prosecutors were working at Latvian Prosecutor’s office in December 31, 2015. There are 529 judges working in the country. On general judge has to deal with more than a hundred cases. 

Willy nilly a question arises: who are they to judge us? And who are choreographing them?

And one more question: can we even trust someone of the people in power in Latvia?

Corruption scandals in the holy of holies — State Revenue Service (SRS) — completely shattered confidence of society, i.e. taxpayers to people’s representatives of all kinds. Who could like information about half a million dollars, inherited by SRS senior investigator Robert Dirnens from his late mother – a teacher (!). Investigator himself quit, but of course, why wear out the seat of his trousers if he got so much money. Main revenue inspector of SRS 5^th department on consideration of disputes Raita Kaminska “forgot” to mention five real estate objects in her income declaration – as many as five!!! But how many such roberts and raits are working among our tax collector – who knows. However, we’ve recently got to know from minister of finance Dana Reizniece-Ozola, that there are 4 thousand employees in Latvian SRS and she has no idea how similar service in Estonia with one thousand employees in collecting more taxes than in Latvia. It is a good question! Will new minister be able to find an answer?

It seems that Ministry of Finance together with director of SRS Inara Petersone is taking tax collectors in hand seriously – 29 persons are under suspicion, other figure – 173 was stated earlier. But could we trust Petersone herself, while she doesn’t want to disclose a mystery of her income to the society, including regular bonuses and separation allowances from former ministers of finance Vilks and Reiers. SRS director really is not obliged to do so in the performance of her duty? People want to know!

Meanwhile, Petersone believes that 20 – 50% of Latvian inhabitants are being paid under the counter. Will the service entrusted to her be able to make a difference in this situation to raise salaries for her work force and other officials? It is highly questionable!

To make the picture complete let us remember Talis Kravalis, who was fired from position of director of SRS Customs Board on February 29. Disciplinary case against him was initiated for the reason of problems with implementing the EU norms in transit field, failure to fulfil orders of SRS director general, SRS reputational damages and excess of power. What an arrangement! However, after Kravalis was fired, State Revenue Service ordered to close disciplinary case against him as long as he is not an employee of state civil service. Formally it is right. But what about the core?

Is something clear to you in this pandemonium, dear compatriots? Nothing to me!

Of course, permanent growth and bureaucracy at state institutions was not invented in Latvia. But we could be “proud” of our unique contribution. 100 court hearings in just one case in 10 years, and everything ended in smoke. SRS is growing, 4 thousand employees already, and just 1 thousand in Estonia. All the attempts to limit and stop this growing are leading to even bigger staff and greediness of officials. Moreover, they are happy speaking about the fact that they HAVE TO raise salaries to their employees, otherwise they are going to leave to the private sector. So, they are raising… and raising… and raising…

Look how similar in their behavior are state services which seems to be COMPLETELY independent – judicial, fiscal, administrative and municipal bodies. They are constantly growing, increasing budgets and delaying terms of executions. They always attempting to finish with nothing. It is a unique and strange style. But why it is implemented just in Latvia so brilliantly?! Or it just seems so?

That’s how it is!