Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation

In her ''Facebook'' account, Locmele-Lunova explains that Saeima will be making several very important decisions in the near future and that this is a ''decisive time'' for Latvia, thus Harmony must be ''ready for battle''. This is why the politician has decided to relinquish her MP mandate.

The next in line to replace Locemele-Lunova in parliament from the Harmony ticket is former MP Igors Zujevs, writes LETA.

As reported, the Prosecutor General's Office has not yet requested Saeima to allow MP Regina Locmele-Lunova be prosecuted, however, it is possible that she is involved in a EUR 3.6 million money laundering scheme which the Finance Police recently handed over to the Prosecutor's Office.

The Prosecutor Office's spokeswoman Aiga Eiduka confirmed to LETA that they have received a case involving a Saeima member, but that the prosecutor in the case has not yet requested parliament to allow this person to be prosecuted.

According to Saeima Rules of Procedure, if the Prosecutor General's Office turns to the parliament stating that a criminal case needs to be opened against an MP, the Saeima Mandate Committee prepares the relevant motion. If Saeima approves the motion, the MP in question may not attend Saeima meetings and meetings of Saeima committees until the criminal case is closed or the person is convicted.

It is possible that Locmele-Lunova is involved in a recent money laundering and tax evasion criminal case being investigated by the Financial Police, which has since been handed over to the Prosecutor's Office.

According to the criminal case, 22 companies were involved in the money laundering scheme. They are suspected of schemes to avoid paying value-added tax worth EUR 753,808 and laundering EUR 3.6 million. 33 persons have been deemed suspects in the case and are to be prosecuted.

The State Revenue Service neither confirmed nor denied that the Harmony MP is involved in this money laundering ring.