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Krumins writes in his memoirs about ''Aivars and Andris' criminal groups'' - portal

BC, Riga, 06.10.2016.Print version
Millionaire Julijs Krumins, who the Corruption Prevention Bureau (CPB) detained yesterday on suspicion of being involved in illegal party financing, has been writing his memoirs recently, and in one of the chapters intends to write about his dealings with ''Aivars and Andris' criminal groups'', referring to two of Latvia's so-called oligarchs - former Prime Minister Andris Skele and Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs, the investigative news portal pietiek.com writes translated LETA.

The portal has obtained several chapters of Krumins' memoirs, and has published an abridged version. In the book, Krumins writes about his dealings in Latvia and an analysis of the past 25 years, or since Latvia regained independence, because ''I was relatively close to the processes of the time, and knew personally all of the main political figures''. ''I saw first-hand how gradually many of these persons without any kind of political education - actors, doctors, musicians, bartenders, zoo workers and people with considerable debt that are easy to buy off - how they thought not about Latvia's welfare, but their own pockets.''


''I believe that the greatest misfortune the state has faced the past 25 years is the rise of these two criminal groups, who were not gangsters or racketeers, but our own people, who became legitimate thieves and created these two criminal groups which still exist to this day. When Andris and Aivars finally allied themselves, they were able to takeover political power in the country. I would not have written this chapter, but because of these two criminal groups I was forced to sell my companies and move to Australia for two and a half years. Andris' criminal group was formed in Valmiera, while Aivars' criminal group - in Ventspils,'' Krumins writes.


''My first squabble with Andris was when he became prime minister. Up until Andris came to power, I participated in every tender to supply fuel to Latvian companies - Latvijas Dzelzcels, Autobusu Park, ferries, the Latvian armed forces, etc. I was able to offer the most competitive price, as my terminal was located in central Riga. When Andris came into power, and I had won one of the tender to supply fuel to the armed forces, the then defense minister called me to confirm this but added that this is not without difficulties. Then the minister told me that I have to get ready to be put in jail. Andris had told him over breakfast that he indeed intends to put me in jail, to which the minister answered - I know more about your deeds and misdeeds than the of Krumins, and then you both will be able to sit in jail. It turns out, Andris secretly owned most or all shares in the Ziemelu Nafta oil company, which also participated in this tender and had hoped to win. Thank god this minister was my friend, and is the bravest and most honest person I know. He was capable of rebuking Andris at the time,'' Krumins went on to say in his memoirs.


''My company, Man-Tess, had a project approved in 1998 by all the relative committee's at the Riga City Council to build a terminal at the Freeport of Riga. Three days before the final vote of approval, I got a call from Freeport of Riga CEO Leonids Loginovs that the final vote could be negative and that I had to arrive quickly for a meeting. At this meeting, I found at that the head of the City Council's Development Department, whose name begins with an E, had told Loginovs to obtain a USD 2 mln bribe from me if I wanted to build the terminal at Kundzinsala. Loginovs recommended me to meet up with ''the beard'', which was Andris' nickname at the time, as E was only the cashier in this deal. I immediately called Juris Savickis, the president of Itera, to meet. His business partner Ainars Gulbis was also present at the meeting. I asked for their support, for them to talk to Andris and tell them that I will pay the USD 2 million when the terminal will be built and I will begin to pump oil into it. I was even ready to sign an IOU. I had enough money to construct the terminal. Meanwhile, Juris and Andris told me that it would be better to pay right away, that they knew Andris and would take care of it. But I was not ready to step over my principles,'' the businessman writes.


''Another episode. I cannot imagine that a wolf can be allowed to protect sheep. But this is what happened when E was appointed finance minister, who oversaw both the Finance Police and customs activities. It is clear E is just a bloody dog on a leash for his master, and these are just the several episodes involving me, but there is also the airBaltic scandal, the digital television scandal, as well as many more which the press has written about ad nauseam. This also includes the recent scandal surrounding the new State Revenue Service building and the Riga City Council bribery scandal, where the little fish were put in jail, but not the Andris and his group,'' Krumins writes.


According to Krumins ''it is clear that the heyday for Andris and his group of associates was when Andris Grutups, also one of his pit bulls, was able to influence the prosecutor's office and the courts, and together with his colleague Kokalis reconciled the two feuding groups - Andris and Aivars. And then all three began to reap everything possible. They did not create anything themselves! They just used the state to make a fortune for themselves, while at the same time allowing the people to remain poor. What have they done to benefit the Latvian state? Absolutely nothing!''.


''Now lets speak about Aivars. Oh the many nicknames he has had - Napoleon, the stetson hat, duke, but in my view - just a regular thug, who as a former local Communist official became mayor of Ventspils in the early 1990's, which was a gold mine of the transit world at the time. The amount of cargo handled at the port was enormous. Ventspils had very good relations with Russia, and the mayor was successful in ruining this relationship the past 25 years. Russia just announced it will cease all oil shipment via Ventspils in the coming years. Maybe if this person was a bit taller and could see a bit further, then I am 99% confident Russia would not have developed its own terminal in St Petersburg, but would have constructed another three pipelines to this port and even the Nordstream pipeline might be going to Germany via Ventspils. And then this man could certainly call himself a duke. Back then sitting at the same table, Guntis Indriksons, me, Juris Sabasovs tried to reason with Aivars and convince him to sell 33% to the Russians, as they are the ones sending all the cargo shipments to the port. But in the end, a person who is used to crawling cannot fly!,'' Krumins went on to write in his memoirs.


''Today, no law enforcement institution will even touch these cases, as all of these institutions are elected. This is proven during the vote at Saeima several years ago to re-elect then Prosecutor General Janis Maizitis. Current Prosecutor General Eriks Kalnmeiers also would like a second term. Back when the vote on Maizits was to take place, all parliament members questioned by the media said that they would certainly support his candidacy. But alas, this was not to be. This just shows that Saeima can say all it wants publicly, but when Aivars arrives with a briefcase full of money, he makes sure everything is taken care of how he wants it,'' Krumins writes.


''Lembergs has his political agents in each political party, as he understands that he does not have to sponsor specific parties, but specific politicians. Within the Harmony party is his old friend Janis Urbanovics for example,'' Krumins said.


''How long will these two continue to rule in Latvia? I do not know. I am not authorized to take them to court, but these two continue to place their henchmen in positions of power and call themselves officials, while at the same time doing everything they can to please their masters and their business interests. Thanks to him, all of my projects between 2000 and 2008 were turned down, and myself, who was prepared to start new businesses and create new jobs, had nothing else to do but leave. I know many other businessmen who were similarly humiliated and were not able to develop their business, but were instead asked to hand over 30 to 60% of the shares in their businesses. How long will this continue?,'' Krumins went on to write.

 

 






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