Latvia, Legislation

14 out of 17 regional council members voted for Helmanis' candidacy.

Helmanis has previously told LETA that the charges against him will not hamper him from fulfilling his duties on the Ogre Regional Council.

According to the Central Election Commission, the joint National Alliance/Latvian Farmers' Union ticket won eight seats on the Ogre Regional Council, the Latvian Green Party won three seats, another three seats were won the regional party For Ogre Region, followed by two seats for Harmony and one seat for another regional party.

As reported, in March of this year the Ogre Region Court convicted Helmanis of involvement in extortion by a group of persons pursuant to prior agreement, and ordered him to pay a fine in the amount of 100 minimum monthly wages or EUR 38,000. Another defendant, Arturs Robeznieks, was also convicted and ordered to pay the same fine.

The State Police detained Helmanis in 2009 for demanding a bribe, promising in turn that a certain compromising material would not be aired by the local television. Robeznieks, who was then owner of Ogre Television, was also detained.