EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Law and Regulations, Legislation, Markets and Companies

Miluss’ lawyer Jelena Kvjatkovska told LETA that the Cyprus court has several significant questions to Latvia related with alleged violations of Miluss’ rights when hearing his case at first instance court, and actions of other courts, hearing his case without his presence.

Thus, the Cyprus court has decided to ask the Latvian prosecutor’s office to provide a number of documents and answers to questions by August 25. The court hearing will be continued on August 25, the lawyer said.

Miluss was present at the court hearing.

Kristine Sutugina, the spokeswoman of the Prosecutor General’s Office, told LETA that the office has not yet received any information or documents from the Cypriot court.

As reported, the Latvian Prosecutor General's Office on August 8 sent documents to the Cypriot Justice Ministry asking that Miluss be extradited to Latvia.

Cypriot news agency CNA reported that the 54-year-old man detained earlier at Larnaca Airport has been sentenced to five years in prison in Latvia for his role in bribery that took place on March 18, 2005.

Miluss was detained on August 3 after he had arrived in Cyprus on an evening flight from Moscow. During the passport check it was discovered that the Russian citizen is on Interpol’s list of wanted criminals, CAN reported.

Earlier, Latvian media reported that after fleeing Latvia, Miluss settled down in Russia, and most probably, assumed Russian citizenship.

The Cypriot police received a warrant for Miluss’ arrest, but the man complained about feeling bad because of high blood pressure and was taken to a local hospital.

A Cypriot court then ruled to remand him in custody until August 11 while Latvia provides the necessary documents.

In 2007, Zemgale Regional Court found car dealer Miluss, former Jurmala mayor Juris Hlevickis and candidate councilor Gvido Harijs Volburgs guilty of attempted bribery. The above persons had tried to bribe Jurmala City Council member Ilmars Ancans in order to secure his vote in Hlevickis’ favor in Jurmala’s local elections.

Hlevickis and Miluss were sentenced to five years behind bars and Volburgs received a three-year suspended prison term.

Miluss was absent from his sentencing in court, and his whereabouts until this time remained unknown.

In the spring of 2015, Miluss was put on the international manhunt system. Latvia’s TV3 commercial TV channel reported that same year that Miluss was living in Russia and has probably become a Russian citizen.