Banks, Financial Services, Latvia, Port, Transport, USA

She said that these five companies ensure 52% of the port's turnover. Strautmane said that these companies are working with banks to solve the situation.

"In general we may say that there is no crisis at Ventspils port - ships are arriving, cargos are being reloaded," said Strautmane.

Finance and Capital Market Commission (FKTK) chairwoman Santa Purgaile said that operation with bank accounts have been suspended for those companies in which Aivars Lembergs is the true beneficiary, while the companies are controlled by Swiss lawyer Rudolf Meroni.

"I have information that these companies have turned to the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), asking for explanations on what they should do to solve the situation. As soon as they receive a reply, it will be clear to them what they should do," said Purgaile.

Strautmane said that Ventspils freeport expects the companies to act and restructure in order to stop their connection with the companies  subjected to sanctions. "If they are not able to do that, they will have to leave the port and free space for other businesses," said Strautmane.

As reported, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) on December 9 imposed sanctions on a number of natural and legal persons in Europe, Asia and Latin America, including on Lembergs, based on the so-called Magnitsky Act.

To deal with Lembergs' influence in the Freeport of Ventspils, the government decided to take over the ports of Ventspils and Riga. On December 18, Saeima passed in the final reading a bill to turn over the functions of the Freeport of Ventspils to the newly established state-owned joint stock company Ventas Osta (Venta Port).

On the same day, the Freeport of Ventspils Authority was removed from the list of entities sanctioned by the OFAC