Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

"I had serious conflicts with this man lately. This may be how he tries to take revenge on me. Besides, his business is run similar to mine – he also has an office in Latvia. Except that his office continues to work without any problems," said Hartmanis, adding that Tihonovs' only wish is to avoid a criminal charges in London.

Hartmanis goes on to say in the interview that he has a normal business, "People all over the world work via offshore companies."

Hartmanis explains that LVL 140 million mentioned by the Revenue Service is not the amount of "laundered" money but the turnover of the companies registered abroad, of which some belonged to Hartmanis and the others he was in charge of. He emphasizes that he has never had anything to do with money laundering, writes LETA.

Hartmanis also notes that he is being accused although the Revenue Service has no evidence whatsoever. "If information about me surfaced after a court ruling, I would not say a single word. But I have been accused publicly, and they say the evidence will be found later," says Hartmanis.

As reported, the Revenue Service last October opened criminal proceedings against an unnamed Liepaja businessman, thought to be Hartmanis, over tax evasion and suspected illegal activity in the oil business; he is suspected of turning over more than LVL 140 million via a large-scale money laundering scheme, and of owing LVL 1 million in unpaid taxes.