Ozols denied the allegations in a radio interview Tuesday.

RIGA — A public spat between the Latvian Investment and Development Agency director and the chairman of the Aerodium wind tunnel company has turned ugly, with accusations of bribery and promises to press charges.

Ivars Beitans, chairman of Aerodium told the “900 Seconds” television program Tuesday that Andris Ozols, director of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency asked for 8 percent of the 2.55 million lats (€3.6 million) the agency paid the wind tunnel company for its involvement in the World Expo 2010 project in China.

The large, expensive wind tunnel was built to show participants what flying was life and demonstrate the prowess of Latvian innovation despite the crisis, and the company was enjoying a burst of good headlines before the spat with Ozols surfaced.

Beitans is currently on a business trip in Italy but said he plans on contacting the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau upon returning to Latvia.

Ozols denied the allegation and said that Aerodium had not fulfilled its contract for the World Expo project and called Beitans a “fraudster” on Latvian State Radio Tuesday.

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