Latvenergo CEO Kārlis Miķelsons participating in a recent Baltic Development Forum panel discussion. Photo used courtesy of the Baltic Development Forum.
RIGA — Five members of the top management team at Latvia’s state-owned electricity company Latvenergo have been arrested by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau on Wednesday.
Authorities are keeping quiet on details of the case, which included the arrest of Latvenergo CEO Kārlis Miķelsons. The bureau told reporters that the case goes back over the past four years and involves bribery, embezzlement and money laundering.
The attorneys of the arrested men have proclaimed their clients’ innocence in statements to the press. Meanwhile all five — Miķelsons, Latvenergo Vice President Aigars Meļko, Latvenergo subsidiary Sadales Tīkls board members Ivars Liuziniks and Andrejs Stalažs and Sadales Tīkls Technical Director Edgars Vitkovskis — remain in police custody, bureau spokesman Andris Vitenburgs told the press.
LETA reported that anonymous sources familiar with the matter said that Buvenergoserviss CEO Mihails Paladijs and former board member Andrejs Livanovičs were also arrested this week.
Miķelsons was charged Thursday with abuse of office and embezzlement.
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