VZCZCXRO1321
RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHRA #0700 3191548
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 141548Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5382
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000700 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2018 
TAGS: PGOV KCOR KJUS PSNR LG
SUBJECT: VASKEVICS CLOSER TO JUSTICE? 
 
REF: RIGA507 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Charles W. Larson Jr. for reason 1.4 (b) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (KNAB) has 
forwarded the case of Vladimirs Vaskevics, former head of the 
Customs Police and current Deputy of the State Revenue 
Service, to the Prosecutor General's office for prosecution. 
Proposed charges against Vaskevics include participation in 
unlawful property transactions and incorrect income 
declaration. Although there is no stated timeframe for 
pressing charges, Vaskevics cannot leave Latvia. There are 
many hurdles to overcome before this case is closed and the 
final outcome is not sure. End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) In August Valdimirs Vaskevics lost his security 
clearance and was no longer able to perform his duties as the 
head of the Customs Police (reftel).  In early September he 
was promoted to the position of Deputy of the State Revenue 
Service, where a security clearance was not necessary.  Since 
that time, three Anti-Corruption Bureau (KNAB) investigators 
who work for KNAB Deputy Juta Strike, the head of the section 
investigating Vaskevics, have undergone tax audits by the 
state revenue service.  This is a disproportionate percentage 
compared to other agencies and is inconsistent with 
investigations of members of other institutions.  According 
to one opposition parliament member, Vaskevics is responsible 
for the audits of the KNAB investigators. 
 
¶3. (C) On November 6 the KNAB forwarded the Vaskevics case to 
the Prosecutor General's office.  Charges against him include 
violations of income declaration procedure and conflict of 
interest.  The KNAB determined that from 2002 to 2007 
Vaskevics participated in unlawful property transactions and 
did not correctly declare income from these deals.  He 
potentially faces a maximum of up to 8 years in prison 
for both charges.  Pending the decision of the prosecutor on 
how to handle these charges, Vaskevics cannot leave Latvia. 
A KNAB employee states that there is no set timing for action 
and no estimate on the whether or when the prosecutor will 
press charges against Vaskevics. KNAB sources confirm that 
the main case against Vaskevics is complete, but it is 
possible there will be additional charges filed against him 
in future. 
 
¶4. (C) Comment: The fact that Vaskevics' "punishment" for 
losing his clearance was a promotion and pay raise 
demonstrates the pervasive nature of corruption in Latvia. 
That the State Revenue Service is investigating KNAB 
employees on a seemingly disproportionate basis is also a 
demonstration of the nature of the problem here.  That the 
public largely shakes their head at these things and 
continues to accept that "this is how things work" 
underscores the challenge of changing the system. If the 
prosecutor presses charges in the near future, and we expect 
he will, and a court convicts and sentences Vaskevics, this 
case would be a significant step in fighting corruption by 
state officials for the KNAB and the Prosecutor General. 
But, there are far too many steps before a conviction to call 
it a done deal.  With appeals, stalling techniques and 
continued individual attacks on those involved in the case 
through the State Revenue Service, the process will certainly 
take months if not years to play out, during which Vaskevics 
will likely retain his job or at least his salary.  End 
Comment 
LARSON