In the so-called timber industry case, there will be no need to wait years for charges, and during the prosecutor's assessment, it was not confirmed that there was a leak of information regarding investigative actions, stated Attorney General Armin Meister.
According to him, the case is currently progressing, and more evidence and specific directions of the investigation are emerging. "It definitely will not take years to reach a result," said the Attorney General.
Currently, the statuses of the individuals involved in the criminal process have not changed, no new individuals have been involved, and no individuals have been excluded from the case.
On May 14, Meisters expressed suspicions to the media about a leak of information regarding investigative actions that were taking place that day; however, he stated that an internal assessment was conducted, and the leak of information was not confirmed.
When asked to comment on previously reported circumstances of "obstruction," which led to the detention of the then Director of the State Chancellery, Raivis Kronbergs, the Attorney General indicated that it relates to the understanding of what obstruction means. According to him, it also means the possibility of influencing the gathering of evidence, communication, and other similar processes.
"According to the law, obstruction and even the existence of such a risk is grounds for detaining an individual. This does not mean that the person resisted operational workers or anything of the sort. The former head of the State Chancellery was detained for the duration of procedural actions in accordance with the law. This does not mean that there were any active actions on his part. It was done to prevent such actions," Meisters noted.
The ten individuals against whom criminal proceedings have been initiated and who underwent procedural actions on May 14 include former State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Kronbergs, Minister of Agriculture, head of the Union of Greens and Farmers (SZF) Armands Krauze, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Girts Kruminsh, Deputy Head of the Strategy and Support Department of the Ministry of Agriculture Ilze Silamikele, former Chairman of the Board of JSC "Latvijas Valsts meži" (LVM) Peteris Putnins, Chairwoman of the Board of LVM Zane Drinķe, Advisor to the Chairman of the Board of LVM Valdis Luks, Vice President of the Latvian Federation of the Woodworking Industry Kristaps Klaus, official of the timber industry enterprise "Pata" Reinis Muiznieks, and owner of "Pata" Uldis Mierkalns.
