Former Saeima deputy Arturs Kaimiņš will have to pay over 24,000 euros - this decision was upheld by the Vidzeme District Court, rejecting his appeal. The lawsuit against the politician was filed by the insurance company Balta, demanding compensation for damages after the fire that occurred in the apartment where he lived.
Earlier, a similar decision was made by the Riga District Court; however, Kaimiņš attempted to appeal the verdict, but unsuccessfully.
The fire occurred at the end of 2019. As a result of the incident, Kaimiņš himself suffered burns. Experts determined that the fire started due to a cigarette, a candle, or another low-power heat source - it ignited the bed in the bedroom.
Kaimiņš himself stated to journalists at the time that the cause was a mattress made of foam that caught fire from the light bulbs. He tried to throw it out of the window, suffered burns to his hands, but managed to escape from the apartment.
The rental agreement between Kaimiņš and the apartment owner stipulated that the tenant was obliged to compensate for damages caused by his fault. After the fire, the insurance company Balta compensated the homeowner 22,785 euros and filed a lawsuit to recover this amount from Kaimiņš.
Now the former deputy will have to pay not only compensation but also legal costs.
