Latvijas Avīze revealed the background of the resignation of the state secretary of the Ministry of Defense Aivars Purinš.
Previously, he served as an advisor on national security to President Edgars Rinkēvičs, holding a master's degree in global security (Cranfield University, UK), and before that, he was the deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Defense for procurement issues.
Minister Andris Sprūds, however, accused him of "unfounded statements and accusations circulated in the public space." Meanwhile, A. Purinš was appointed head of the interdepartmental commission regarding the so-called timber industry case, which nearly led to the collapse of the government.
"There is a sense of tension in the ministry," notes Latvijas Avīze, "Defense Minister Andris Sprūds has created a bureau for himself, where most members are representatives of his party, predominantly people previously unconnected to the defense sector. For example, parliamentary secretary Liene Gatere, and advisor on defense industry development – Inese Taurinā. Both have previously led the organization 'Publicity for Openness - Delna' at different times.
The minister's bureau also includes many old members of the 'Progressives' party. Mārtiņš Kossovičs and Ervīns Labanoivskis are both advisors on defense industry development – they combine these responsibilities with entrepreneurial activities and political positions in local governments. Another member of the 'Progressives', Imants Lieģis, is an advisor on diplomacy.
It is also evident that Sprūds places a significant emphasis on communication, where he even has three advisors (on strategic communication, public communication, and digital content)."
Meanwhile, former Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis (now a member of the Saeima from the 'United List') expresses confusion: "The minister does not have a military advisor, which is a common practice in many countries."
