Minister of Agriculture Armand Krauze confirmed that during procedural actions, his phone and computer were seized, but he rejected information about his detention. Meanwhile, the prosecutor's office previously officially reported that Krauze was detained in connection with the logging industry support case.
The scandal surrounding the investigation into the logging industry continues to rapidly develop. Minister of Agriculture Armand Krauze confirmed to LETA that during procedural actions, law enforcement authorities seized his computer and mobile phone, as well as obtained various documents.
At the same time, Krauze denies that he was detained.
This statement directly contradicts the official information from the prosecutor's office, which previously reported that Krauze and the director of the State Chancellery, Raivis Kronbergs, were detained during procedural actions.
According to Krauze, no charges have been brought against him, and he is participating in the process because he personally approached the Prosecutor General's Office with a statement.
The minister claims that all investigative actions are related to this appeal.
He stated that he participated in procedural activities in the morning and voluntarily provided his data to the investigation. According to him, he was informed that he is not considered detained.
In fact, an unusual situation has now arisen where the statements of the subject of the investigation diverge from the official position of the prosecutor's office.
The reaction of Prime Minister Evika Silina added additional political resonance to the case. Even before announcing her own resignation, she relieved Krauze of his ministerial duties, stating that she cannot "tolerate even a shadow of suspicion" over government members.
Krauze himself called the prime minister's actions cowardly and stated that this would complicate further political cooperation. After leaving the government, he intends to return to work in the Saeima as a deputy.
The investigation is related to possible abuses in providing state support to logging enterprises through long-term contracts with the state enterprise "Latvian State Forests" (LVM).
The prosecutor's office believes that crimes in public service may have been committed during the adjustment of prices in these contracts.
Searches have already been conducted at the residences and workplaces of several individuals, and KNAB has been involved in the procedural actions.
Particular attention was drawn to the case by the fact that the State Audit Office canceled the publication of the effectiveness audit of oversight over LVM at the last moment after a complaint from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Earlier, an internal investigation had already questioned the justification for the support provided to the logging industry, although no critical financial situation of the companies was identified.
Krauze continues to insist that the ministry's internal audit found no damage to the state.
Now the investigation is becoming not only a criminal matter but also a political crisis — against the backdrop of an already resigned government and growing pressure on the ruling coalition.
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