The "Woodworkers' Scandal": Minister and 9 Others Under Suspicion! 0 12

Today brought several sensations. The first is the detention of a sitting government minister! The second is the detention of the current director of the State Chancellery, who is also suspected of obstructing investigative actions! The third is that the Attorney General was forced to hold a press conference to announce the criminal proceedings initiated against officials. Moreover, specific names of individuals against whom criminal proceedings have been initiated were mentioned, and who, accordingly, have the right to defense.

So, at today’s press conference, Attorney General Armīns Meisters announced that the investigation into the "woodworkers' case" has entered an active phase, specifically regarding the assistance provided by the state to private wood processing companies, as a result of which, it is likely, illegal assistance was provided, possibly leading to losses for the state amounting to 50 million. Within the framework of this investigation, as many as 10 people have come under suspicion - this includes the Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze (already suspended from office by the Prime Minister), the director of the State Chancellery Raivis Kronbergs (held in custody on suspicion of obstructing the investigation, but is likely to be released today), the state secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Girts Krūmiņš, a civil servant from the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as a number of former and current officials of the state company "Latvijas valsts meži" and the wood processing company PATA.

The Attorney General categorically rejected all speculation that the detentions and interrogations of officials were in any way related (timed) to the government crisis and the Prime Minister's resignation. Armīns Meisters emphasized once again that the prosecution acts completely independently of politics and does not consult with any politicians in any way.