Supreme Court sends Stankevici apartment case to Constitutional Court

Latvia’s Supreme Court has suspended proceedings in a six-year dispute over an apartment bought by the Stankevici family and referred the case to the Constitutional Court, LSM reported.

The family bought the apartment in 2020 and moved in, but later learned that it had been seized. The seller had taken possession of the apartment and sold it without the owner’s permission, although the seller had power of attorney to sell the property.

The Supreme Court said it considers amendments to the law made this spring unlawful in relation to the other injured party. It wants the Constitutional Court to review the issue, but the court may reject the application.

The family pursued the case in court as good-faith buyers. A lower court initially ruled in their favour, but higher courts later ordered the apartment returned to its original owner.

Inga Stankevica told LSM that the Supreme Court’s decision had dashed the family’s remaining hopes of keeping their home. “It means we will continue living out of suitcases,” she said.