Alleged abuse report fuels Riga mayor removal push

Riga’s opposition is continuing to gather signatures to remove Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs, while concerns have emerged that a report about an alleged offence against a young woman was used in political manoeuvring. LSM’s investigative programme De Facto reported that the woman had not agreed to the publicity and was distressed by being identified.

The latest development in the push to remove Kleinbergs, of the Progressives party, came after newspaper Diena reported on October 1 that former Riga councillor and Progressives member Mārtiņš Eņģelis may have induced a person under 18 to engage in sexual activity. Police have opened a criminal case to investigate his possible actions.

Eņģelis chaired Riga’s Youth Affairs Consultative Commission from January until he resigned his council mandate on September 10, publicly citing burnout. The Progressives’ leadership had asked him to leave both the council and the party after receiving warnings of possible ethical violations, but not of a possible crime.

According to information obtained by De Facto, the young woman asked in early September for no further action to be taken and for her identity to remain confidential. She had not consented to extensive publicity or to becoming an instrument in political disputes, the programme reported. The publication enabled her to be identified and caused her renewed distress. Diena declined to comment on how its article was prepared.

Behind-the-scenes discussions about possible changes to Riga’s leadership took place shortly before the United List’s convincing victory in parliamentary elections. Parties raised concerns that the case had been used in pre-election political battles. Although the Riga coalition partners have since reached a truce, mutual trust remains weak, De Facto reported.