Former Daugavpils mayor says he is ready to serve prison sentence

Former Daugavpils mayor Rihards Eigims says he is ready to serve a prison sentence, telling LSM’s Latgale regional programme “Vietējais jautājums” that prison is “not the worst place” and that people live there.

Eigims was detained in 2018 by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau and accused of demanding a 10,000-euro bribe and possessing ammunition. A first-instance court sentenced him to three years in prison for bribery. In June 2025, the Riga Regional Court reduced the sentence to 18 months. It is not yet known when a final guilty verdict may be issued.

Eigims said he hopes to spend only 12 months in prison. He denies the bribery accusation but accepts responsibility for possessing the ammunition. Eight cartridges were found at his home. He said he had surrendered his pistol and one magazine but forgotten a second magazine with the cartridges beneath some papers.

Eigims has served three terms as Daugavpils mayor and been a member of parliament for three terms. He has stepped away from politics and is developing the Stalkers recreation park near Daugavpils.