Vaškevič’s lawyer appeals corruption conviction to Supreme Court

The lawyer for former Customs Criminal Board chief Vladimir Vaškevič has appealed to the Supreme Court against an appellate court ruling that found him guilty in a corruption case, LSM reported, citing the LETA news agency.

A lower court sentenced Vaškevič to six years in prison. Earlier this year, an appellate court overturned that ruling and imposed a sentence of five years and eight months. It also ordered the confiscation of 7,395 lats, equivalent to 10,522 euros, 12,595 euros and 270 US dollars. The prosecutor had asked for a sentence of five years and 11 months.

Vaškevič is in Russia, where he was granted refugee status on March 7, 2022, and was not present at the trial. The court said authorities had taken all reasonable steps to locate him and ensure his participation, but that all reasonable legal options had been exhausted. Russian security authorities did not provide information about his precise whereabouts.

Vaškevič is accused of giving more than 60,000 euros in bribes to Talis Kravalis, then director of the State Revenue Service’s Customs Board. The alleged payments were intended to secure a favourable decision in an investigation involving a company, prevent checks of other people and businesses, and influence the performance of duties related to combating smuggling, customs administration and tax-payment oversight. Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau detained Vaškevič on the night of February 1, 2011.