Care home investment scheme offers Latvian residence permits

A company linked to Latvian Economic Institute director Ņina Linde advertised residence permits in exchange for investment in a planned senior care home, LSM reported. The offer has also drawn attention to Linde’s connection to a citizenship scandal involving Indian citizen Divja Višvanata.

Investors were offered help obtaining a Latvian residence permit for a €50,000 investment in shares of the project in Spuņciems. The company said the permit would provide access to the European Union and the Schengen area, and advertised other benefits for larger investments.

The planned rehabilitation and wellness complex for seniors was described as having 110 rooms, 136 beds and a spa. The project is associated with AS Lights Medical, led by Linde as chief executive and Džeralds Hopštēdters as development director.

The company’s website lists the project in Spuņciems, in Mārupes municipality, but gives no precise address. The municipality told LSM that Lights Medical owns a building there, bought in 2022, and that nothing has happened at the property since. It said it had no direct connection with Linde, the company or its business activities.

LSM said it had been unable to reach Linde since October 26. The Latvian Television programme Panorāma received a response saying she was ill and would answer by email, but no answers had arrived by the time of the report.