Aivars Lembergs

Lembergs was born in Jēkabpils, Latvia. He studied economics in Latvian State University (now known as the University of Latvia), graduating in 1977. He then worked in various positions in the Communist party of Latvia, becoming mayor of Ventspils in 1988. He stayed in this position after Latvia became independent and has been re-elected five times. Lembergs was the leader of the local political party, Latvijai un Ventspilij ("For Latvia and Ventspils") which he founded in 1994. Latvijai un Ventspilij has completely dominated the city politics since it was founded.

Before the 2006 parliamentary election, Lembergs' party Latvijai and Ventspilij entered into an alliance with the Union of Greens and Farmers and the Union of Greens and Farmers named Lembergs as its candidate for the Prime Minister of Latvia. He remains its leading figure and chief financial supporter.[3] He is one of the three "oligarchs" against which Zatlers' Reform Party had pledged to act if it achieves office.[4]

Since 2008 he has faced a long-running investigation for bribery, money laundering and abuse of office; he vehemently denies all wrongdoing.[5][6][7][8][9]

Lembergs also featured in the 2016 Panama papers offshore scandal.[10] On 9 December 2019, the US government blocked his US assets under the Magnitsky Act.[11]

On 10 December 2019, the US State Department declared him, his wife and children ineligible for entry into the US.[12]

On 23 March 23 2020, Ventspils City Council deputy Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis has turned to the State Police with a request to start a criminal process against Lembergs for his defamatory claims voiced against minority deputy and state official Kristovskis.[13]

Media related to Aivars Lembergs at Wikimedia Commons