Ameriks Claims in Court He Was 'Nowhere Near' Demanding a Bribe for Passenger Transport

In a dramatic courtroom showdown, former Riga deputy mayor Andris Ameriks has vehemently denied allegations of demanding a substantial bribe. The case centers on accusations that Ameriks, alongside former Riga Mayor Nils Ušakovs, conspired to influence changes in passenger transport regulations to benefit the company 'Rīgas mikroautobusu satiksme' (RMS). Ameriks, speaking at the Economic Crimes Court, declared he was "nowhere near" the alleged dealings. The prosecution claims that in September 2017, Ušakovs and Ameriks proposed to RMS's indirect owner, Aleksandrs Brandavs, that they could facilitate amendments to laws, allowing for fare reductions on RMS minibuses similar to those offered on 'Rīgas satiksme' vehicles. Such changes, it is argued, would significantly boost RMS's passenger numbers and profits. In return, the officials allegedly demanded a bribe equivalent to 50% of the Riga City Council funding allocated to RMS for these reduced fares. Brandavs, after calculating the potential financial benefits, reportedly agreed to a bribe of 30% in cash or 45% via bank transfer. The agreement, as detailed by the prosecution, was for a cash payment of 30%, estimated to be no less than 19,000 euros per month. This case has already seen previous attempts to lift immunity for both Ušakovs and Ameriks, which were unsuccessful in April. Ušakovs has since been re-elected to the European Parliament, while Ameriks did not participate in the recent elections. The ongoing legal proceedings highlight a significant corruption probe that has cast a shadow over prominent political figures in Riga, raising questions about transparency and accountability in public service.

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