KNAB seeks prosecution of former VARAM state secretary

Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, known as KNAB, has asked prosecutors to bring criminal charges against former VARAM state secretary Edvīns Balševics over three alleged cases of disclosing restricted information.

KNAB said its pretrial investigation found evidence suggesting that the official repeatedly shared information in his possession with other people despite having no official need to disclose it. The alleged disclosures concerned restricted-access material.

Investigators believe Balševics may have used a messaging application to share documents connected with court proceedings, public administration projects and a review conducted by a law-enforcement agency. KNAB said the conduct showed signs of an offense under Article 329 of Latvia’s Criminal Law, which covers the disclosure of confidential information by a public official responsible for safeguarding it.

KNAB sent the criminal case materials to the Prosecutor’s Office for Investigation of Criminal Offenses in State Institutions on Sept. 2. The prosecution service will now decide the next steps. The case follows an investigation launched after information emerged about possible disclosure of confidential material linked to information-technology procurements. VARAM had also ordered an internal review while Balševics was still state secretary.

KNAB stressed that everyone involved in criminal proceedings has the right to a defense and that the presumption of innocence applies until guilt is established under the law.