Latvia’s anti-corruption bureau will not open criminal case over alleged fictitious election commission employee

Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, KNAB, will not open a criminal case over allegations that the Central Election Commission employed a fictitious worker.

During its review, KNAB examined documents and explanations from people involved. It found that the Central Election Commission and Riga’s municipal election commission had signed fixed-term employment and service contracts with consultants for periods of one or more months.

The consultants were mainly recruited for their previous experience organizing elections. Some worked part time, performed their duties remotely and used their own equipment. Statements from colleagues also confirmed that the consultants had actually carried out their assigned work, KNAB said.

After assessing the information as a whole, the bureau found no basis to begin criminal proceedings and decided this summer not to open a case.

The review followed a March claim on inc-baltics.com that the Central Election Commission employed at least one fictitious worker. The report alleged that the woman had been hired so her husband could avoid a sharp increase in alimony payments. Another informant claimed the fictitious employment took place at Riga’s city election commission.