Lembergs has served as the Mayor of Ventspils, Latvia, since 1988. From that time, he has been repeatedly accused of money laundering, bribery, and abuse of office. Lembergs allegedly controls entities through political parties and corrupt politicians and systematically exploits those entities and individuals for his own economic gain. Lembergs is suspected of having used his influence over the leadership of political parties to shape government personnel and place certain government officials in positions, as well as to obstruct other government officials from obtaining leadership positions. Additionally, Lembergs is suspected of having leveraged and corrupted law enforcement officials to protect his interests and subvert politicians whom he otherwise was unable to control. [1]
Information
| IDENTIFYING INFORMATION | Politician / Oligarch |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 26.09.1953 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Latvia |
| NATIONALITY | Latvia |
| COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE | Latvia |
| FULL NAME | Aivars Lembergs |
| FIRST AND MIDDLE NAME(S) | Aivars |
| ALIASES | None |
| FAMILY MEMBERS | Ināra Lemberga - wife Anrijs Lemberga - son Līga Lemberga - daughter |
| FAMILY MEMBERS SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS | Ināra Lemberga - wife Anrijs Lemberga - son Līga Lemberga - daughter [1] |
| SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED LINKS TO LEGAL ENTITIES | Ventspils Freeport Authority, Ventspils Attistibas Agentura (also known as Ventspils Development Agency), Biznesa Attistibas Asociacija (also known as Business Development Association), and Latvijas Tranzita Biznesa Asociacija (also known as Latvian Transit Business Association) [1] Liga (daughter) linked to Canrif Limited [2] Laivins-Laivinieks mentioned such companies as the Liechtenstein-registered Annaplis Anstalt, a shareholder in the Latvia-registered company Puses, the British Virgin Islands-registered Barnes Industries, a co-owner of the Latvia-registered Baltimar VT, IAG Industrieanlagen GmbH (shareholder in Ventbunkers), Electrotech (Europe) Limited (shareholder in Noord Natie Ventspils Terminals, SZMA V, Ventshoes, VentTopaz), Digentia Corporation (shareholder in Ventrans), Kaywood International (shareholder in Ventako, Ventbetons, Venceb, Ventplac, Lat Transnafta), Somers Business Limited. According to Laivins-Laivinieks, the Lembergs are the actual beneficiaries in these companies, except the company Somers Business Limited where, besides the Lembergs, the beneficiaries also are Olafs Berkis, Igors Skoks and Mamerts Vaivads. In his testimony, Laivins-Laivinieks also mentioned the companies Netherfin Financial Services B.V. and London Industries. According to Laivins-Laivinieks, he represented several of these companies in Latvia. Laivins-Laivinieks' statement also said that Barnaby International N.V., the parent company of Netherfin Financial Services B.V., was bought in Aivars Lembergs' interest. The statement also mentions that the Lembergs were the actual beneficiaries in the Netherlands-registered company Bellaggingsmaatschappij Geit B.V., a co-owner of several Ventspils companies: Mineral-Trans-Serviss, Ostas flote, Seastar, Kalija parks, Ventspils tirdzniecibas osta. Laivins-Laivinieks reveals that his shares in the company Ventk Company Limited, the co-owner of the Ventspils companies Solvtrans, Ventspils Apvienota Baltijas banka, Ventspils tirdzniecibas sabiedriba, Ventminerals" and "Ventamonjaks, actually belong to Aivars Lembergs. Laivins-Laivinieks reveals that he worked as a proxy for the Lembergs at these companies. Aivars Lembergs and his son Anrijs Lembergs in most cases instructed Laivins-Laivinieks verbally, Laivins-Laivinieks said. [3] Neatkarīgā Rīta Avīze, a daily newspaper [4] |
| SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED LINKS TO OTHER BANK ACCOUNTS | Liga (daughter) is a beneficiary of a trust containing $10 million in assets by way of Canrif Limited. Cerise Trust Savings contains assets worth at least $10 million and has been linked to Lembergs - both children are listed as beneficiaries of the Cerise Trust. [1] |
| ESTIMATES OF ASSETS FROZEN OR CONFISCATED | Unknown |
| ESTIMATES OF ASSETS RETURNED | None |
| SANCTIONS REGIMES | US Global Magnitsky Sanctions. [1] |
| START OF SANCTIONS | 09.12.2019 [1] |