Ventspils City Council’s shadow looms over FK Ventspils envelope wage scheme

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«The interests of the suspended Ventspils mayor Aivars Lembergs in LLC Football Club Ventspils (FK Ventspils) are implemented through its members – Ventspils City Council and LLC VK Transit, as well as FK Ventspils board members Kārlis Gubāts and maybe even Inga Mikuļčika,» BNN was told by Ventspils City Council deputy Aivis Landmanis.

He says on 23 January Ventspils City Council made the decision with which the city council proposed preserving Ventspils Freeport authority’s funding for FK Ventspils, approved on 22 November 2019, at EUR 383 000 without VAT.

«On 19 February Ventspils City Council made a decision with which the city council insists on preserving Ventspils Freeport authority’s advertisement financing at FK Ventspils. By making this decision, Ventspils City Council deputies were not told anything about the possible sale the city council’s owned shares and the problems associated with management of said shares. It was the opposite, everything pointed towards the fact that Ventspils Freeport authority needs to continue supporting FK Ventspils,» says A.Landmanis.

He reminded that «once the members of Ventspils Freeport board (until mid-December 2019) Aivars Lembergs, Jānis Vītoliņš, Guntis Blumbergs and Didzis Ošenieks provided FK Ventspils with generous ‘advertisement’ contracts financed using Ventspils Freeport authority’s budget for years while also serving as officials of Ventspils City Council and Ventspils Freeport authority».

FK Ventspils board still has Ventspils City Council representative Kārlis Gubāts (from 26.03.2018) – Ventspils City Council’s Sports Office vice-manager; Inga Mikuļčika (from 11.06.2019) – FK Ventspils administration worker; Adlans Šišhanovs (from 26.03.2018) – a citizen of the Russian Federation.

As ex-captain of FK Ventspils Jevgeņijs Kazačoks mentioned in an interview to LTV programme Sports Studio on 25 May, he, when playing for Kurzeme club, received not only an official wage but also a bonus in an envelope (about EUR 2 000) every month. As it is known, aside from Jevgeņijs Kazačoks, a statement about «envelope pay» has been provided also by Ņikita Koļesovs. It was mentioned in the interview that every year the club attracts and signs contracts with approximately 40 players, whose standard contract provided a wage between minimal to approximately EUR 1 000, depending on qualifications. In reality, however, players received considerable amounts in envelopes.

This way players received 20 000 to 35 000 euros in envelopes every year, says A.Landmanis.

The programme reports that the Kurzeme club official Adlans Šišhanovs primarily blames ex-president of Latvian Football Federation (LFF) Kaspars Gorkšs for all of his problems with the State Revenue Service (VID). In the past, he had voiced support for Gorkšs in the LFF presidential elections. Shortly after, however, he became his biggest opponent.

«The judge, the couch, the federation and Gorkšs are always to blame. But I believe it is far more important to clean up your business,» as Gorkšs denied accusations at the time.

As previously reported, VID has commenced criminal processes and has performed multiple searches, investigating «envelope pay». This includes the search at FK Ventspils and homes of multiple involved persons on 5 May.

More on this topic: State Revenue Service shakes down corrupt Ventspils mayor’s treasure – Ventspils Football Club

«Our small share, which does not actually affect much in the club’s life and everyday operations, it would be best if it didn’t exist and the club was 100% private. Then there would be greater freedom for private owners of the club. At the same time, we will continue developing football, especially child and teen football,» said the suspended and criminally accused Ventspils mayor Aivars Lembergs at the 30 April 2020 meeting of Ventspils City Council, commenting on the decision to sell the city council’s owned shares in FK Ventspils.

Aivis Landmanis stresses that Lembergs chose to omit information that he controls and has controlled FK Ventspils, as well as the fact that LLC VK Transit remains one of the club’s largest owners (34.3125%). This company has close ties to US sanctioned Lembergs.

«Ventspils City Council’s share in FK Ventspils has never exceeded 11.22%. It was 5% in 1997-2006 and 7% in 2007-2014. Control over LLC VK Fentspils was provided for Lembergs by means of many refined methods. This is why ownership of shares by Ventspils City Council and nearly unnoticeable influence is considered the least important controlling and influencing mechanism,» says the city council’s deputy.

The ones responsible in the palm of your hand

According to Aivis Landmanis: «Responsibility for what happened with FK Ventspils should be taken not so much by Russian citizen Adlans Šišhanovs but for the most part by: Aivars Lembergs as the head of Ventspils City Council and its representative in FK Ventspils board Kārlis Gubāts; vice-chairman of the city council and ex-board member of Ventspils Freeport Jānis Vītoliņš, Guntis Blumberg (also former FK Ventspils board chairman) and Didzis Ošenieks, as well as city council executive director Aldis Ābele and first vice-director and head of the Capital Management Office Rita Ozoliņa».

«Russian citizen’s approval as an indirect member of FK Ventspils and board chairman could not have been done without Aivars Lembergs’ approval. It is possible Russian citizen Adlans Šišhanovs was cheated, because who knows what Aivars Lembergs promised him. One thing is clear, the possible promise of ‘lifetime’ assistance from Ventspils Freeport authority is no longer possible for Aivars Lembergs to fulfil,» says A.Landmanis.

He also reminds that between 10.05.2012 and 26.03.2018 Ventspils City Council’s vice-chairman Guntis Blumbergs was FK Ventspils board chairman and had the rights to represent the company. He was later replaced as board member with rights to represent the company by Ventspils City Council representative Kārlis Gubāts.

Even before them Ventspils City Council was represented in the board of FK Ventspils by former city council deputy Dainis Gīlis.

Opposition deputy Aivis Landmanis also believes LLC VK Transit is directly tied to Aivars Lembergs whose son-in-law legally owns shares in the company.

Among the members in FK Ventspils are AS Kālija parks, Ventspils Commercial Port, historically Latvian Shipping Company, Ventspils Nafta, Ventamonjaks serviss, Ventbunkers, Ventamonjaks, New Venta, Uniparks. These companies became owners of FK Ventspils in a time when they were controlled by Aivars Lembergs, says Aivis Landmanis.

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