Fund managed by Latvian minister’s wife provides money to suspended Ventspils mayor’s mouthpiece Ventas Balss
by BNN
The Social Integration Fund (SIF) managed by Zaiga Pūce, who is the wife of Latvian Environment Protection and Regional Development Minister (VARAM) Juris Pūce, has allocated financial support to reduce negative consequences from COVID-19 to the so-called Aivars Lembergs’ controlled newspaper Ventspils Balss.
«SIF’s decision mentions Ventas Balss as a regional printed media and internet news portal and it is provided funding of EUR 6 998.68. But it is no secret that public funds are used to put in a show in the form of weekly press-conferences of the suspended Ventspils mayor Aivars Lembergs, where one of the main ‘journalist’ roles is played by editor in chief of Ventas Balss Gundega Mertena,» BNN was told by Ventspils City Council opposition deputy Aivis Landmanis.
The newspaper not only frequently outlines a one-sided opinion but also racist headlines the editor had likely approved as appropriate in an interview with Lembergs.
VARAM is informed of Ventas Balss newspaper, its financial sources and success in keeping society in Ventspils «informed», says A.Landmanis. However, the question is – is SIF aware of the content produced by Ventas Balss?
Ventas Balss editor was once punished for reporting fake news. The court then made Mertena apologize for the statements made in the article, as well as cover court expenses and pay compensation for moral damages of EUR 500.
It should be added that BNN had previously performed a study of Ventspils City Council using capital associations and family ties to execute schemes to avoid responsibility tens of thousands of ‘promotional articles’ published in Ventas Balss to advertise companies controlled by Lembergs.
More on this topic: Ventas Balss – multi-million «trough» for Lembergs’ reputation
It should be said that judging from data from Procurement Monitoring Bureau (IUB) it can be concluded that since 2008 LLC Ventas Balss has received more than EUR 1.7 million from Ventspils City Council.
For example, one of Ventspils City Council’s signed contracts with Ventas Balss for 2017 and 2018 was worth EUR 369 066. This amount was allocated through a talks procedure without organizing a tender. In 2017 Ventspils county council had also assisted with ‘information service provision’. According to data from IUB, the total amount provided to the media reached EUR 413 596. And this is the money paid by residents in taxes.
Latvia’s Environment Protection and Regional Development Ministry under Juris Pūce is the institution that is supposed to observe the situation in municipalities and take action against perpetrators.