Ringolds Balodis

Most likely, it was no mere coincidence that Ventspils millionaire Olafs Berkis was elected Chairman of AS Ventbunkers Supervisory Council and the so-called Ventspils transit war saw yet another turn of events.

The so-called “cashier” of the political party Unity Edgars Jaunups is said to have lent a helping hand here. He is also a member of the newly founded association For Latvia’s Development and a close friend of Berkis, reports the portal Pietiek.

As usually, he refuses to make any comments.

Jaunups is said to have been the “influential” person, close to the ruling coalition, who contacted Ringolds Balodis, the Chief Notary of the Enterprise Register, already last year. His aim was to convince the Enterprise Register to record decisions made in Ventbunkers shareholders meetings, convened in Berkis’ interests.

According to a number of Pietiek sources, Jaunups and Balodis met several times in late 2011 and early 2012. Reportedly, in exchange for registering the decisions, Jaunups offered Balodis Unity and the coalition’s support in next year’s re-election of the Chief State Notary.

Balodis does not deny meeting with Jaunups. However, his words imply that there are no grounds to claim that he has been subject to political pressure. Similarly, he rejects claims that the Enterprise Register is supporting Berkis’ interests in the so-called Ventspils transit war.

“I cannot confirm anything like that. It is not true,” he says.

In an interview to Pietiek, he could not recall when exactly the meetings took place but stressed that they had nothing to do with Ventspils fights. Balodis dismisses accusations that the Enterprise Register is subject to certain political interests.

BNN already reported, in early 2012, Ventspils transit war saw a new turn of events, when the so-called Aivars Lembergs’ opponents (with Berkis in the lead) seized power over Ventbunkers. Until then, the company was managed by the Swiss attorney Rudolf Meroni.

Ref: 102.105.105.1437