Thursday, June 28, AS Ventbunkers shareholders meeting elected a new Supervisory Council, with Rudolf Meroni as its Chairman. Thus, the controversial millionaire Olafs Berkis loses the post of Supervisory Council Chairman, which he obtained unlawfully. All his associates have also been dismissed from the Supervisory Council.

AS Ventbunkers shareholders meeting elected Aivars Gobins, Gints Laivins Laivenieks, Arita Linde and Diana Jukna as members of the Supervisory Council. The newly approved Supervisory Council then appointed a new Management Board, with David Anstis as the Chairman, but Alvis Haze, Janis Haze and Aivis Landmanis as Management Board members.

All the documents of the shareholders meeting were sent to the Enterprise Register. The shareholders meeting was convened in full accordance with the Commercial Law. 71.38% of shareholders were represented.

The new Supervisory Council and Management Board approve of the fact that Justice Minister Gaidis Berzins has stepped down, as he is considered to be a close person of oligarch Aivars Lembergs. They hope that now Berkis and Lembergs “team” will no longer advise the Enterprise Register, which previously registered decisions taken in false AS Ventbunkers shareholders meetings. Thus, the Enterprise Register practically backed illegal take-over of an enterprise.

In addition, the new Supervisory Council and Management Board support Janis Bordans’ candidacy for the post of Justice Minister, as he has never been associated with Lembergs and Berkis. The company hopes that Bordans will finally see to it that the Enterprise Register follows the rule of law and registers only decisions taken in legitimate Ventbunkers shareholders meetings.

“It is understandable that Ventbunkers cash flow is a desirable goal for those, whose wealth has dropped due to legal proceedings in London and Latvia, as well as failed real estate investments. After all, they still want to have political influence. However, as the representative of Latvian public interest, I believe that the company’s funds should not be wasted on questionable Berkis and Lembergs’ money laundering schemes,” says Rudolf Meroni, Ventbunkers Chairman of the Supervisory Council.

AS Ventbunkers also reminds that Berkis had no right to claim the post of Supervisory Council Chairman, because on December 13, 2011, Ventspils court nullified Ventbunkers shareholders meeting (December 18, 2009), where Berkis and his associates took over the company. He was then appointed as Supervisory Council Chairman. The court ruling entered into force on January 3, 2012.

Besides, Berkis has repeatedly failed in asking Latvian courts to nullify Ventbunkers shareholders meeting, held in Switzerland on 22 January 2010. Back then, Rudolf Meroni was elected Chairman of the Supervisory Council.

Berkis has distributed false information that Riga City Kurzeme District Court ruled last year to nullify the shareholders meeting, convened on January 22, 2010. In fact the ruling clearly and unequivocally shows that the shareholders meeting held in Switzerland was lawful. 71.38% Ventbunkers shareholders were represented.

AS Ventbunkers also points out that on April 26, 2012, the Latvian Supreme Court Chamber of Civil Cases denied lawyer Martins Kveps’ right to represent AS Ventbunkers interests. Kveps had been claiming to be an authorized representative of the company, but the court stated it could not be sure of such rights’ legitimacy. Kveps’ power was granted by Ventbunkers Management Board Chairman Dzintars Kass (his name was recorded in the Enterprise Register). The particular court ruling was very significant, because it finally recognized that AS Ventbunkers take-over in the interests of oligarchs was not lawful.

Ref: 105.105.105.1675