Olafs Berķis

The real reason why one of the founders of Latvijas Avīze (Latvia’s newspaper) published at Lauku Avīze (Rural newspaper) (LA) Viesturs Serdāns left the Board of the LA after 25 years of work, is because of the behaviour and «desire» of the millionaire and founder of the Latvijas attistībai (For Latvia’s development) association Olafs Berķis, portal Pietiek.com writes.

Even though officially he explained his decision by saying that he wants to start his own business, Pietiek is well aware that Berķis and Serdāns did not share what is known as «relationships based on mutual understanding», and Berķis also often commented the contents of the newspaper. This, on the other hand, was unacceptable for Serdāns.

Berķis became the Chairman of the Council of Latvijas Avīze (Latvia’s newspaper) in the beginning of 2012. He became the leader of the Council along with yet another takeover in the board of Ventbunkers, as a result of which Berķis received the post of Chairman of the Council of Ventbunkers.

Ventbunkers, which has been engaged in a long shareholder fight for control in the company, has been the owner of the Latvijas Avīze (Latvia’s newspaper) publisher house for many years. The publishing house was purchased by Ventbunkers in secret in 2001 – while Ventbunkers was the under control of Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs, and at the time a reliable person to Lembergs, Berķis became the manager of Ventbunkers. The company paid around seven million LVL for the purchase of LA. This deal was kept in secret for a long time, and the information regarding it was not available.

Serdāns’ resignation took place in the beginning of July and was officially explained with his wish to take up private business. Serdāns was reluctant to comment his resignation, adding that «it is important to choose priority and secondary issues in life».

As the portal notes, the newspaper is currently searching for a replacement for Serdāns – a person that could become a Chairman of the Council of LA. Guntars Kļavinskis, whom Berķis appointed as Chairman of LA with Serdāns’ resignation, is only a temporary figure.

Changes in the Board of LA were registered in the beginning of July. The publishing house began its work in 1987 as Lauku avīze, it publishes Latvijas avīze (Latvia’s newspaper), magazines Mājas Viesis (Home guest), Praktiskais Latvietis (Practical Latvian), as well as a series of books «Lata Romāns». Serdāns has been working at LA since its foundation.

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