The investigation into the governor of the Latvian central bank has put the last country to have entered the eurozone under the spotlight. EURACTIV publishes a four-part series looking at the ‘Switzerland of the Baltic states’.
Money laundering, corruption, financing of terrorist activities and murder: the Latvian finance sector should be giving the European institutions cold sweats. The ECB and the European Commission are careful to avoid the subject, about which the European Parliament and the United States are the only ones trying to make things happen.
While parliamentary elections are expected on 6 October, the chaos in Latvia also illustrates the EU’s weakness in the face of Russian influence.
-
Latvia: The governor’s corruption undermines the ECB
Having been put under investigation for corruption at the end of June, the governor of Latvia's central bank is the third member of the ECB governing council to have been implicated in murky deals over the past year. EURACTIV France reports.
-
Latvia: When the United States scolded the ‘Switzerland of the Baltics’
Latvian bank Rietumu has been hit with a fine of €80 million by French judges for having laundered hundreds of millions of euros. EURACTIV France reports in the second part of its Special Report on Latvia.
-
Latvia: The thriller passes through the central bank
Murder, wire-tapping in a sauna and bribes: the corruption case involving the central bank of Latvia resembles a real Baltic thriller. EURACTIV France reports with a third article in our series on Latvia.
-
Latvian elections approach under high tension
The fight against corruption is one of the key campaign issues for the Latvian parliamentary elections on 6 October. However, the strange cabals, which are likely driven by Russia, are tending to tarnish the entire political class. EURACTIV France reports.