Latvijas Attīstībai denies Ramoliņš's claims, plans to file police complaint

The Latvijas Attīstībai (LA) party has denied claims by Andris Ramoliņš, owner of sawmill company Stiga RM, that the party was linked to political pressure on former Competition Council chairman Juris Gaiķis over the sale of the Norupe sawmill.

LA secretary general Laila Spaliņa said the party never had any connection to Ramoliņš's problems and that LA board chairman Juris Pūce never called anyone regarding the matter. She said Ramoliņš will definitely need to apologize for his claims, adding that LA's lawyers are preparing a complaint to the State Police over the spreading of false information a week before elections.

Background of the dispute

Ramoliņš, whose company has sued both Gaiķis and the Competition Council in court, claims Gaiķis tried to influence the Norupe sale due to political pressure. Stiga RM bought the sawmill in April 2024 at auction from municipal company Rīgas meži for about six million euros, with the Competition Council raising no objections. Gaiķis later wrote to the Riga City Council claiming public information had circulated about Ramoliņš's alleged involvement in bribery — though in reality State Revenue Service officials had tried to extort a bribe from Ramoliņš himself, which he reported to the anti-corruption bureau KNAB.

During the ensuing litigation, Gaiķis reportedly said he was pressured by other council members to write the letter and also mentioned a call from Pūce. Ramoliņš believes the letter was connected to the appointment of Elita Baklāne-Ansberga as capital shareholder representative for Rīgas meži; the council ultimately rejected her candidacy in April 2024.

Latvijas Attīstībai grew out of an association co-founded by timber businessman Uldis Mierkalns, now one of several people facing criminal proceedings in a separate timber industry case. On the former Norupe site, Stiga RM is building a 92-million-euro plywood factory, and the group's concern reported profit of 12.274 million euros last year.