Appeal in former priest Zviedris' money laundering case to continue in November

The Riga Regional Court continues hearing the criminal case against former priest Zviedris, whom prosecutors accuse of laundering criminally obtained funds. At the next session, before deciding whether to conclude the judicial investigation, the court will hear the parties' positions on possible contradictions in the first-instance ruling, as well as on the prosecutor's decision to amend the charges and make corrections to the submitted appeal protest.

Previous verdict and appeal

The Economic Affairs Court had initially fully acquitted Zviedris, but the prosecution appealed the ruling by filing a protest.

Substance of the charges

The charges cover the period from 2015 to 2019. During this time, Zviedris allegedly deposited 48,742 euros in cash into his bank accounts. Prosecutors believe that, to disguise the origin of these funds, he transferred them together with legally earned money — 68,945 euros in total — to another account and used them to participate in apartment auctions. He reportedly purchased several apartments but later withdrew part of the money, 29,560 euros, back to himself.

According to the prosecution's calculations, the priest converted 39,384 euros into property and spent 4,780 euros in other ways, laundering a total of 53,522 euros. He is said to have helped a relative buy an apartment with this money and purchased a Volkswagen Multivan car in cash.

Zviedris' defense

Zviedris denies guilt. He states that a priest's salary is very small, and he mostly lived off donations from people — sometimes generous, sometimes modest. He says he observed this practice among clergy already as a student and considered it normal.

The Roman Catholic Church's Riga Archdiocese has stated that Zviedris has been suspended from priestly duties, meaning he is now being tried not as a church official but as a private individual.