Latvia's anti-corruption chief Jēkabs Straume steps down after nine years
Jēkabs Straume, head of Latvia's Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB), has submitted his resignation; his last working day is 1 August. Ineta Cīrule will take over duties from 2 August.
The head of Latvia's Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB), Jēkabs Straume, has submitted his resignation. Elīna Šverna, communication adviser to Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, confirmed this to the LETA agency. The resignation was addressed to the prime minister and to Saeima Speaker Daiga Mieriņa. KNAB said Straume's final working day will be tomorrow, 1 August.
Straume explained that he has reached the age and length of service required for a service pension and decided to retire before the end of his mandate. He has led the bureau for nine years and believes significant work has been accomplished. Among his main achievements, he cited restoring the KNAB staff and overcoming internal divisions, saying that a professional, cohesive team was the basis for all subsequent successes.
In his view, KNAB has strengthened its position as a strong, professional and internationally recognised anti-corruption institution. He noted improvements in the corruption prevention system, better oversight of political funding and election campaigning, and the successful investigation of many complex corruption cases, as well as results achieved with partners in combating bribery of foreign officials. He also pointed to the development of KNAB's institutional capacity, including broader competence, stronger analytical capabilities and a more data-driven approach to identifying corruption risks. This, he said, has enabled KNAB to shift from reacting to past incidents to the timely identification and prevention of risks.
Straume expressed gratitude to all KNAB employees and partners in Latvia and abroad, singling out whistleblowers for whom integrity is a daily choice.
From 2 August, Ineta Cīrule, currently KNAB's deputy chief for investigative activities, is expected to take over the duties of bureau head. Straume first took the post in June 2017 and was re-appointed in 2022 for another five-year term. The bureau's chief is appointed by the Saeima on the government's recommendation, and the Saeima also has to decide on any removal from office.
