Olaine Council Member Vurčs Sentenced to 200 Hours of Community Service for False Information

The Riga District Court has imposed 200 hours of community service on Andris Vurčs, a member of the Olaine municipal council in Latvia, for knowingly giving false information to the local election commission, Latvian Television reported. The ruling matters because, once a guilty verdict takes effect, his council mandate would have to be given up.

Vurčs was elected from the list "Suverēnā vara/Apvienība Jaunlatvieši" (Sovereign Power/Jaunlatvieši Alliance). When running in elections, he repeatedly stated that he had received his secondary education at Olaine Secondary School No. 1.

How doubts about the claim emerged

After the previous municipal elections, Vurčs managed to secure the post of deputy mayor in the Olaine municipal council. His schoolmates then told Latvian Television that they doubted the accuracy of the information he had provided.

What happens next

Vurčs told Latvian Television that the ruling would be appealed. Until a final court decision is reached, he may continue to perform his duties as a council member in Olaine.

If the conviction enters into force, he would have to give up his council mandate.