Prosecutor imposes penalty on Riga Education Department director for misuse of official car

The Latvian Prosecutor's Office has completed a criminal case against Ivars Balamovskis, the director of the Riga City Council's Education, Culture and Sports Department, who was accused of misusing a service vehicle. According to the prosecutor's office, in November and December 2025, after work hours, Balamovskis used the official car for personal purposes. To conceal these violations and save personal expenses on fuel and parking, he filled out route sheets with false information about the start and end points of his trips.

The prosecutor's office stated that the municipality did not suffer any material loss. The case was concluded with a prosecutor's order for punishment, but the specific penalty has not been disclosed as the decision can be appealed. It is expected to come into force by the end of this week. The Criminal Law provides for penalties including up to four years' imprisonment, probation supervision, community service, or a fine, as well as deprivation of the right to hold a specific position for up to five years.

Balamovskis had previously announced his resignation from the post. He admitted to using the service car to drive home after work and failing to make appropriate entries in the route documents. He noted that the violations occurred during a period when the department was handling several complex tasks, including budget preparation, transition to a unified school system, and school network reorganization, often requiring work beyond regular hours. The official took responsibility for his mistakes.

Balamovskis had been acting director for a long time and was officially appointed as director on March 25, 2025, assuming the position in April.