Prosecutors weigh charges against ex-minister Uzulnieks over drunk driving
Prosecutors have received a criminal case against former Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks, who was caught driving with a blood alcohol level of 3.09 per mille in September. A decision on formal charges is expected soon.
Latvian prosecutors have received the criminal case materials against former Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks, who was stopped while driving under the influence of alcohol. Prosecution officials confirmed receipt of the case to the LETA news agency but declined to offer further comment at this stage.
Under the law, prosecutors must decide in the near future whether to bring formal charges. If charges are filed, three outcomes are possible in this category of cases: prosecutors may impose a penalty themselves, reach an agreement with the accused on an admission of guilt and punishment and ask a court to approve it, or send the case to court for a full trial.
Caught at 3.09 per mille
Uzulnieks was stopped on September 12 while driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 3.09 per mille — far above the legal threshold that triggers criminal liability. Following the incident, he also left the Latvian Farmers' Union (LZS), part of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) alliance, submitting a request to suspend his party membership.
What the law says
Since amendments took effect in November 2022, Latvia's Criminal Law has established criminal liability for driving a vehicle, or teaching someone to drive, when a breath or blood test shows alcohol concentration above 1.5 per mille. The offense carries a penalty of up to one year of imprisonment, probationary supervision, and a five-year ban on driving.
The law also allows for confiscation of a vehicle if its owner drove it while severely intoxicated or refused testing for intoxicating substances. If the vehicle belongs to someone else, the guilty party must pay its full or partial value. Confiscated vehicles in Latvia are typically handed over to Ukraine's defenders.
