Riga Digital Agency Director Arnis Gulbis to Leave Post After Using Municipal Electricity for Personal Car Charging

Arnis Gulbis, the director of Riga’s Digital Agency, will be dismissed from his position on June 19. A disciplinary case was initiated against him for using municipal electricity to charge his personal electric vehicle. Opposition members had previously urged the municipality to remove him from office and refer the matter to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau.

Gulbis admitted the violation and paid a fine of 170 euros. He said he wrote a resignation letter because he does not wish to continue working in such an environment. He believes that his and the agency’s work has not been properly evaluated. According to him, the agency’s efforts in publishing more open tenders and attempting to 'shake up' the widely discussed information technology procurement 'iceberg' were not adequately recognized. When he took over the agency, he planned to make many changes, but now feels unfairly and biasedly assessed.

As examples of his good work, Gulbis cited securing European Union funding, openness initiatives, and other projects. 'This is not the outcome I was hoping for,' Gulbis said.