Riga Education Department Director Resigns After Using Official Car for Private Trips

Ivars Balamovskis, the director of Riga City Council's Education, Culture and Sports Department, has decided to step down. He admitted that last December he used the official car nine times to drive home after work without recording these trips in the route documentation. These incidents occurred while the department was handling several complex tasks simultaneously, including preparing the municipal budget, implementing the transition to a unified school system, and planning the reorganization of the school network. According to Balamovskis, he often worked beyond regular hours during this period.

Balamovskis acknowledged the violation and took full responsibility, stating that the case would be resolved through a pre-trial agreement and that he would resign. He expressed pride in the department's achievements, particularly highlighting the introduction of a unified digital enrollment system for 10th-grade students in Riga secondary schools, the implementation of the unified school transition, and the development of cultural life in Riga neighborhoods.

According to available information, Balamovskis served as acting director for a long time before being officially appointed on March 25 this year, assuming the position in April.