Justice Minister: Payments to other politicians from Russia should also be checked
Latvia's Justice Minister Edvards Smiltēns says he has asked state agencies to examine gifts worth €419,598 that PM candidate Jūlija Stepaņenko received from her father in Russia, revealing he has also filed similar requests concerning other politicians.
A political controversy is building around gifts received by Jūlija Stepaņenko, prime ministerial candidate of the “Sovereign Power/Latvian Union” party alliance, from her father, who lives in Russia. In her official declarations, Stepaņenko listed two gifts from her father: €239,598.05 in cash and an apartment in Riga worth €180,000, received in January 2024 — a combined total of €419,598.05.
Justice Minister and 15th Saeima candidate Edvards Smiltēns said on TV24's “Ziņu TOP” programme that he has asked several agencies — the State Security Service, the Constitution Protection Bureau, financial regulators and the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) — to assess publicly available information about the origin of the gifts. He said both the size of the sum and the fact that the donor lives in Russia were significant, noting the amount is comparable to the cost of a major election campaign and that money of Russian origin reaching politicians could potentially be used to fund political activity.
Other politicians mentioned
Smiltēns revealed he holds information concerning other politicians as well, and has already prepared submissions to state authorities regarding possible similar gifts in some of those cases. He declined to name anyone, stressing that allegations cannot be made without verification.
KNAB has confirmed it will review the information about Stepaņenko's gifts. The bureau has also received a submission from Riga City Council member Ģirts Lapiņš asking it to check whether requirements for public officials were followed and whether the funds were used to finance pre-election campaigning.
Stepaņenko has declined in interviews to explain her father's occupation or the source of his funds, citing family privacy. Her declarations also show loans of €575,888.42 and debts of €347,479.37 recorded in 2014, whose origin she has not explained. Her 2025 declaration lists €66,000 in cash savings, while her husband declared €57,000.
