Magazine "Ir": New tractor at ex-minister Krauze's farm linked to timber industry case figure

A new tractor, a 2021 Claas Axion 830 worth over 100,000 euros, has recently appeared at the Inciems farm of Armands Krauze (ZZS), former agriculture minister and current member of parliament. The magazine "Ir" discovered that the tractor is not owned by Krauze but by a company called "RJ Serviss," whose owner is Nauris Kāpostiņš.

Kāpostiņš is related to businessman Aivars Lembergs' family through marriage and is known as the owner of the media company "Mediju nams." "RJ Serviss" does not operate in agriculture or equipment rental, and the tractor is the only asset registered under the company, which had a turnover of just under 59,000 euros last year.

Links to the timber industry

Several sources told the magazine that Kāpostiņš frequently visited Krauze at the Agriculture Ministry during his time as minister, and they connected him to the interests of Uldis Mierkalns, owner of the "Pata" group, describing him as an intermediary between the company and the ministry. Sources suggested checking whether the tractor could be a reward for decisions favorable to the timber industry.

Krauze denies any link between the tractor and his decisions as minister. He says he rents the tractor because his own had broken down, paying between 1,500 and 2,000 euros a month. He declined to disclose what he discussed with Kāpostiņš during the ministry visits, saying only that friends can talk about anything.

"Pata" stated that Kāpostiņš does not represent the company's interests and is not a board member.

Background

In the so-called timber industry case, Prosecutor General Armīns Meisters filed a request with the Constitutional Court in August seeking to invalidate Cabinet decisions that ordered price adjustments in long-term timber supply contracts held by state forestry company "Latvijas valsts meži." In the criminal proceedings launched in March, procedural actions were carried out in May against 10 people, including Krauze, current and former ministry and LVM officials, and Mierkalns. The case examines possible abuse of office and negligence by LVM officials that may have caused the state roughly 50 million euros in losses.