Suspended Rezekne mayor Bartasevics promises to continue monitoring implementation of promises

RIGA - Aleksandrs Bartasevics (Together for Latvia/Latvia First), who has been suspended as mayor of Rezekne after failing to obtain security clearance, writes on social networks that he still has his finger on the pulse and will continue to follow up on promises to his electorate.

Bartasevics told residents of Rezekne "not to worry unnecessarily", because the "minister's formal decision does not take away our right to promote our city's development". The suspended mayor underlines that the municipal budget has been approved with a reserve, repairs and renovations are scheduled, discounts on public transport fares have been approved, and municipal services are functioning.

"I still have my finger on the pulse and am monitoring the implementation of the promises our party gave to voters ahead of the elections. Luckily, I have a team of professionals around me, who are trustworthy, have been working, and are ready to work for the befit of Rezekne and its people," Bartasevics said.

As reported, Smart Administration and Regional Development Minister Raimonds Cudars (New Unity) has suspended Bartasevics from his job as he has failed to obtain security clearance, the minister's advisor Sabine Spurke informed LETA.

Cudars explains that the suspension should not be considered a penalty or a final decision on termination of employment. If the decision to deny Bartasevics security clearance is found to be unlawful on appeal, he will be able to resume his duties as soon as he obtains security clearance. If not, Bartasevics will have to leave office as he will no longer meet the legal requirements to work as Rezekne mayor.

In this particular case, suspension from office is an instrument to ensure uninterrupted and lawful functioning of the municipality, preventing a situation in which an official formally holds office but is in fact unable to perform all the functions associated with it, as well as protecting public and national security interests until a final decision on the security clearance is taken, explains the minister.

Cudars' decree also includes an explanation provided by Bartasevics, which says that Bartasevics, in his capacity as mayor of Rezekne, has not violated any external laws and regulations. Bartasevics also confirms that he will appeal the State Security Service's decision to the prosecutor general and, if necessary, appeal the prosecutor general's decision to the Administrative Regional Court.

The fact that Bartasevics has been denied security clearance became public on February 2. The law provides that such a decision can be appealed to the prosecutor general within 14 days of notification. This means that Bartasevics must lodge his appeal this week. The decision of the prosecutor general can be appealed to the Administrative Regional Court, also within 14 days.

In his explanation, Bartasevics points out that the minister has to prove the reasonableness of his decision to suspend him as mayor of Rezekne.

Bartasevics argues that neither the provisions of the Local Government Law nor other laws provide that the chairperson of a city council cannot perform his or her duties if the person has not obtained security clearance.

"It is unacceptable to "correct" the will of the voters by using the denial of security clearance as a political weapon, i.e. if the security clearance has been denied because the person's "disloyalty" or "political unreliability", as a result of which a representative of a political force which won a majority in direct elections is not allowed to chair the city council," Bartasevics says in his explanation.

Bartasevics believes that the position of a city council chairman has nothing to do with state secrets. "If the minister believes that municipalities have to take decisions that involve the use or protection of state secrets, all members of the municipality's council should have to obtain security clearance," he said.

Bartasevics points out that he served as Rezekne mayor from 2009 to 2023 and has continued to do so since the 2025 elections. During this period, he claims that he has never needed security clearance.

Bartasevics goes on to say that the final decision in the administrative procedure on his security clearance has not yet been taken, and therefore, in his opinion, it is premature to state he has been denied security clearance.

Having assessed the information provided by Bartasevics in his explanation, Cudars concludes that Rezekne mayor has decided not to resign.

The minister believes that the information provided in the mayor's explanation does not constitute an objective basis for allowing Bartasevics to continue work as chairman of Rezekne City Council.

The minister also explains that, according to the law, lodging an appeal against the decision to deny someone special clearance does not suspend the effect of that decision.

Cudars points out that in a situation where the chairperson of a municipal council does not have a valid security clearance for access to state secrets, but in the course of the performance of his or her duties may objectively need to perform activities for which special clearance is required, there is a risk that the person will not be able to fully perform their duties, especially in situations of national emergency, crisis or civil protection.

The minister also explains that, according to the Law on Official Secrets, if a person is denied security clearance, he or she must be immediately transferred to a job that does not require security clearance or, if this is not possible, immediately suspended from the job while retaining their salary and social guarantees.

However, after a final decision is taken on the matter, such a person must be immediately transferred to a job not requiring security clearance or, if that is not possible, immediately have his or her employment terminated.

The next Rezekne City Council's meeting will take place on Friday, February 13. The agenda of the meeting includes 23 items, none of which involves the mayor's position.

As reported, Cudars last week asked Bartasevics to resign over the failure to obtain security permit, but Bartasevics continued as Rezekne mayor up until now.

The law provides several reasons why a person may be denied security clearance. For example, a person may be denied security clearance if his or her legal capacity is restricted, or if the person was an employee or agent of security services of the Soviet Union or of a country that is not a member of NATO and the European Union.

Security clearance may also be denied if information is obtained about the person that gives grounds to doubt the person's reliability and ability to safeguard state secrets, or if the person has been found to have mental or behavioral disorders, including due to alcohol or drug abuse.

Bartasevics has also been charged in a criminal case with disclosing restricted access information, as well as with deliberately withholding information on property acquired abroad and other large-scale incomes in his tax returns for 16 years. Vidzeme District Court in Gulbene is scheduled to continue hearing the case in March.