LATVIA CLOSES CHILD ABUSE CASE AGAINST FORMER TOP OFFICIALS

The Prosecutor General's Office closed a criminal case against former Prime Minister Andris Skele over his possible link to the pedophilia case on Aug. 1, citing false evidence. The case opened in the wake of materials gathered about the possible links of Skele to the pedophilia case and was closed citing the lack of criminal action, the Prosecutor General's Office said. The prosecutor's office previously decided to close analogous criminal cases against former Justice Minister Valdis Birkavs and State Revenue Service director General Andrejs Sonciks. Prosecutor Modris Adlers told BNS the decision on whether the prosecutor's office would request Parliament to allow to launch prosecution of Adamsons will depend on whether the conditions outlined by Parliament have been observed. Namely, under the Latvian constitution, an MP can be called to responsibility in the event he or she has distributed libeling information being aware it is untrue. Exactly this will be the question the prosecutor's office will assess while making the next decision.