Crime, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

All three defendants – Latvian citizen Martins Putnins and two Lithuanian citizens – Sergei Markevicius and Edgars Krogerts – received life sentences plus confiscation of property, writes LETA.

The verdict has not yet come into force and may be appealed to a higher court.

As reported, Putnins was charged with plotting the murders, whereas Markevicius and Krogert were the ones to fire the shots. All three pleaded not guilty.

As reported, on February 7, 2007, 47-year-old businessman Genadijs Peredelskis was shot dead near an apartment house on Slokas Street in the Imanta neighborhood of Riga. The attack took place at around 12.20 p.m. that day, when two men armed with pistols fired several bullets at the 1960-born businessman, injuring him fatally in the head and body. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The murder of businessman Gatis Aispurs took place on the morning of September 26, 2007 in Jekabpils (southeastern Latvia). Several shots were fired at the man (born 1970) as he got out of his car and headed for work at around 7 a.m. that morning.

Businessman Aigars Lusis was shot dead on January 10, 2008 at his home in Garkalne County, Riga District.

The assassination attempt against Vaskevics took place in May 2007 on Eksporta Street in Riga, when a bomb was placed underneath his "Subaru" automobile. The bomb detonated but did not kill Vaskevics, although he sustained serious injuries.