RIGA, Jan 20 (LETA) - The Administrative District Court on Monday dismissed former Rezekne mayor Aleksandrs Bartasevics' (Together for Latvia) appeal against his sacking, LETA learned at the court.

As he lodged an appeal against the smart administration and regional development minister's November 2, 2023 decree on his removal from office, Bartasevics asked the court to assess whether the ministry was right to hold him responsible for the city council's collective decisions which are taken as councilors express their political will.

Bartasevics also disputed the minister's conclusion that the Rezekne City Council and its chair violated laws by not planning necessary expenses in the municipality's budget for 2023, implementing municipal projects without financial coverage, and not providing information to the ministry.

The court upheld the ministry's position that by adopting and implementing Rezekne's 2023 budget the local authority violated provisions of the law on local governments' budgets and the law on budget and financial management.

The court recognized the minister's authority to review the budgetary decisions of the Rezekne City Council, insofar as the fulfilment of requirements explicitly laid down in legislation is reviewed.

The verdict of the Administrative District Court has not yet entered into force, and the parties can appeal against it before the Administrative Regional Court.

As reported, Bartasevics appealed Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Inga Berzina's (New Unity) decision to fire him from the mayor's position to the Rezekne Administrative District Court.

Bartasevics claimed that he has been removed from the post of Rezekne mayor as part of a major political campaign aimed at the Rezekne local government and him personally.

On November 2, 2023, Berzina signed a decree suspending Bartasevics over significant violations.

The ministry explained earlier that Rezekne mayor knew that the municipality's budget was insufficient but pushed for its approval anyway.

Bartasevics also signed a contract for a construction project before Rezekne budget had been amended and before a decision on financing for the project had been taken, which is illegal.

LETA also reported, the State Audit Office has carried out an audit of Rezekne City Council's budgeting and financial management practices and ascertained a number of violations in drafting of the 2023 Rezekne budget.

The Audit Office has concluded that this is due to Rezekne City Council's insufficient analysis of the current situation, too much reliance on the availability of funding, and fragmented budget management and accounting procedures.

According to the Audit Office's findings, the municipality voted on, and supported, the 2023 Rezekne budget that was short of EUR 8.68 million to cover the city's expenditures over a period of three months.