RIGA, Feb 26 (LETA) - Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Arturs Toms Pless (For Development) has signed an order on the dismissal of the Chairman of the Ikskile Regional Council Indulis Trapins (Latvian Farmers' Union) about various violations that have been identified in the work of council, Pless told Latvian Television this morning.

The mentioned order enters into force today, as the experts of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development have been gathering information on various violations committed by Trapins for several months.

"The decision is based on a series of violations, where the risks of corruption, illegal mishandling of municipal property, exceeding municipal powers, as well as arbitrary and one-person decision-making, which has been contrary to the public interest, prevail," the minister said.

He added that the ministry had received explanations from Trapins, but no rebuttal of the violations had been provided. "No head of any municipality, Trapins included, is a tsar or a monarch, and it is forbidden to make unilateral decisions that are within the competence of the regional council," the minister added.

The violations found shed light on the systemic behavior of Trapins and indicate his incompatibility with the position. The order applies only to the chairman of the regional council, therefore the council will have to elect a new chairman from among the elected deputies.