A mansion priced at 5 million euros and other possessions owned by the seemingly indestructible Latvian politician Vilis Krishtopans

Many politicians live a lifestyle that doesn't match their income. Most of them try to hide their property through relatives, companies, or other figureheads.

However, there are individuals who appear to intentionally show off their wealth to the public. For nearly 5 years, the former Prime Minister of Latvia and current member of the Seimas, Vilis Krishtopans, has been attempting to sell his luxurious mansion in an elite area near Latvia's capital, Riga, valued at about 5 million euros. Krishtopans has been involved in politics for most of his life. His income cannot cover the upkeep of such a house even for several months. The Kompromat1 portal has investigated where his millions of assets come from in politics.

Eternal official

Vilis Krishtopans' political career began many years ago when he was first elected to the Latvian Parliament in 1993. Before that, he worked as an engineer, basketball player, basketball coach, and a tulip and rose grower. In general, Krishtopans' life path has been quite challenging.

When Krishtopans entered politics, he started to achieve significant financial success. The Latvian-Irish joint venture “Interbaltija” experienced rapid growth. In 1994, the politician established his own bank, Deutsch-Lettische Banka, which was also linked to his business activities. It's important to note that this wave of success coincided with Krishtopans' election to parliament. However, let's not necessarily connect these events to each other. Perhaps it was just a coincidence, although it seems highly doubtful. Other facts also support this view.

In the early 1990s, Krishtopans acquired a large estate near Riga, which is now estimated to be worth 5 million euros. At the time, the cost of the house was likely not significantly different. However, the owner of this multi-million euro property was only included in the list of official Latvian millionaires in 2008. What transpired in the background is unclear. Therefore, there are numerous anomalies in the history of this seemingly indestructible Latvian politician.

Questionable handling of funds

Some consider Krishtopans to be one of the founders of the political doctrine of modern Latvia. Many openly criticize him, labeling him as a corrupt official. While it's true that people generally have negative views of politicians, both those in favor of and against Krishtopans are justified in some aspects.

Indeed, in the early 1990s, the young politician played a key role in shaping the development of modern Latvian statehood. He was instrumental in the creation of laws that the state currently abides by, and several generations have now grown up under these laws.

However, there are two sides to every story. The opposition accused Krishtopans of surrendering Latvian interests to external control. In the early 2000s, the country's economy was almost 90% reliant on other states. From the small population of less than 2 million, over 20 thousand citizens left annually in search of a better life. Thus, the criticisms directed at the Krishtopans government were fairly valid. Additionally, a major scandal marred his term as prime minister. It was discovered that in 1998, during the procurement of 40 Mercedes buses for public transportation, the government and Rishi City Hall demanded a kickback of 268 thousand lats from the supplier. The bribe was paid. A similar situation unfolded on a larger scale in 2000 during the tender for 117 buses, but law enforcement authorities overlooked this incident.

In 2016, the European Parliament Commission, which investigated corruption in the EU, determined that Latvia loses several billion euros every year due to corrupt activities. This is a significant amount for a country with a 10 billion euro budget. This situation was established under Krishtopans.

An impressive mansion with a traditional royal style.

As previously mentioned, in the early 1990s, Krishtopans acquired a magnificent property in Bergi, located just a few kilometers from Riga. The politician's estate covers a vast area of 10 hectares within a forest and features private roads, pathways, ponds, and more.

In 2018, it was reported that Krishtopans was selling his family estate for 4.9 million euros.

According to local journalists, Krishtopans' residence is the most expensive in Latvia.

It may be true, but what is certain is that both the property's grounds and the house itself are remarkable. The estate spans 10 hectares, while the mansion comprises 1516 square meters, 4 floors, 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a gym, multiple garages, a library, a swimming pool, and a sauna. To become the proud owner of all this, one would need to pay the former prime minister of Latvia 5 million euros. Despite being on the market for almost 5 years, the house has not been sold. It's unclear whether there are any issues with the property or if the asking price is too high for Latvia. Initially, when news of the country's most expensive property being for sale emerged, there were no photos of the mansion.

The interior of Cristopans Manor.

Luckily, it appears that Krishtopans is willing to take any necessary steps to sell the residence, as an indirect advertisement for the property has surfaced on the Vivat Latvija YouTube channel. Thanks to this video, we have been able to thoroughly examine the politician's magnificent country estate.

This luxurious estate is situated in the esteemed Bergi district of Rigi. As you enter, you will encounter the guard house with two full beds.

It's a brief journey to reach the house due to the vast grounds, which include water, forest, and a large lawn.

The exterior of the house has recently been renovated and boasts a modern appearance, while the interior evokes a 19th century royal aesthetic.

The inside of the residence is truly impressive, featuring stucco, gold, and numerous precious woods. All these elements are crafted to provide a lavish lifestyle for the resilient politician. Upon arrival at the house, the owner of the estate, Vilis Krishtopans, personally greets visitors.

For comfortable living, there is a private office and a gym, as well as an in-progress professional swimming pool.

It's not just a house, it's a dream, but something seems amiss. Despite being on the market for nearly 5 years, there are no takers. Either it's too expensive, or individuals with such funds are uninterested in residing in a somber mansion. Moreover, when considering the monthly utility costs, it becomes quite daunting.

Poor deputies

In the last elections to the Latvian Seimas, Vilis’ son Kristaps Krishtopans was elected as a deputy.

Kristaps Krishtopans

It is noteworthy that both father and son indicated in their declarations that they were beggars.

Krishtopans Jr. has neither his own home nor money. He drives an old 2000 Mercedes SLK. But the newly-minted deputy is deeply in debt. According to the politician’s declaration, he owed 900 thousand euros. Who and why is unknown.

Former prime minister and current MP Vilis Krishtopans sets a bad example for his son. Over a long political career, he has accumulated only 12.5 thousand euros, has one 2017 Toyota and a chic mansion, which we described in detail. At the same time, Krishtopans Sr. is also in debt. In the declaration, he indicated that he owed 56,000 euros.

How the family of a politician pays for the maintenance of a huge estate is an open question. Where did the ex-premier get his castle from in the first place is an even better question. Probably, the anti-corruption authorities should take a closer look at Mr. Krishtopans and his family.