Man dies in suspicious circumstances in Ventspils — family without answers eight months on
Pavel died in Ventspils in December following a friend's visit; police have not informed relatives about the investigation for months.
Family seeks answers about brother's death in Ventspils
Google News LV — Crime (lv) reports that in December of last year, a man named Pavel died in mysterious circumstances in a flat in Ventspils. Eight months after the incident, his relatives still do not know the cause of death — and have received no substantive information from the State Police for the same length of time.
Pavel's sister Kristīne told the programme "Bez Tabu" that Pavel had lived in England for a long time, but at the end of last year was forced to return to Latvia and settle in a flat in Ventspils. In England remained Kristīne, another sister and a brother — all of them kept in regular contact with him, communicating every day and providing financial support.
"He had plans. After New Year, he wanted to sort out documents and go to Germany to work. He was the dearest to me!" said Kristīne.
Friend's visit and unanswered calls
In a December conversation, Pavel mentioned to his sister that a friend, Vitalijs, would be visiting him. On the same day Vitalijs arrived, Pavel died — between 11 and 12 December. Kristīne called all day without result, until she asked her younger sister to go to the flat. The younger sister found Pavel unconscious; the ambulance called declared him dead on the spot.
After Pavel's death, Vitalijs could not be reached — his phone was switched off. Kristīne conducted her own investigation and identified a person who confirmed the two had met. The sister is convinced that Vitalijs has some connection to her brother's death and that the police should be looking for him.
"They met, they were together, and then Vitalijs's phone was already switched off," Kristīne pointed out.
Police: drugs, but no evidence of crime
The State Police avoided meeting in person and informed the programme in writing that a man's body was found in the flat with no obvious signs of bodily injury; a syringe and possible narcotic substances were found near the body. The police stated that evidence of a crime against a person has not been obtained so far, but the investigation continues. The police did not answer whether Vitalijs is being sought at all.
Kristīne denies that her brother ever used drugs. The Prosecutor's Office, for its part, confirms that the presence of narcotic substances in Pavel's body was not detected. The Prosecutor's Office also indicates that the case file contains information about a possible connection between another person and the death, and that this information is being assessed.
Investigators change, answers do not arrive
Kristīne explained that the investigators on the case have changed several times, no one is reachable, and the family — two sisters and a brother — have not received any substantive answers over the eight-month period, despite repeated approaches to the police.
"We gave the police all the information about Vitalijs — when he arrived, everything that was needed. But they tell us nothing! They spoke to us rudely!" emphasised Kristīne.
The Prosecutor's Office acknowledges that it has instructed police officers to observe polite communication standards when dealing with relatives. The family continues to wait for answers about what actually happened that December night in Ventspils.
Source: Google News LV — Crime (lv)