As previously mentioned and publicly announced, this year MK regulations No. 350, as a result of which the Riga City Council (RD) unilaterally increased the land rent by 1200%. The RD Property Department did not take into account that the leased object is used for a sports (public) function and not for economic activity. This is evidenced by the lease agreement concluded in October 2001 between RD and LOK for the lease of a plot of land with the aim of using the land for the construction and management of the sports complex, as well as for the improvement of the territory. Also, the Rimi Olympic Center is registered in the Register of Sports Bases as a national sports base and its operation and technical condition meet the requirements of regulatory acts. The Rimi Olympic Center organizes events of sports federations and professional sports education institutions, provides regular training processes for members of the national national teams, as well as sports events for children, young people and the disabled, it is suitable for holding world and European championships and, in general, it ensures continuous activity of sports in the field.
The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania, which was also asked for an explanation and a solution to the specific issue, this year. On October 4, it stated that it is not clear what the RD’s justification was for reviewing and determining the rent in the specific case, according to the market rent determined by an independent appraiser. In addition, the ministry emphasizes that only taking into account the purpose of leasing the leased object and the activities to be carried out in the leased object, it is possible to determine what criteria for determining the rental fee should be used in the relevant case in order to correctly apply the provisions of the CM No. 350.
Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania this year On October 2, in response to the request of the RD Property Department, it was stated that the Rimi Olympic Center carries out activities in the field of sports, in various sports, promoting their development, ensuring accessibility for everyone interested. Therefore, in the view of the ministry, the center as a national sports base performs a public function in the field of sports.
Despite everything mentioned above, RD hesitates to resolve the situation, because it believes that in this way the rules of the MK will be violated and sanctions will be applied to council officials.
At the aforementioned commission meeting, the LOK hopes to receive clear instructions from the government and Riga City Council officials on further resolution of the issue, outlining three possible scenarios:
- all involved parties confirm that in the case of the Rimi Olympic Center, 1.5% of the land cadastral value should continue to be applied;
- The Saeima of the Republic of Lithuania, the government and the Riga City Council expect that the prices of services in the Rimi Olympic Center will be raised according to the increase in price;
- The Saeima of the Republic of Lithuania, the government and the Riga City Council expect that the National Sports Base – Rimi Olympic Center will be closed.
The LOK believes that the closure of the Rimi Olympic Center or a significant increase in service fees for athletes, children, young people and other visitors in order to cover the unjustified increase in rent is unacceptable.
Source: www.diena.lv
