The state secretary of the ministry, Krūmiņš, confirmed over the weekend the removal of the representative of the shareholder in Latvijas Valsts mežos, effective January 30. The reason behind this ministerial order remains unclear and is to be addressed directly to the minister. The ministry has reverted to previous arrangements whereby the shareholders of LVM are represented by a forest industry professional with appropriate qualifications. The newly appointed representative is Āris Jansons, director of the forest department.

It has surfaced that the order to change the shareholder representative is linked to avoiding possible conflicts of interest in decision-making. A significant aspect of this situation is the relationship between state secretary Ģirts Krūmiņš and a mill owner, Ramoliņš, who has been highlighted by journalists for having close ties with Krūmiņš, including overseas trips. Ramoliņš' company is a client of Latvijas Valsts meži, raising questions about the integrity of decisions made by the ministry.

In response to media scrutiny and the public interest in maintaining transparency, Krūmiņš and the ministry aim to eliminate any semblance of impropriety. The acknowledgment of potential conflicts highlights the importance of governance and ethical considerations within public office, especially related to resource management and industry relationships in Latvia's forestry sector.