EU court's advocate general backs ECB over Latvia

FRANKFURT: The advocate general of the European Court of Justice argued on Wednesday that Latvia violated European Union law by suspending its central bank governor, who is also a European Central Bank policymaker.

Advocate General Juliane Kokott said Latvia did not provide evidence for its allegations of corruption against Ilmars Rimsevics and thus failed to meet the criteria for removing him from office.

The advocate's opinions are not binding, but the court generally follows them. The case against Latvia was brought by the ECB and Rimsevics himself.