Lawyer Jānis Zelmenis: Moralizing on human trafficking before the investigation results is hypocrisy

The Adugs Production scandal involving human trafficking, which is as of yet unproven, is likely to end in a similar way to the Dogo dog food scandal; such scandals are provoked by supporters of hypocritical morality, who hypocritically call themselves "leaders of reputation", says Jānis Zelmenis, a sworn advocate and honorary consul of the Republic of Malta in Latvia, in a conversation with Neatkarīgā.

As it is known, the Latvian authorities suspect the company's management of involvement in human trafficking. According to publicly available information, this allegation has arrived through diplomatic channels from the Indian authorities, to whom the Indians employed in Līvāni have complained about their plight.

Is everything as black as it is painted?

I look at the scandal around Adugs Production through the prism of international practice, where disputes over similar accusations are analyzed. What is happening can be called differently - for example, it can be called a labor dispute, but it can also be called enslavement of people. The latter is on a much higher emotional level. What I urged the public with my comment on the situation for Dienas Bizness is not to go lynching while all the circumstances of the case have not been clarified. For example, if one says, "It was rape," while the other says, "It was a wonderful night," then we realize that there is a big difference between the two stories. In this particular case, too, we hear radically different positions. Some say that enslavement has taken place; others say it was a labor dispute where an employer has been forced to withhold money to repair damage to his equipment. However, as we have grown up in a tradition of democracy and decency, then regarding the Adugs Production case people should either remain silent or make very cautious comments and refrain from starting to crucify entrepreneurs for human trafficking. This is just one position that has not been proven in any way. I call for people to await even the first results of police work, not to mention a final conviction. I urge people to be careful not to get ahead of themselves.

So you are urging people not to start lynching?

In a similar manner, recently Latvia was overwhelmed by the scandal of animal feed manufacturer Dogo. Then too I heard sharply opposite views. At the time, the allegation that Dogo's food producers were at fault was based first on the conclusion of the Latvian authority, which in turn was based on the opinion of a Danish laboratory, which later turned out to be erroneous. Here we are! I bet that the authorities did not compensate these entrepreneurs for the damage, they probably did not even write a letter of apology.

I am not saying that human trafficking is not a serious offense. It is serious and very much so. But in this story, I am alerted by the category of so-called correct people, who immediately began to condemn our entrepreneurs. This immediately raises the suspicion that there is something dirty in the story of human trafficking. The second thing is that the employed Indians mentioned in the story did not land here from outer space. They have residence permits, work contracts. That alone makes it unbelievable to say that they were here as slaves.

Why do Latvians so deftly try to defend the interests of the incoming labor force?

Before this scandal, I didn't even realize that Adugs existed. After this scandal, I went to the store and bought their products. And I'll buy it again if it's available. The advertising, although negative, which the entrepreneurs got with this scandal, could not be bought for any money. There is only one vice in this story - many draw far-reaching conclusions without even waiting for the results of the investigation.

Our so-called reputation leaders applaud when the last cent is forced out of our entrepreneurs. Then everything is fine, but when a small cloud of suspicion has grown over one entrepreneur, they are the first to condemn it. Rimi and Maxima shelves will not stay empty. We can guess three times how these scandals usually end in Latvia. If this case will also end as they usually do, then who will compensate Adugs for the loss? What will happen if the scandal ends with nothing? The company's reputation will be ruined. Who will put the Adugs products back on the Rimi and Maxima shelves? This story reminds us of how the world is built on hypocrisy and prejudice. In this context, at least Maxima in Latvia should have remained silent. Before they judge someone's ethics, they should at least have looked at themselves in the mirror.

What could be the damage from this scandal?

Significant - Adugs is a company with more than 200 employees, with normal salaries in Līvāni, which is not the capital of Latvia. If someone has set up a working business in a small town with a million in turnover and several hundred jobs, it should be respected and valued because it is not easy. The company's products did not arrive on Rimi and Maxima shelves in one day. Entrepreneurs have worked hard and for a long time on this.

Those who seek to protect sexual minorities would do well to first remember that there are also many old and poor people in our society, many underfed children. Their number is measured in thousands. Nobody stands up for them so vigorously. That's hypocrisy!