Use of VIP Lounges at Airports ‘Just the Way It Is,’ Says Latvian President Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs has stated that the use of VIP lounges at airports by top state officials is standard practice and in line with special security and protocol requirements. Speaking on the Latvian Radio programme “Krustpunktā,” Rinkēvičs emphasized that such privileges are granted to high-ranking officials due to the nature of their duties and are common worldwide. The remarks reach amid an ongoing controversy involving Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and former head of the State Chancellery Jānis Citskovskis. Citskovskis has accused Siliņa of unjustified use of a VIP lounge at Amsterdam Airport during her visit to the United States in March 2024. Siliņa has denied the allegations, stating that her use of the lounge was in accordance with established procedures for official travel, which he himself had helped implement. She noted that all relevant information regarding her travel has been submitted to the prosecutor’s office and shared with the media. Siliņa also suggested that Citskovskis’s public statements may be part of a defence strategy in an ongoing criminal case against him and said she is considering legal action for defamation. The use of VIP airport lounges by government officials remains a routine aspect of official travel, particularly when security, scheduling and protocol considerations are involved. Authorities confirm that such arrangements are made in compliance with national regulations and international norms for high-level diplomatic and governmental visits.
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