Daugavpils residents held a march through the city streets, then gathered for a concert at the Unity House. The organizer of the event, Ģirts Kalniņš, told LTV it was important to demonstrate the unity of Latvia.
Daugavpils, in Latvia's south east, is 30 kilometers from the border with Belarus and 100 kilometers from the border with Russia. It has a large Russian-speaking population. Fears that supporters of Russia's illegal war in Ukraine might use the parade to stage a provocation or protest proved unfounded.
"I came to show that there are people in Daugavpils who think logically. And they are ready to show their support to the people who are suffering," participant Eriks told LTV.
"Only in this way can we show the true unity of the people. And that it is not only what happens in the comments of social networks, that matters," another participant, Kristīne, believes.
The reasons why people took to the streets were are various. Some said they were against the war, others that they had friends in Ukraine.
"We enjoy freedom, air. We will support them," says Andris.
After the parade, a charity concert took place in Daugavpils Culture Palace.
