In Latvia, May 9 passed without any major infringements. The State Police recorded 65 offenses. Several criminal proceedings were opened. A total of 19 persons were detained, including a May 9 celebrant in Jelgava who fired a gas weapon at a cemetery, Latvian Television reported.
The accommodation center for asylum seekers has been operating in Liepna, Alūksne county, for seven months, and so far seems to be working well with no evidence of problems being caused among the local community, reports Latvia Radio.
According to the State Land Service (VZD), there are about 30,000 buildings with basements in Latvia that could theoretically be used as shelters. Most of the buildings with basements are apartment blocks, but so far only a few have been surveyed, adapted and are ready to accommodate people in case of danger, Latvian Radio reported on March 20.
Although two years ago - right after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine - municipalities set to work to identify possible shelters, guidelines have only now been developed, so the buildings will be surveyed again. Shelters that meet the minimum requirements will then be compiled into a digital map, while financial support for adapting basements will be available for the rest. The type of support and funding options will be decided in the coming months.
The commander of the National Armed Forces (NBS) Lieutenant General Leonids Kalniņš visited Daugavpils March 13 to talk about the role of the armed forces in strengthening the defense of Latvia in the east of the country.
Stalled construction, delayed payments and projects not started - this will be the reality of this year in Rēzekne where the difficult financial situation means that development is not yet on the agenda, Latvian Radio reported March 6.
An emergency meeting of Rēzekne City Council on Thursday, February 29, has decided to reduce budget expenditure to stabilize its financial situation. Deputies unanimously approved a reduction in spending of 3.5 million euros, thus moving towards a no-deficit budget approval at the next City Council meeting on March 7.
Rēzekne City Council did not view its draft budget decision on Wednesday, February 21, which was the last day for budget adoption and the last day to submit it to get a 5-million euro loan from the state, Latvian Television reports.
The state is prepared to financially help the bankruptcy-facing municipality of Rēzekne with a loan of EUR 5 million only if the municipality can prepare the budget for this year without a deficit. That hasn't worked so far, and Rēzekne municipality is still in financial danger, Latvian Radio reported January 30.
On Monday, January 8, schools resume after the winter holidays, but in many places in Latgale, students stayed home as the thermometer bar slipped below -30 C, Latvian Radio reported.
From January 1 there must be a municipal police unit in each municipality. Of the 43 Latvian municipalities, seven had none so far. In the final days of the year, several municipalities were still rushing to advertise the competition or make a Council decision on setting up local police, Latvian Radio reported on December 2.
At the end of the year, after nearly a decade, the project “Can and Do” (Proti un Dari) concluded, involving more than 5,000 young people from 38 Latvian municipalities. The project has been deemed useful and is set to continue for another six years, LSM's Madara Bērtiņa reports.
At the end of November, road signs for populated areas, towns, and villages in Latgalian regional language began to be installed along state roads. Although this was recorded as a government budget priority and planned well in advance, disputes began when they appeared, Latvian Radio reported December 14.
Former Chairman of Rēzekne City Council Aleksandrs Bartaševičs (Together for Latvia) will appeal to the court against the order of Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Inga Berzins (New Unity) to remove him from office, LSM and Rēzekne municipality representative Madara Bērtiņa reported Wednesday.
