The mayor of the Latgale capital Daugavpils, Andrei Elksnins, said categorically "no" to the plans of the Latvian Interior Ministry to resettle migrants.
Elksnins wrote on his Facebook page a rather harsh open letter to the official Riga.
"Daugavpils WILL NOT GIVE OUT (capslok copyright. — EADaily) permission for the construction and subsequent resettlement of refugees in the former Mezhtsiemsky vocational school on the street. Tsesu, 20, on the shore of Lake Shunyu! This is not the first time we have received offers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to resettle refugees in our city. Earlier, in 2021, there was already an attempt to impose on the city the obligation to resettle refugees in premises / apartments belonging to the city. As then — I can only offer all possible help to get to Riga by buses of the local car park! No, my dears, only Latgalians will not be able to rake in the heat with their hands!"
The head of Daugavpils continued:
"For the ruling ones, the problems are there, somewhere far away, but they have good things there and "there is more money than ever" and once again — "Oh, refugees!", "Aw, a lot!", "Oh, oh, oh, and what are we going to do with them?!“ And to whom are all these questions? Back to Latgale!!! That is, how to economically support the region and build a health complex / boarding house in this place, or allocate all the same money for the restoration of "Mezhciems", so "unloved stepdaughter", and how to solve the refugee crisis — so the money appears. After all, the motherland is in danger! The main thing is not to reach Riga!"
EADaily adds that such "political courage" of Andrei Elksnins is apparently connected with the upcoming municipal elections in Latvia in June. Elksnins, representing the new party "Saraoui, Latgale!" (from Latin. — "Come on, Latgale!"), understands that if the Brussels initiative to create a ghetto of Middle Eastern and African migrants from Latvia is taken under the visor, the mayor will not have a chance to be re-elected.
For reference: about 50% of Russian-speaking residents live in Latgale.
*Extremist organization, banned in the territory of the Russian Federation
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