Latvian Political Monitor

News about Latvian nationals in the tragic event in Nepal For now there is still hope to find our Latvians alive. This evening Foreign Minister @Braze_Baiba spoke with Nepal's foreign minister to discuss the rescue operation and the latest information about Latvian nationals. Over the past two days 260 people have been rescued, including many foreigners. Unfortunately the number of dead is already close to a thousand. The floods and landslides were so destructive that people and everything in their path were swept away as far as 100–200 kilometres. The missing number 2–3 thousand. Communications are still down in many places. The situation is very complicated, chaos prevails, but rescue operations continue. And as long as they continue, there is hope. We know that approximately 43 Latvian nationals were in Nepal, and there are concerns that some of them may have been affected by this tragedy. At the same time, hopeful information has emerged. There are reports that a group of people managed to cross the border with China shortly before the devastating landslide. There is currently no communication in this area, so there is no precise information yet about the people in the group. Latvia's Foreign Ministry is also in contact with the Chinese side. Approximately 45 minutes' drive from the border, in a small mountain town, a group of foreigners may be located. We have asked the Chinese side to find out the names of these people as soon as possible. There is hope that Latvian nationals may also be among them. I very well understand what our travellers' families and loved ones are going through right now. They are waiting for any news, trying to understand where their loved ones are and what else can be done. At such moments, uncertainty is extremely hard. Regarding the tourism company "Yantra", the Latvian Association of Tourism Operators has informed us that the company is not a member of the association. We have also received information that the company has not been issued a tour operator or travel agent licence. PTAC is currently clarifying the circumstances and whether the company was entitled to organise such group trips. At the same time, travellers' relatives have indicated that they had no complaints about the company's work and had travelled with it before. Right now, however, the most important thing is not to find those to blame. The most important thing is to find people. I express my deepest condolences to all those who have already lost their loved ones in this disaster. Latvia's services are doing and will continue to do everything in our power to obtain information about our people and help them. But there are moments when human strength alone is not enough. For now, all that remains is to ask higher powers for a miracle — that our people have been spared from this catastrophe and that we receive news as soon as possible: they are alive and safe. Until the opposite is known, hope remains. P.s. For contact information, call the MFA's 24-hour consular assistance phone +371 26337711 or write to email: palidziba@mfa.gov.lv

@aldis_voitenko @Apvienotais_ Please look at the date... that was 3 years ago, when I was a deputy

@akirstei It would be good if the three Baltic states built a nuclear power plant together, but there is a question. Given the experience of the progressively messed-up Rail Baltica, would our neighbors even be ready to engage in another joint megaproject with Latvia?

A baby is expected for the couple, and both want to get married at the registry office; they submit an application within the timeframe, etc. Conscientious young people. They only need to sign on the wedding day (which is a working day for the institution). No, they claim they can't! A call to management about the absurdity — still, they can. What priorities have been set in our country?

@axe_lv And? This is valid, nothing needs to be done there. The next number plate procurement is in 2029.

As we discussed with employers today. We have a bunch of laws and regulations that require allocating funding to various sectors as a certain % of GDP. And there, when adding up, about one billion euros is missing. For a long time. That is on top of the already existing deficit (borrowed money) of 2 billion per year. It will never be fulfilled, even theoretically impossible. Such regulations should be thrown in the trash. There is a list.

About the Liepāja prison 'hunger strike'! Prisoner complaints are being checked, their rights are respected, but the public also needs to know and understand the full picture. On Monday, seven convicts refused the food provided by Liepāja prison. On Friday, there were four. At the same time, these people shop at the prison store and consume food they have purchased themselves. So this is not about dozens of people actually starving, but about refusing the food offered by the prison. Walks in the fresh air are provided in accordance with regulations – not less than one hour per day. Air quality in cells is ensured by mechanical ventilation. The system meets the requirements, maintenance is performed, and no defects have been found. Prisoners' objections are actually about the fact that cell windows cannot be opened. That is not a construction error, but a deliberate security solution to prevent unauthorized communication between cells, the circulation of prohibited items, and other manifestations of prison subculture. The new Liepāja prison is built according to Latvian and international requirements. Its purpose is not just to keep people behind closed doors, but to ensure a safe, lawful and resocialization-oriented execution of sentences. Resistance to the new order was predictable. Some prisoners are accustomed to the old prison environment and its informal rules. Refusing prison food, resocialization measures, or other forms of collective protest are one way to try to achieve the restoration of the old order. The prison administration continues a dialogue with prisoners and checks each specific complaint. If any deficiency is found, it will be addressed. However, the state will not back down from security requirements and the goal of reducing the influence of prison subculture. The human dignity and rights of prisoners must be respected. At the same time, lawful execution of sentences and public safety are not negotiable.

@Mikipele6 It was in the previous publication.

Information about the situation with power grid damage - I just spoke with the Lithuanian Prime Minister, who asked me how we managed to fix such a large number of damages so quickly? Yes, our emergency teams have indeed worked wonders, because from 284,000 households without electricity we've already reduced to 2,538 households. In Lithuania there were 260,000 without electricity and today there are still 30,000. Our ST and AST technicians of power lines have done a huge job to repair together 2,369 broken lines/damages. Imagine the number of trips! I thanked the Estonian Prime Minister for their help, who came to assist with their 20 experts. Next week we need to adopt significant amendments so that after such a storm there wouldn't be such a large scale of damages. One of the significant reasons is that the distance of trees from power lines is too close, many trees damaged AST and ST wires, which is unacceptable - the regulation must be changed. There are still significant decisions and error corrections/omissions that need to be addressed already next week at the extraordinary Cabinet of Ministers meeting on September 4 to improve our preparedness in crisis conditions. We cannot allow such a situation during winter.

I have not supported and do not support state funding intended for the Bridge federation. I want to remind that the aim of the government decision of 16 June was to support the hosting of international championships, not to allocate funding to one specific sport. The aim of the Cabinet of Ministers' decision was to help Latvia attract and host international sports championships, not to cover expenses after the fact for events already held for one specific sport. At the Cabinet meeting, both in the protocol and in the audio recording, it was clearly explained that such funding could be allocated in an open competition with all sports federations participating - in the future, not for an already ongoing event. I also have a specific question about the planned 14,000 euros for 'evaluation of competition results, as well as development of new, transparent and uniform criteria.' If this sum is needed to develop transparent and verifiable procurement criteria after the funding distribution, a legitimate question arises: on exactly what criteria were the 225,000 euros distributed this time? I believe that the Ministry of Education and Science must submit a calculation of this sum, the source of funding, and procurement documents, and must justify why this work cannot be done by officials of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Economics, whom the Cabinet has already tasked with monitoring the competition results. I am not clear what the employees of the Ministry of Education and Science are doing, if an external evaluator needs to be hired for 14k EUR? This waste and the constant engagement of meaningless consultants must be stopped.

Yesterday we visited the border area - Terehova (border with Russia) and Pāternieki (with Belarus). While politically there are discussions about what and where can/cannot be transported in the EU ecosystem, in everyday life there is simply work that directly concerns the Ministry of Finance. Customs is a structural unit of VID, but VID itself is under the supervision of the Finance Ministry. The most pressing issue - for example, customs officers' salaries, which compete with border guards. We must try to resolve differences so as to reduce unproductive inter-agency competition. From the eastern side come goods such as Temu and Aliexpress, which stay a bit in Latvia, but most goes further to Europe. Can we facilitate customs clearance more in Latvia to ensure more taxes for the budget? A very interesting topic. Then Uzbeks traditionally bring watermelons, berries, and mushrooms, which are processed in Poland and return to our stores. In the opposite direction, a large part of cargo is EU-produced alcohol, for example. They drink, we get transit tax money and jobs in the border area. A surprising order has been introduced at the border, electronic queues, no crowding there. The biggest challenge is sanctions cases, we have to control hundreds of thousands of items, understand what is what. Even a regular house facade panel can or cannot be a sanctioned product. Handling confiscations sometimes takes months and requires very good training of customs officers. Mostly various everyday spare parts, construction materials, nothing sensational. Cigarettes are now smuggled much less, they are more produced domestically, but drugs are also caught, like this week 250 kg of heroin. A very valuable visit, we also discussed drone matters, they are 'used to it'. Also lessons from the storm in a no-communication and no-electricity situation. What we need to be ready for next time, but that also requires funding - where and how to organize the system to be better prepared next time. Well, we'll take that into account to find the most optimal solutions. It is always important to be on site, talk to people directly, office reports don't give such an impression. Meanwhile, in Riga yesterday there was a full moon. Due to the skewed fantasies of officials, a state of emergency was pushed to be introduced at the border to more easily resolve practical technical issues. A fuss arose that also echoed in foreign press. Completely unnecessary noise over stupidity.

@ivchix @Apvienotais_ That's why I don't support it.

Strazdiņa's reports from the USA never cease to surprise. Instead of finally finding some local experts, at least if not politicians, from among people close to politics, she calmly reads news from her phone. For 200k of taxpayers' money per year…

We are not planning, but other possible kisses are much more toxic…

@ivchix @Apvienotais_ I understand, but the data has been stolen from practically all residents; compensating would mean paying for ourselves... there's no such mystical pocket to draw from without affecting ourselves.

@taisnibaskalps @VL_TBLNNK @Apvienotais_ Ok, understood

@ivchix @Apvienotais_ Addresses have been stolen, which are declared; for many they are not the same ones where they live. Addresses cannot be changed, compensated... that is not possible. Car numbers are the fastest and easiest solution to come to each victim. The situation is terrible, no easy solutions.