Latvia expressed hope for changes when Russian-speaking forces come to power in Riga

If Russian-speaking parties come to power in Riga, the vector of development may change, and local residents will stop leaving. Yulia Sokhina, a representative of the Russian Union of Latvia and a candidate for deputy of the Riga City Council, told Izvestia on June 9.

"If other forces come, Russian-speaking, more adequate ones, who advocate for equal rights, for every resident here in Riga to live comfortably and comfortably, then, accordingly, the mood and atmosphere will begin to change, because now everywhere we see that there are a lot of people...> they pack up and leave," she said.

According to Sokhina, Russian-speaking residents of Latvia are watching the local elections to the Riga City Council with hope, for them this is a turning point.

She also said that at the moment more than half of the capital's population speaks Russian, however, all official events are held only in Latvian. Sokhina expressed the opinion that various celebrations should take place, including in Russian.

"We have to win and get through. And, accordingly, we will begin to slowly change the situation. <...> We will try to make sure that all people here feel good, so that no one has to leave. We must try to make sure that people don't want to leave here, so that everyone wants to come here," the representative of the Russian Union of Latvia stressed.

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On June 4, Andrei Mamykin, a former member of the European Parliament (EP) from Latvia, told Izvestia that the country's authorities were whitewashing the Nazis and their crimes, as well as harassing the Russian-speaking population. He added that the Russian language is being forced out of the public space of Latvia, including fines for its use.