This week Russia’s army continued its unimaginable activities in Ukraine. News were received about killed civilians, mass graves, rape and other atrocities.
The UN Human Rights Council finally decided to expel Russia from the council.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others demand a full embargo of Russian gas, coal and oil. For Germany this decision seems to be the most difficult.
In solidarity with Ukraine this week Latvia’s Saeima decided to mark 9 May as the Day of Commemoration of Victims in Ukraine this week. One week ago authorities decided to prohibit any public celebrations and events near Soviet monuments. Public use of symbols promoting the Russian army, such as letters Z and V, was also prohibited.
The effect of sanctions, meanwhile, is felt by every average resident with their wallet. The Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia reports inflation in the country was 11.5% in March.
BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: Human rights; 9 May; Expensive life; Lembergs and his «honour»; Dead despot; Expelled; Electricity price.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Russia expelled from UN Human Rights Council for massive human rights violations
In the foreground, Russia’s representative in UN Human Rights Council Gennady Kuzmin. Photo: AP Photo/SCANPIXOn Thursday, 7 April, Latvia supported the resolution proposed by the UN General Assembly on expelling Russia from the UN Human Rights Council, as reported by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry explained that with the resolution on stopping membership of the Russian Federation in UN Human Rights Council the international community once again condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and points to the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine, including blatant violations of human and international rights by Russia.
«Russian Federation’s military aggression, accompanied by vicious crimes against civilians, civil objects and brutal destruction of people’s homes, is incompatible with the country’s membership in the Human Rights Council, which stands for the respect and protection of human rights,» said Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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9 MAY
Latvia officially declares 9 May Day of Commemoration of Victims Who Died in Ukraine
Photo: Ivars Soikāns/LETAOn Thursday, 8 April, Latvia’s Saeima passed in the final reading the Law on the Day of Commemoration of Victims Who Died in Ukraine, providing that 9 May becomes a day of mourning.
The legislative draft was pushed by coalition deputies Mārtiņš Šteins, Juris Pūce, Ainars Latkovskis, Krišjānis Feldmans and Raivis Dzintars.
In addition, the parliament also decided to pass the proposal from Mārtiņš Šteins to prohibit sales of fireworks on 9th and 10th of May 2022.
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EXPENSIVE LIFE
Everything is so expensive now. Inflation in Latvia – 11.5%
Photo: UnsplashThe latest data of the Central Statistical Bureau show that in March 2022, compared to March 2021, the average level of consumer prices increased by 11.5 %.
Compared to March 2021, the average level of consumer prices was mainly influenced by the rise in prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, goods and services related to transport, goods and services related to housing, within the miscellaneous goods and services group, health care, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, goods and services related to recreation and culture, furnishings in March 2022, according to data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
Over the year, prices within the group of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 14.7 %.
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LEMBERGS AND HIS «HONOUR»
Ventspils ex-mayor leaves honorary member status in University of Latvia on his own
Aivars Lembergs. Photo: Edijs Pālens/LETAAivars Lembergs, who remains accused of serious crimes of corruption, has sent a letter to the rector of the University of Latvia Indriķis Muižnieks and the university’s Senate, informing them that as of 7 April 2022 he would like to reject his honorary LU member status.
«The growth of my Alma Mater will continue making me happy, and that under your leadership the university will soon enter the TOP 100 of the world’s best universities. I am also happy that my modest contribution to the University of Latvia will continue service its present and its future,» Lembergs claimed in his letter.
The University of Latvia has so far been unable to say if it is possible to refuse honorary member status.
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DEAD DESPOT
Russian veteran MP Zirinovsky dies
Leader of the nationalist Russian Liberal Democratic Party Vladimir Zhirinovsky attends an election rally. Photo: REUTERS/SCANPIXIn Moscow, veteran Russian member of the State Duma Vladimir Zirinovsky has died, Radio Free Europe reports.
On Wednesday, April 6, Russian State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stated that the far-right politician had died after a «long and serious illness.» Zhirinovsky had been in a Moscow hospital since early February after testing positive for Covid-19 and developing pneumonia.
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EXPELLED
Latvia shuts down Russian general consulates and expels their workers
Photo: Paula Čurkste/LETAOn 5 April, Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to shut down Russian Federation’s general consulate in Daugavpils and Liepaja, closing down both of Russia’s representation functions.
Diplomatic workers of these consulates are declared personae non gratae in Latvia.
The ministry notes the decision was made in solidarity with Ukraine and its fight against Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression and war.
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ELECTRICITY PRICE
Electricity price in Latvia up 59.7% in March
Photo: UnsplashThe average electricity price in Latvia’s commercial region increased to 167.22 EUR/MWh in March, which is 59.7% more when compared to February. Compared to March 2021, the price has increased 3.8 times, as reported by representatives of Latvian transmission system operator JSC Augstsprieguma tīkls.
After a moderate drop in the first two months of the year, prices in Europe increased again, exceeding historically the highest level observed in December 2021. In Baltic States, as well as interconnected commercial regions – Poland, Sweden’s fourth commercial region, and Finland – prices increased more calmly and did not exceed last December’s record.
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BNN summary of the week: Russia without human rights. 9 May renamed. Inflation volumes
