Latvia’s Minister of Environment Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) Artūrs Toms Plešs threatens Daugavpils City Council and mayor Andrejs Elksniņš with «red card» due to their inaction with demolition of Soviet monuments in the region.
At a press-conference held on Monday, 29 August, Plešs stressed that his ministry carefully follows all actions and non-actions of Daugavpils City Council, and the pile of violations committed by them keeps increasing.
He reported that VARAM sent a repeated request to Elksniņš, requesting immediate action in regards to the demolition of Soviet monuments in Daugavpils.
«If you receive a yellow card multiple times, you can expect receiving a red card soon,» said the minister.
If the municipal administration does not cease its inaction and will slow the ministry’s functions by not providing requested information, the ministry will consider taking action against Daugavpils City Council.
«Laws are to be complied with regardless of someone agreeing or disagreeing with them,» stressed the minister.
42 out of 42 municipalities in Latvia have reported information regarding the removal of Soviet monuments so far.
Daugavpils is the only municipality that has not reported relevant information.
As Plešs explained at the press-conference, dissolution of the city council is not VARAM’s goal at the moment. However, the ministry will not hesitate with ensuring compliance with the law. If conventional measures do not help and the municipality does not make necessary decisions, VARAM will step in.
Also read: Latvian minister demands Daugavpils mayor to present schedule for Soviet monuments’ demolition