There are still anti-Ukrainian and pro-Russian Ukrainian organisations operating in Latvia, said the Ukrainian embassy in an announcement on Facebook.
The embassy «affirms its respect for Latvia’s government, municipal organisations and non-government organisations (NGOs) for the active assistance provided to Ukraine during Russia’s military aggression».
The Ukrainian diaspora in Latvia is also actively engaged in humanitarian efforts provided to regions of Ukraine impacted by the war the most.
At the same time, the embassy claims there are only eight NGOs of the Ukrainian diaspora that «are truly patriotic and worry about Ukraine». Five of them are united as part of Confederation of Ukrainians of Latvia Viche, which has a call centre, logistics centre, as well as a transportation line for humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
Viche includes the Ukrainian community in Jurmala, Latvian Ukrainian youth association Vektors, Ukrainian culture centre in Jelgava, Ukrainian people’s theatre in Riga and Ukrainian centre for youth and children in Latvia.
Three more organisations – Latvian Ukrainians Congress, Ukrainian Support Association and Culture Centre Latvia-Ukraine – are also patriotic organisations and are engaged in charity, but they operate without synergy with the embassy.
Nevertheless, there are still anti-Ukrainian and pro-Russian organisations that are allegedly Ukrainian and managed by Irina Dukule as part of Latvian Ukrainian associations union, claims the embassy.
This organisation is excluded from the World Ukrainian Congress and its managers no longer hold the status of foreign Ukrainians for their pro-Russian activities.
According to the embassy, Latvian Ukrainian associations unions include the Vangazi-based Ukrainian cultural education association Jatran, Ukrainian cultural education association Javir in Jekabpils, Ukrainian social research centre in Etniki, Ukrainian cultural education association Dnipro, Latvian Ukrainian women’s association, Ukrainian cultural education association Svitanok in Liepaja and Ukrainian cultural education association Vodograj in Rezekne.
This is why the Ukrainian embassy invites Latvia’s government, municipal organisations and NGOs to not respond to requests and invitations from those organisations.
«The aforementioned structure may be used by the enemy – Russia – for the purposes of provocative actions in Latvia,» the embassy reported in its announcement.