Photo: news.ru
Riga Mayor Nil Ushakov said at a rally in his support that he was proud of his Russian origins and was ready to fight for Russians and Latvians living in the country. Several thousand people gathered at the Town Hall Square in Riga on Saturday, RIA Novosti reports.
People were holding posters with Russian and Latvian writings in defense of Russian language and Nil Ushakov. The rally was calm with no incidents there. Russian Union of Latvia supported the action. Its representatives intend to recall the equal rights for Russian minority and Latvian majority, including the right to get the education in their native language.
The mayor stated from the rostrum that he was suffering a lot, seeing how Russians and Latvians are being confronted with someone’s political interests. “I am proud to be Russian, and I love my native language,” he said. According to him, residents of Riga have shown that people of different nationalities can come together and work together for the sake of bright future of their city. As an example of how one can live in peace and avoid conflicts on national and linguistic grounds, Ushakov brought his family: Russian is his native language, his wife’s language is Latvian, and their three-year-old child speaks both languages.
As Russkiy Mir reported, the representatives of anti-corruption bureau conducted searches in the office and house of the mayor of Riga earlier. Nil Ushakov assured that he did not commit any unlawful actions and was interested in a full and comprehensive investigation. He emphasized that the rally was primarily intended to remind residents of the Latvian capital that they are the ones who decide who will govern the city. It is unacceptable that the voice of nationalists, who are speaking about Latvian Riga, to be heard loudest there.
Russkiy Mir
