A project for mandatory regulations is being promoted in the Riga City Council, which provides for a ban on fireworks in Riga until the official arrival of the New Year 2026.
"It is planned to adopt the regulations at the next city council meeting. Political support has finally been achieved in Riga to ban the launching of fireworks and the use of pyrotechnics in honor of the Moscow and Putin New Year, which is widely celebrated annually in the districts of Riga.
For those who want to celebrate the New Year according to the time of their royal homeland, please — the eastern border is open for them, but Riga must clearly express its Latvian position and solidarity with Ukraine," said one of the vice-mayors of Riga, as quoted by his advisor Inese Ozolina.
It should be noted that the New Year is also celebrated simultaneously with Moscow in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Madagascar. It would be wise to warn the Turks and Arabian sheikhs arriving in Latvia not to accidentally celebrate the New Year together with their homeland.
"All these years it has been a political choice — to allow or not allow fireworks according to Moscow time. Now we are expressing a clear position that this tradition in Riga needs to be stopped, and we are quickly moving towards having the ban come into effect this year," noted the chairman of the Riga City Council Committee, Girts Lapins.
An administrative fine is provided for violations of the rules — up to 350 euros for individuals and up to 1400 euros for legal entities. It is planned that the Riga municipal police will intensively monitor the use of pyrotechnics on New Year's Eve.
