Six thousand pensioners want to be deprived of the right to free travel 0 25

According to the initiator, he intends to officially submit the corresponding proposal in January. If his idea is supported, the right to free travel on Riga's public transport will only remain for pensioners who hold citizenship of European Union or European Economic Area countries. The deputy also expressed his position on social media, stating that pensioners with Russian and Belarusian passports should no longer benefit from this privilege.

He also reported that, at his request, municipal structures are already analyzing the possible consequences of the initiative and calculating the economic effect for the city budget. According to preliminary data, the changes could affect about six thousand people.

The deputy informed his colleagues on the Riga City Council's committee on communication and transport about his proposal. At the same meeting, the deputies supported the extension of benefits for Ukrainian refugees, as well as the exemption from fare for participants in the Latvian anti-Soviet resistance. Explaining this approach, Pupols reminded about the people who, according to him, risked their lives opposing the Soviet regime, emphasizing that free travel is the minimum form of gratitude from the state.

At the same time, the initiative to cancel benefits for some pensioners has sparked an active reaction on social media. Users are debating the fairness of the proposed decision, pointing out that many of these people have lived and worked in Latvia for decades, paying taxes diligently. Comments raise questions about the justification of depriving social guarantees based on citizenship, as well as comparisons with pensioners from other EU countries who, according to commentators, will find themselves in a more privileged position.

Some participants in the discussion also note the differences between municipalities, pointing out that benefits are not provided equally to all pensioners in Latvia. Some responses are sharp and emotional — authors accuse the authorities of unfair treatment towards people who have worked and paid taxes all their lives, and who now, in their opinion, are becoming victims of political decisions.

"Doesn't a pensioner from Russia, who has lived in Latvia all his life and paid taxes, deserve this?" asks one commentator. Another user writes: "Am I understanding correctly? A person who has worked all his life and was forced to pay taxes will not receive pension benefits because of the wrong passport, while a pensioner who came from Germany will be able to use benefits?" More emotional assessments are also voiced: "One might think that it is these pensioners who are to blame for all the world's troubles."