The fireworks celebrating in Daugavpils have faded, and the capital reminded who is in charge. Law enforcement officials voiced claims against the former mayor of Rēzekne, while a former Daugavpils deputy is under arrest on suspicion of espionage. Both are members of the regional party, which is a wing of the leading opposition force in the country by ratings. All this is clearly not without reason...
Meanwhile, the government has developed a plan for the socio-economic development and security enhancement of the Eastern border region of Latvia (all areas of Latgale bordering the Russian Federation).
The deadline for implementation is 2027, so the Cabinet of Ministers led by Andris Kulbergs decided to accelerate the process and held a meeting on the Latgale issue in June. Moreover, the responsible Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development is headed by Edgars Tavars, the party genosse of the Prime Minister from the "United List".
Mobility vs. Counter-Mobility
A total of 59 areas of activity were developed; after analyzing them, the government decided that 5 have already been fully completed, 2 can be canceled without significant damage, and work should continue on the others.
Here are some key figures: the economy was expected to create 1,800 new jobs, which would reduce the unemployment rate by 20%. So far, 518 vacancies have been formed – good, but not enough.
In the demographic sphere, Latgale was supposed to reduce the population decline from 2% to 1.5% per year. Admittedly, it is not a particularly ambitious task. Currently, a "minus" of 1.7% has been achieved.
In general, the philosophy is as follows: "The goal of the action plan is to create investment support programs, integration, mobility, and improvement of the quality of life in the Eastern border zone, which brings the economic competitiveness of the regions closer to the other regions of Latvia, stimulating entrepreneurial activity, strengthening border security, and enhancing the population's resilience to crises, achieving a reduction in the difference in regional gross domestic product by two percentage points. The measures included in the action plan are aimed at: 1) strengthening security; 2) economic development; 3) human resource development." Golden words! But in the last couple of years, the main focus in the region has been precisely on counter-mobility – the production and storage on an industrial scale of reinforced concrete tetrahedrons designed to stop enemy tank columns. In Latgale, 23 such "counter-mobility material parks" have been created.
In fact, the defense sector was supposed to attract significant funds to Latgale – through state and European Union funds, 283.4 million euros were planned to be invested. To date, 130.7 million euros have been utilized (for comparison – in the "human resources" section – 70.4 million euros). The information regarding jobs in the defense industry is not particularly specific – "more than 100," and regarding implementation – "no information provided"...
At the Center of Managed Disaster
Investments in the region are considered to be "disaster management centers" – integrated structures of firefighters, emergency services, and other emergency services. They have already been established in Dagda, Ilūkste, Daugavpils, Līvāni, and Vīlāni; work is ongoing in Alūksne, Preiļi, and Ludza; the procurement procedure for construction work has been conducted in Balvi, Krāslava, and Rēzekne.
The State Fire and Rescue Service is equipped with new vehicles, as well as containers for operational activities (living, management, decontamination) and pumps.
Military bases in Lūznava (Rēzekne region) and Daugavpils itself are also expected to become centers of regional investment activity. In the first case, the local government is busy relocating engineering networks; the state is massively constructing – barracks, a dining hall, a gym, and a warehouse. In the second case, work is ongoing in the transport park.
Moreover, the military has brought joy to Malta – there, a secondary school will be adapted for training cadets.
Why is there a checkpoint there?
At the same time, 50 shelters have been identified in the border area that should be refurbished with funds from the European Regional Development Fund (1.8 million euros).
And, of course, the holy of holies – fences on the borders with the Russian Federation and Belarus. Both projects have already been completed, but there is no limit to perfection, and Latgale has been tasked with continuing various works on fortification and even greening. Although – how much forest was cut down for this structure?
Paradoxically, work is still ongoing in the East to modernize the checkpoints (CPs). In Terehovo, Grebnevo, and Paternieki, an investment of 882 thousand euros is planned. Perhaps the authorities are planning something in anticipation of the "Beautiful Russia of the Future," which will live hand in hand with the EU and NATO?
One way or another, against the backdrop of A. Kulbergs' calls for a complete cessation of all economic ties with neighbors and cutting regular bus services, this activity at the checkpoints looks quite strange.
Information Space
With enviable persistence, the central authority imposes its media formats on the region – starting in 2026, a special Latgale editorial office of Latvian public media will be in place, with 21 positions planned. So far, 15 have been filled – not because there are no unemployed journalists in Daugavpils and Rēzekne, where the corporate offices are based, but due to high ideological requirements for applicants. They are scrutinized literally under a magnifying glass.
The project funding amounted to 494 thousand euros; separately, 682 thousand euros have been allocated through the "Latgale Region" competition to support 12 electronic and print media projects.
A special bill has been submitted to the Saeima for the establishment of Gors – in Latgalian, this means "Spirit." The culture palace built in "fat years" in Rēzekne has proven to be unmanageable for the local budget due to its energy consumption and low profitability. Now this suitcase without a handle will be carried across the country – in the name of "social cohesion, a unified information space, and strengthening the community's belonging to achieve the goals of the Latvian state."
That may be true, but when you read reviews on social media about "the city of vatniks" and "not enough is being planted," it seems that social therapy should be directed not at Latgale residents, but at Rīga residents. One particular statement from a lady stuck with the author, welcoming the appearance of "good" drones over Latgale – because its population, you see, did not sufficiently oppose Putin and Lukashenko...
Gas Production
In any case, if we compare the figures mentioned above for military spending with the financing of the economy of Latgale – 34.5 million euros, the balance will clearly not favor the national economy. Moreover, the money spent on 20 business projects is not from the state budget, but from the European Union.
Of course, the Eastern Latvia Center for Smart Technologies and Research (ALTOP) opened in Daugavpils is a growth point. On the other hand, the highest achievement proposed for Rēzekne is to consider the entry point into the biomethane supply system, which accumulates on livestock farms...
A significant breakthrough is in social housing. Currently, 227 apartments are being renovated and 57 new ones are being built in the Eastern border area; local governments will be able to distribute modern housing stock in Daugavpils (and the region), Rēzekne (and the region), Preiļi, Līvāni, and Balvi. However, buying a new apartment on the market for those wishing to tie their fate to Latgale remains difficult – there is no supply.
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