The chairman of the Ogre County Council, Egils Helmanis, apologized to the people of Latvia in the “1:1” program of Latvian Television (LTV) for having given a negative answer to the question about the meeting with the sanctioned Russian billionaire Avena at his property in Latvia.
Helmanis states that he was emotionally tired and therefore misunderstood the questions asked by journalists. He also emphasizes that he did not want to mislead anyone.
HELMANIS POINTS OUT THAT HE DOESN’T DENY MEETING WITH AVENA, BECAUSE HE WANTS TO SHOW THE INHABITANTS OF OGRES TOO HOW WONDERFUL THE EXHIBITION “RIGA ART PORCELAINS. 1925 – 1940” IS, WHICH IS PART OF THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF THE SANCTIONED ENTREPRENEUR.
As reported, although it was initially planned that the exhibition “Riga art porcelain. 1925 – 1940” from Avena’s private collection will be on display at the Ogre History and Art Museum from February 1, the opening of the exhibition was canceled. It was planned that the works of painters Roman Suta, Aleksandra Belcova and graphic artist Sigismunds Vidbergs created in the porcelain painting workshop “Baltars” in the 1920s would be on display at the exhibition.
As emphasized in the program “Neka personalia”, the planned showing of this exhibition was an unpleasant surprise for both the government and Helmanis party members.
Regarding the positions held by Helmanis, NA does not plan to invite the politician of Ogre municipality to leave any of them. That’s how Jurgis Klotiņš, the deputy chairman of the NA Saeima faction, answered the question whether Helmanis will be expelled from the party, encouraged to leave the position of the chairman of the municipal council of Ogre region and resign the mandate of deputy of the municipal council.
In response to a query from the coalition partners, Edgars Tavars, chairman of the “United List” (AS) Saeima faction, stated that the Green Party of Latvia, led by him, forms a joint list with NA, which was elected in the municipality of Ogre. AS politician knowing Helmani personally, as well as his position regarding the horrors caused by Russia in the war in Ukraine.
Helmanis also allegedly brought his car to the front line to help the Ukrainians, and also helps in other ways so that Ukraine wins the Russian side, said the head of the AS faction. Tavars, referring to conversations with other colleagues, emphasized that “without the slightest shadow of a doubt, Helmanis is on the side where the whole civilized world, (..) – on the side of Ukraine”.
