Latvia plans to remove road signs pointing to Russia and Belarus
Latvia plans to gradually phase out road signs that include the names of towns and cities in Russia and Belarus. The country’s Minister of Transport, Rihards Kozlovskis, stated that such signs are no longer necessary. He made this remark in an interview with the LETA news agency.
According to the minister, back in February, the Ministry of Transport prepared a report with proposals to change road signs indicating directions to Russia and Belarus. The document calls for their modification or replacement by September 30 of this year.
“Of course, there are costs involved, but we are prepared for that. At the moment, I don’t see a need for recommendations in this regard. It’s not necessary. Perhaps in the distant future,” Kozlovskis said.
The document notes that the changes may involve partial revisions to the text, the replacement of individual road signs, or the improvement of routes through the use of road numbering and European designations.
According to the Ministry of Transport, 235 directional and informational signs referring to settlements in Russia and Belarus have been identified on Latvia’s public roads.
The estimated cost of completely replacing or modifying these signs is approximately 120,000 euros. The ministry noted that the work is planned to be carried out gradually using existing resources, without additional funding from the state budget.
The Ministry of Transport emphasized that changing the signs will not affect road safety or the functionality of the transportation system, but will merely reduce the emphasis on the names of settlements in Russia and Belarus.
Source: Delfi.
As a reminder, Latvia summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires and presented him with a note of protest following the Russian strike on Sloviansk, which destroyed the country’s honorary consulate building.
Latvia has banned the import of books, clothing, and toys from Russia and Belarus.
