Week in pictures: 9-15 April

9-15 April 2012 Riga and Tukums in Latvia.
All photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Latvian Legion Day

  

 

Every year on 16 March nationalists celebrate the Latvian Legion day that was part of German Waffen SS during WWII. Because of controversial character of this event it rather reminds get-together for police and media as there are hundreds of them in the streets of Riga on this day.
Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

2 March in Riga

Daily photos of Riga on March 2, 2012.
Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Referendum

Referendum on 18 February in Riga.
Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Second language

On 18 February citizens of Latvia will vote in a referendum whether the Russian language should have an official status in Latvia. In reality Russian is already a second language in Latvia as it is commonly used all around.
Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Inflation 2

 

In the photo above you see prices for cigarettes today. Below - what the smokes used to cost two years ago. As you see, prices have gone up, for instance, a pack of Winston was 1,52 LVL, now - 1,80 LVL. Some cigarettes have also been discontinued in Latvia, such as Elita and Prince.

Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Cheap perfume

Sakta, Sasha, Russian wood, Red Moscow - these are brands of perfumes at a market in Riga. Price starts at 1 EUR. I believe most of it is consumed internally by homeless alcoholics to whom this liquid is cheaper (but stronger) than, for instance, vodka. Thanks to alcoholics the cheap perfume industry has survived the Soviet Union, European Union and economical crisis, and might live forever.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Swedish embassy

Swedish embassy in Riga, Latvia
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus