Latvia Transfers Confiscated Vehicles Worth Almost €1 Million to Ukraine
As of mid-December, Latvia has sent 271 vehicles confiscated from local drunk drivers to Ukraine, with a total value of approximately one million euros, according to information from the Latvian State Revenue Service reported by Delfi.
Latvian legislative provisions allowing the government to transfer confiscated vehicles to the ownership of the Ukrainian government at no cost have been in effect since February 16. These amendments to the Law on Civil Population Support in Ukraine were unanimously approved by the Latvian parliament.
The first batch of seized vehicles promised by Latvia arrived in Ukraine in March 2023, and the total number for the current year has exceeded 270 automobiles. The Latvian government is currently preparing documents for the transfer of an additional 34 vehicles to Ukraine, valued at 161,880 euros.
The delivery of these vehicles to Ukraine is organized by the "Twitter Convoy," led by Latvian volunteer Reinis Pozņaks. The "Twitter Convoy" operated even before the decision to transfer confiscated vehicles to Ukraine, having already delivered over 1,100 cars worth approximately 2 million euros to Ukraine since 2022.
It's worth noting that the decision to confiscate vehicles from drunk drivers initially did not involve Ukraine, and was a measure to enhance road safety in the country. Subsequently, the Latvian government faced the question of what to do with the confiscated cars, and the initiative to transfer them to Ukraine was later approved by the parliament.
Former Prime Minister and current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Krišjānis Kariņš, stated in an interview with Ukrainian media that Latvian society supports Ukraine not only from a rational standpoint but also due to deep conviction and emotions. He drew parallels between the actions of Russians in Latvia during the end of World War II and their current actions in Ukraine's occupied territories, emphasizing the mass executions, deportations, fake verdicts, rape of women, looting, and theft that occurred. Therefore, according to him, the government's decision to support Ukraine, including the transfer of confiscated vehicles, is supported by the entire Latvian society.