Dombrava terminates cooperation with two NGOs; cites violations in projects worth hundreds of thousands of euros

Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava (National Alliance) has announced the termination of cooperation memoranda signed by previous ministers with two non-governmental organizations – "I want to help refugees" (Gribu palīdzēt bēgļiem) and the "Latvian Women's NGO Cooperation Network" (Latvijas Sieviešu nevalstisko organizāciju sadarbības tīkls).

The minister states that both organizations have received hundreds of thousands of euros from the state budget and EU funds, and audits are currently underway. Dombrava informed that an analysis has been initiated of programs that also include funding from Interior Ministry funds for NGO support.

He claims that a series of projects worth hundreds of thousands of euros have been implemented. The Finance Ministry randomly checked one project and concluded that all funds will need to be repaid in full due to gross violations. The ministry sees highly suspicious activities in the projects, and law enforcement may need to become involved in certain projects where NGOs pretended to integrate people by taking them to the circus or other activities for hundreds of thousands of euros.

Dombrava emphasizes that EU funds require assessing organizations' reputation and national security aspects. He recalls that one of the organizations has a first-instance conviction, which is an excluding factor for receiving funding.

The Interior Ministry has already identified serious violations in the project "Societal Diversity and Intercultural Communication for Professionals Working with Third-Country Nationals". Meanwhile, a board member of "I want to help refugees" has allegedly been involved in Belarus' hybrid war activities, supporting individuals who illegally cross the state border.

The project partners include the Latvian Women's NGO Cooperation Network and the Latvian Association of Local Governments. The project runs from July 1, 2024 to April 30, 2027. It plans to train 250 people – workers at public transport terminals and the State Border Guard, NGO representatives, medical personnel, education and cultural workers, and youth specialists. The project received funding of €246,755 from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.