Women in Latgale hesitant to join defence organisation "Skudras"

More than 400 women have already joined "Women for Defence SKUDRAS" ("Skudras"), an organisation founded this summer. In Latgale, the eastern region of Latvia, response has so far been low, according to one of its co-founders, Colonel Antonina Blodone, commander of the Staff Battalion of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS).

Blodone spoke on the Delfi TV programme "Kāpēc" ("Why"). She said that in conversations with women from the region, concerns had been voiced about how the community would view participation in such an association.

What worries the women

The colonel said women in the region were not sure about the loyalty of their fellow residents to the state. They also doubt whether joining the organisation might lead to conflicts.

According to Blodone, the hesitation is therefore tied not to the idea of the organisation itself but to concerns about how people around them will react and what consequences it could have in everyday life. The programme's title raised the question of whether neighbours would understand such a decision.

The source gives no further figures on how many women are active in "Skudras" in Latgale, nor does it say what activities the organisation plans in the region.