Latvian Diplomat: Latvians in Georgia Took Active Part in Saeima Elections

Diāna Eglīte, acting chargé d'affaires at the Latvian embassy in Georgia, told the newspaper Latgales Laiks that Latvia's 15th Saeima (parliament) elections, held in Georgia on 3 October, went smoothly and in an organised way. The vote gave Latvian citizens abroad a chance to help decide the makeup of parliament, and the diplomat's account also describes voter engagement and the current state of Latvian-Georgian relations.

The diaspora and the vote

According to the embassy's information, more than a hundred members of the Latvian diaspora are connected to Georgia. Eglīte notes that not all live there permanently: some come for work, or own property there and later return to Latvia.

She said voting and counting were quick, and no long queues formed. The embassy counted the ballots in good time and sent the results to colleagues in Riga. Some voters crossed out candidates on the ballots while others added plus signs, so counting took slightly longer. October is grape harvest season in Georgia, and some diaspora members who are married to Georgian citizens help with the harvest, yet still found time to vote.

The diplomat considers the diaspora fairly well informed: people read party programmes and media coverage, and share analysis and journalists' overviews on social networks.

Cultural and sports contacts

During the election period, singer Olga Rajecka visited the embassy; she was in Georgia on a concert tour with the dance group "Madara". Friendly football matches also took place between young Georgian players and Latvian football representatives.

The European path

Georgia obtained European Union candidate status in 2023, but in 2024 its government announced that accession talks would not continue until 2028. The decision prompted protests that are still continuing. Eglīte says the Latvians living in Georgia generally support the country's European integration.

She stresses that relations between the two countries are first of all sustained by people themselves, through cultural contacts, tourism and friendships. Both countries share the experience of being part of the Soviet Union and today face the consequences of Russian aggression.