2026 Elections: Latvia's Ukrainian community urges citizens not to skip their vote
Latvia will hold 15th Saeima elections on October 3, and LSM spoke with two Latvian citizens of Ukrainian origin about why voting matters to their community. The conversation included SICH society head Oksana Sichko and translator Vladimir Ivanitsky.
On October 3, Latvia will hold elections to the 15th Saeima, the parliament that will set the country's political direction for the next four years. Ahead of the vote, LSM spoke with two representatives of Latvia's Ukrainian community, for whom both Latvia and Ukraine are equally close, to hear their views on the upcoming elections.
Who took part in the conversation
One of the participants was Oksana Sichko, head of the SICH society and a medic, who already has personal experience taking part in Saeima elections. The other was Vladimir Ivanitsky, a translator, guide, and instructor with the Ukrainian scouting movement "Plast" in Latvia.
Why voting matters
The discussion focused on why it matters for Latvian citizens of Ukrainian origin to use their right to vote and go to polling stations on October 3. It also addressed why part of the Ukrainian community in Latvia nonetheless chooses not to vote, despite having that option.
What the community expects from the new parliament
The two also shared their views on what the Ukrainian community in Latvia expects from the work of the newly elected Saeima over the next four years. The conversation aimed to show how people with strong ties to both Latvia and Ukraine perceive their civic role and responsibility in these elections.
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