The National Alliance has asked Riga City Council to provide explanations about the origin of financial resources to be used to organize BI-2 free concert on Lucavsala, as the estimated costs of such a concert exceed EUR 200,000.

NA notes that the concert is organized by Riga Tourism Development Bureau – a company 70% of which is owned by the city council. Municipal administration also provides this company with funding for the organization of all kinds of events every year.

«We are well-aware that Riga City Council provides millions in funding to Riga Tourism Development Bureau every year. With that, we ask the city council to provide explanations about the funding provided to RTDB for the organization of BI-2 concert in Riga and whether or not taxpayers’ money is used in this case,» says Dainis Locis, chairman of NA’s faction in Riga City Council.

He continues: «As we all know, Riga lacks the money for many important things – kindergartens, street repairs and many others. Nevertheless, once again the management of the city council finds a way to misuse the money of our taxpayers right before elections.»

NA emphasizes that such an event prior to elections can be interpreted as an attempt by the current management of the city council to finance their election campaign using municipality’s resources. «We will observe the concert closely to make sure it is not used for political promotion. We ask authorities to do the same,» Locis said.

Opening the concert season in Lucavsala, Russian BI-2 will perform there on 27 May.

Riga City Council has said the concert is organized by Riga Tourism Development Bureau. The concert will be free for all to attend. Nevertheless, its costs are estimated at EUR 203,538, as confirmed by the bureau’s representative Anna Blaua.

The tendering process announced by Riga Tourism Development Bureau was won by MAN Entertainment.

Ref: 224.109.109.5293