RIGA - MP Edmunds Jurevics, the head of New Unity's group in the Saeima, calls on SIA Norma-A, which provides passenger transport under the Ecolines brand, to focus its attention and resources on the execution of routes in Latvia instead of "travelling to the aggressor country".
Ecolines will resume direct bus services between Riga and St Petersburg from February 1. Lux Express also operates passenger services to Russia. For Jurevics, the companies' activities to continue departures to Russia are not clear, as the politician does not believe that there is a huge economic benefit from them.
The politician noted that Ecolines had cancelled several routes earlier this year due to technical faults in its vehicles and a lack of drivers, for which the company had been fined by the Road Transport Directorate (ATD).
The MP also stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has long and repeatedly urged Latvian residents not to travel to Russia and Belarus, and that the issuance of visas to Russian citizens has been restricted.
The MP pointed out that from the geopolitical situation and ethical point of view, the companies that continue to carry passengers to and from Russia should decide whether or not they should continue such activities. At the same time, Jurevics calls on the Ministry of Transport to assess whether it is necessary to amend legislation in connection to this situation.
As reported, an Ecolines bus from Riga to St Petersburg will run once a day, crossing the Russian border in Luhamaa, Estonia. The journey will take approximately 14 hours.
Andris Podgornijs, Chairman of the Board of Ecolines, told LETA that the company had previously operated routes to St Petersburg and would continue to do so. "The only thing that is changing now is the closure of the Ivangorod border crossing," Podgornijs stressed.
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