Riga travel consultant must grab brooms for Crimea trips – Liepāja residents rejoice that at least someone will work

In Riga, a certain travel consultant Ivanova has finally received her just desserts – 100 hours of community service for sanctions violation. The Supreme Court announced that the cassation appeal was unfounded and the woman must grab brooms. Our Karosta is already rejoicing – maybe finally someone will clean up what the local boys leave behind after Saturday nights.

Ivanova worked at a company called "My Best Choice Tour," which, it turns out, wasn't the best choice. The woman organized trips to Crimea and Sevastopol, completely forgetting that since 2014 it's been forbidden to travel there for tourism purposes. "I was just following my employer's orders," Ivanova tried to justify, but the court replied – ignorance doesn't exempt from responsibility. Liepāja resident Jānis comments: "Well yeah, I also don't know why the tram only goes to Karosta, but I don't drive my car on the tracks!"

VDD conducted a search at the company in 2015, and now, after eight years, justice has finally prevailed. The company received a 10,500 euro fine, which by Riga standards is like pocket money, but in Liepāja you could buy a whole café by the port for that. Local tourism guide Līga says: "We show tourists the real Latvia here – Karosta, the tram and the beach. No need to go anywhere else!"

Now Ivanova will have to work 100 hours of community service. Liepāja residents are already offering for her to come help – our city always has work in the cleanup sector. As local philosopher Pēteris says: "Better here with a broom than in Crimea with problems."