Historical Storms: When Liepāja Had One Name and Double Problems
The early nineties in Liepāja - a time when cheese came without certificates, but names came in double sets.
Here's what the archive dust from 1995 reveals to us — a time when living in Liepāja was just as complicated as today, only with different nuances. While Rīga was still trying to figure out what a free market was, Liepāja residents were already enjoying it to the fullest — with cheese without certificates and two names simultaneously.
The firm "Osako" and Ginzikevičs' company apparently decided that quality certificates were just a formality. What could be better than Liepāja residents' trust in a product? As local trader Kārlis said: "If the cheese smells good and isn't green, then everything's fine with it." But the police, of course, thought otherwise.
The most interesting thing, however, was with the two names. Civil registry office head Dzintra Reisa was already warning back then — if you give a child two names but only use one, then from a legal standpoint, that's a different person. Today that would sound like the perfect tax evasion scheme! Imagine — in the mornings you're Jānis, but in the afternoons you become Mārtiņš.
But the most ridiculous thing was that attempt to merge the Municipal and State police. Back then it seemed revolutionary, but today we know — in Liepāja everything happens according to its own laws anyway. As veteran policeman Gunārs says: "Either you understand Liepāja's rhythm, or you'd better go to Rīga."
⚠️ Satirical article. Facts are preserved, but the presentation is humorous. For accurate information, please refer to the original source.