A presentation of the research of the analytical center “Ukrainian refugees in Latvia: available data, experience and public attitude” was held in Riga
A presentation of a sociological study conducted by the Latvian analytical center PROVIDUS entitled “Ukrainian refugees in Latvia: available data, experience and public attitudes” took place at the House of the European Union in Riga. This study was an important step in understanding the situation with Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Latvia after the war in Ukraine.
The presentation of the research was accompanied by two panel discussions, which contributed to the in-depth analysis of the results and the search for optimal solutions to improve the lives of refugees. The event brought together members of the Latvian Parliament, representatives of ministries, the Ukrainian diaspora, as well as the press.
The sociological survey, conducted in April-May 2024, was a comprehensive event involving 457 Ukrainian refugees living in Latvia. The think-tank PROVIDUS has cooperated with various organizations and institutions, including municipalities, educational institutions and public associations, such as “Tavi draugi / Your friends” and “Gribu uštaj bēgliam / I want to help refugees”.
Thanks to such cooperation, it was possible to create a kind of “collective portrait” of Ukrainian refugees currently living in Latvia. According to official data, the total number of Ukrainians in the country is about 43,000, of which 26,000 live in Latvia on a permanent basis. It is worth noting that 60% of them are women, and 70% live in Riga and its suburbs. About a third have higher education, which indicates the high level of education of this community.
As part of the study, a number of important issues related to the quality of life of Ukrainian refugees in Latvia were considered. In particular, the researchers paid attention to the problems of employment, income, access to social benefits, housing, health care and education for children. At the same time, more specific aspects were also investigated, such as the feeling of security, the attitude of Latvian society towards Ukrainians, learning the Latvian language and social integration. As a result of the research, the experts provided recommendations for Latvian politicians and departments aimed at improving the situation in these areas.
The research presentation was followed by two discussion panels. The first panel entitled “Experience of the Ukrainian civilian population in Latvia” brought together deputies, representatives of public organizations and the Ukrainian community. Among the participants were the member of the Seimas Ihor Raevs, the representatives of the organizations “Tavi draugi” and “Gribu služi bēgliam” Renate Grundstok and Linda Jakobsone-Havala, as well as representatives of the Ukrainian community – Lyudmila Vakalo and Oleksiy Zarychanskyi. The discussion covered a wide range of issues related to the experience of refugees in Latvia and their adaptation to new living conditions.
The event ended with a professional discussion on the topic “How to find out how many Ukrainians are in Latvia?” Challenges and solutions of data analysis”. In the course of this discussion, experts discussed the challenges associated with accurate accounting of the number of refugees and collecting data on their stay in the country.
PROVIDUS think tank announced plans to continue research in two new directions. The first study will be devoted to regional features of the situation with Ukrainian refugees in Latvia. The second direction involves a systematic analysis of disinformation about Ukrainian refugees in social networks, which is a relevant issue in the context of information warfare and the influence of fake news on public opinion.
