To show support on Belarus Solidarity Day, Riga Municipality and mobile tech innovator LMT carried out a symbolic drone flight illuminating the white-red-white flag of independence on the frozen surface of river Daugava.
On February 7, Riga Municipality joined a Day of Solidarity with Belarus, responding to the call by Belarusian Opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya. LMT took part in this action, providing a technological solution for carrying out the symbolic idea.
A special projector was mounted on LMT’s 5G drone to display the white-red-white flag of Belarusian independence. The drone was piloted over the frozen river Daugava, projecting the large-scale flag on the ice. This action was commemorated in a video greeting to express encouragement to our neighboring nation. Mayor of Riga Mārtiņš Staķis was present during the flight to show support of Latvia’s capital city to the Belarusian people.
The choice of the flight location was a symbolic one. The river Daugava, flowing through Riga, is called “the river of destiny” by Latvians because of the many nationally decisive events that have taken place on its banks. Also, Daugava directly connects us to Belarus, flowing into Latvia from our neighbor country.
30 years ago, about half a million Latvians gathered on the Daugava banks to defend their freedom during the 1991 January Barricades. Today, we identify and stand with our neighbors to support their right to live in a free and democratic state.
Several public buildings – Riga City Hall, the National Library, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Latvian Television building, and VEF Culture Palace – were also illuminated in the colors of the Belarusian flag of independence.