An interview with Andrejs Faibuševičs, a doctor and entrepreneur in Daugavpils

Changes in the composition of the Daugavpils leadership during this parliamentary term have been noticed elsewhere in Latvia as well. Why is this happening, and what are the points of disagreement in the city?

The change of power can be explained by internal and personal interests, as it is usually accompanied by shifts in positions. There is also the possibility that a major mess has been made, progress is no longer possible, and the instinct for self-preservation kicks in. A rapid change in power can allow one to hide or smooth over what has been done.

Am I very happy with what is happening in Daugavpils? No, many things could be moving differently, and faster too! It is important that no major disasters have occurred, as in reality, that was also a possibility. In this regard, let us recall why, for example, Poland did not suffer as much during the 2008-2009 crisis. Because there was political diversity (others might call it fragmentation) in Poland, which respectively excluded the excessive dominance of any single party or faction's policy or actions. Many parties required many compromises. It has been similar in Daugavpils in recent years.

There were times when one party ruled the City Council (the Aleksejs Vidavskis era), and I worked in the local government at that time myself. I must say – not exactly bad, but not good either! Much was achieved, and much was sabotaged. In the case of Daugavpils, the city's development can be described as a small train that slowly chugs along and moves just as slowly. Because compromises must be sought – in the morning, at noon, in the evening, and all over again...

There is concern in the country when five parties divide the four corners of a blanket in government. Three party representatives work in the Daugavpils City Council and do the same thing

The problem lies in the fact that a large part of the Daugavpils electorate votes for post-Soviet politics and thinking. In my opinion, there will be no room for different thinking in the city for some time to come. It will not be like in Liepāja or Valmiera, where development is happening more rapidly and clearly. Disputes, or simply put, the “messing about” takes place in a rather old-fashioned “garden”, nothing more.

For example, how did Daugavpils “manage” to purchase trams from a manufacturer associated with the Russian military-industrial complex? Wonderful, isn't it? Europe provided the money, which subsequently ended up in a country against which EU sanctions have been imposed. Well done, perfect! I am still ashamed of this. Personally, I do not understand this solution at all. In Liepāja, for instance, they will be using trams made in Croatia...

Another story: the tram line reconstruction is currently underway. There is a route to the Daugavpils Fortress that could be “straightened”, solving a range of transport problems in the city. I spoke about this in the City Council. What did the council representative answer? Yes, such a (very good!!!!) idea had been around for a long time, but... retired grannies started complaining that there would now be noise by their windows. Pensioners of respectable age rushed over, shouted, collected signatures, and... now we will not build anything that is beneficial to the city because we simply do not want to reconsider this issue a second time.

Instead of explaining and acting in the way the city needs, explaining it to schoolchildren, students, their parents, and organizing a proper campaign to promote the project, they gave up on the solution to avoid confrontation with worried ladies... Now they are rebuilding the old tram line, and the tracks go along a street that is already traditionally congested with motor vehicles... But at least the potential trouble from the grannies was avoided.

Another example – the recently built Smiltenes Street two-level traffic overpass could have been a tunnel. Hidden underground, not degrading the environment. But no – it would be “expensive” and “we lack the experience”. Yet, an entire city block has now been turned into a reinforced concrete jungle, and several residents now have the overpass pillars right by their windows! 40 cm away from the glass. Such wonders happen!

Post-Soviet thinking... Is this term always used correctly?

I agree that this term is also used automatically, without requiring any proof. We have already come up with quite a few such labels, for example, the term “homophobe” used recently.

In a rational discussion, one should not use ambiguous terms, but a large part of the developments that characterized the Aleksejs Vidavskis era in Daugavpils and the pursuits of his followers today can be called by the name “Soviet”: the people working in the local government have a mindset inherited from Soviet times, namely: do not bother with initiative, think first about how you will answer, report, and explain, not about what your actions will bring to the city. That is one of the biggest problems in Latvia. Instead of creating a good, not overly cheap, but GOOD project (a bridge, a railway, a park, some other structure...) that strengthens the voters' trust in their chosen representative, the endeavor is “rowed away” and it is better to make some “trifle or rubbish”, afterwards spending half a year or more grinding it out in the newspapers and investigating: “how did that happen to us, nothing good, nothing beautiful, how did it come to that...” That is Soviet thinking!

It must also be taken into account that in the non-Latvian information environment, which, unfortunately, is the absolute dominance in Daugavpils, this thinking is passed down from generation to generation! It does not disappear when an era ends or power changes. It is quite viable!

That is one of the reasons why I consciously did not teach my children Russian in our family. They speak English fluently and a little German, but the older children learned Russian in life; my youngest daughter still does not speak Russian today. Because, being in this information environment is, figuratively speaking, like living in a pigsty – it is difficult not to step in the filth. By moving within a certain information space, it poisons you with Soviet messaging and content, so it is better not to be in it and to protect one's children as well. Here in Daugavpils, unfortunately, that is the case!

Restrictions, virus; the past year spent like this and Daugavpils

I earn my money with my medical profession and knowledge; I am involved in clinical trials. The Covid-19 period has “lashed out” at our industry: there is a lot of work, a great deal of work, and then some more.

Speaking of local business in the city, this period has been difficult. Daugavpils has the highest proportion of illegal employment in the country. This means that there are quite a few people who, when business stops, cannot actually qualify for benefits or support because they do not “count” in the economy (and accordingly, in state institutions either). It is as if they do not exist at all. Life is not sweet elsewhere either, but that does not make the situation any easier.

Regarding recovery... I do not know if I am the right person to talk or judge about that. Business “supporters” from the City Council and the LTRK occasionally carry out various surveys, which I do not see the point of. For example, I really do not envy the representatives of the entertainment and catering business who earned their money that way... because everything possible there has been destroyed. Somehow they are “scraping by” with food deliveries...

After the first “lockdown” last year, it was evident that people were thirsty for communication and socializing, which helped them endure what followed...

Information space. Vaccines and information. In Daugavpils, it is the doctors themselves who fear vaccines

Statistics confirm: where are the most vaccine sceptics? Correct – in Daugavpils! This is the direct result of people moving only within one information space. Only Krāslava could compete with Daugavpils...

We have the highest percentage of people who want to be vaccinated with Sputnik. Statistically, the smallest percentage of medical professionals who are prepared and willing to get vaccinated is also in Daugavpils. It is a surprise, but... I know the medical staff well, because from 1998 to 2001 I was the city's chief physician. The old cadres still dominate for the most part. Behold, the result!

If people want to write about Daugavpils, and incomprehensible things or events appear, the first thing to think about is: what is the ethno-linguistic composition of the population. One cannot assume that “nothing is related to that”. It is related, and very much so!

Medical professionals and the unwillingness to get vaccinated. Does a doctor's knowledge simply lose out to other information?

There are schools of thought in the world where people believe that vaccination is not a savior. What does it mean to believe in science and scientists? It means: to believe the scientists we want to believe, and not believe those we do not. What kind of information space does a medical worker move in? Added to all the “splendor”, among all doctors in Daugavpils, there could still be about 15% who are graduates of the Vitebsk Medical Institute, which also leaves its marks.

For example, in the USA, homeopathy is officially recognized as “therapy” (or rather, quackery) that simply does not work. We have homeopaths here who truly believe in their craft and calmly “treat” people.

What should be done first in Daugavpils after the elections?

We will not get the unnecessarily invested money back, that much should be clear.

First: a communication platform between the public and the City Council should be established. It would strengthen the feeling that one can contact the local government and get information from the primary source. The public in our city is very susceptible to rumors for obvious reasons. Therefore, accurate and clear information from “first hands” is very, very important. Because it cuts rumors off at the root!

Next: the emphasis in the social budget should be shifted from social assistance for pensioners to social assistance for children. This should be done, the sooner the better! (Free meals, free transport, etc.) The current practice where pensioners can qualify for everything imaginable should be changed. A precedent is needed: someone to clearly say: “Stop!”

Children are not voters! Pensioners are...

This is a matter of public communication: if you are not prepared to convince others of your decision, do not go near the City Council! Furthermore, a few very obvious (tangible) successful measures or projects would be needed. The Daugavpils Fortress is functioning and developing in the right direction – that is good! What else? One must think and analyze what project will truly “work” in the city! It would be good to “get” some manufacturer with a world-renowned name. If such an opportunity were found, I would even buy the land, arrange the infrastructure, and do everything to make this manufacturer come here. To “get something like that done”, it would be worth hiring a brigade of scouts to travel the world and look, search, and inquire: are you planning a production plant in Europe, would you be interested in Daugavpils?

As a small entrepreneur, I would officially put an end to the false stories about “equal competition” at the municipal level. There will be no equal competition in Latvia as long as there is Riga and the Riga region. The Riga region and the rest of Latvia are very unequal in terms of competition, and the further away from Riga you are, the more unfavorable the conditions are.

I would introduce a somewhat aggressive lobbying for our own (local) entrepreneurs. Who buys up all the best spots at city festivals? Lithuanians. The local Daugavpils entrepreneur “sits in a corner by the fence”. Is that normal? “It's a disaster!” Locals must be supported, and when they are satisfied, then we will think about the others. Declarative “equal competition” is a national-scale problem and complete nonsense. If I am a representative of the Daugavpils City Council (local government!!!) and my salary is paid by Daugavpils residents, including Daugavpils entrepreneurs, by what right do I not give priority to them, but, for example, to representatives of the Ķekava district (may the people of Ķekava forgive me!). The local government must work for its own people!

Railway and foresight. The railway electrification project to Krustpils and Daugavpils has fizzled out

I think this is a national-scale issue decided in Riga. Personally, I do not understand the reasons for ditching the electrification project... Back in the day, in my youth, I traveled by train a lot and even then the question arose: “Why does the ‘electric train’ only go as far as Aizkraukle?” Electrification is associated with the frequency and speed of train traffic: it would be better for everyone. Also... let us hope that the once-dismantled railways will one day be rebuilt... to European gauge tracks.