Latvian President Rinkēvičs begins week-long leave, will miss Aglona celebrations

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs has begun his annual leave, which will last for one week, from Saturday, August 8, to Saturday, August 15. During his absence, the duties of the President will be carried out by the Speaker of the Saeima, Daiga Mieriņa, in accordance with the Constitution.

This year, President Rinkēvičs will not be attending the significant Catholic celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Aglona, a site of international religious importance. The event, traditionally drawing state and local officials as well as diplomatic representatives, usually sees presidential participation.

The President's office has informed Archbishop Metropolitan Zbignevs Stankevičs of Riga of the Roman Catholic Church about Rinkēvičs's absence from the Aglona festivities. Pilgrims have already started their journey to Aglona from various cities, including Riga, in the early days of August.

Preparations for the holiday at the Aglona parish began on August 11 with special services. The main service for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will take place on August 15. The State Police have outlined contingency plans for the event, including potential road closures and traffic diversions in the Aglona village center in case of an air threat, as per a "yellow level" cell broadcast alert indicating a detected threat in Latvia's airspace. In such a scenario, the event would be interrupted, and attendees would be asked to leave the venue.