RIGA, June 21 (LETA) - The society and business representatives are getting tired of admitting Ukrainian refugees in Latvia, said Interior Minister Kristaps Eklons in an interview with the Latvian public television today.

He said that right after Russia attacked Ukraine many hopes that the war will soon be over, but it did not happen. Enthusiasm melted down, there is tiredness, which is understandable.

The official did not hide that many local governments are sending signals about problems to accommodate refugees from Ukraine. "Even if the current financing is continued, many business representatives do not want to continue providing accommodation, therefore other solutions should be found," the minister said, calling on residents to consider their possibilities to accommodate refugees privately.

The issue is complicated, it is being discussed in cooperation with local governments, the Welfare Ministry, the Economics Ministry, the Environment Protection and Regional Development Ministry, the minister said.

According to the Interior Ministry's data, about 32,000-33,000 refugees from Ukraine have arrived in Latvia and some 12,000 have been accommodated in premises provided by the state or local governments, while others have found accommodation on their own.

Riga Mayor Martins Stakis said in an interview with the Latvian public television last week that the state should grant bigger compensations for accommodating refugees in hotels, otherwise hotels will not provide this service any more.

Stakis underscored that many Ukrainians are accommodated by residents, but some 2,080 in premises provided by the local government. A couple of weeks ago the local government already moved some of the refugees out of hotels to cheaper hostels.

According to Stakis, the Riga refugee support center registers about 100-150 new refugees a day. Most of the refugees are aware now that they will have to stay here for a longer period of time.