A month of winter weather had not beaten the resolve of the tent protesters, but an order to disperse from city hall may. Photo by James Dahl.

RIGA — Riga’s municipal government ordered the tent protesters camped outside to disperse and administered marginal fines of 1 lats to some participants.

However, the camp is still sitting in front of Latvia’s Council of Ministers building regardless of authorities and the cold winter weather more than one month after the tents were pitched.

The protest was started on Nov. 30 by Gints Gaikens, an unemployed lawyer from Valmiera who wanted to demand immediate action on joblessness and improved social benefits from the government.

In addition to braving the elements outdoors, the Gaikens and several other protesters also began hunger strikes, but that proved less lasting.

Whether the city will forcibly disperse the protesters remains to be seen.