After 47 years of standing in Vermanes Garden, historians have concluded the bronze statue is neither a war hero, poet, nor politician. City records show no documentation of its installation.

'We've checked everything,' explained city archivist Elīna Liepa. 'Building permits, sculptor registries, ceremonial dedication records. Nothing. We assume someone just put it there and everyone was too polite to ask.'

The statue depicts a stern-looking man in a coat, gesturing vaguely at nothing in particular. Local residents have long assumed it represented someone important.

'I always thought it was the founder of something,' said pensioner Andrejs Kalns. 'Turns out it's just some guy.'

The city is now considering whether to remove the statue or simply add a plaque reading 'Unknown Man, Unknown Reason, Unknown Year.'