Latvia: Auditors reprimand state forest management
Poor management of Latvia’s state forest management company, Latvijas Valsts Mezi (LVM), led to major…
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Welcome to Via Baltica, your “information superhighway” for news from the three Baltic tigers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania! Our founder and editor-in-chief is Kerkko Paananen, senior news analyst with more than two decades of professional expertise in covering and reporting on current affairs in the Baltic States. We aim to do one thing well:…
Latvia: Auditors reprimand state forest management
Poor management of Latvia’s state forest management company, Latvijas Valsts Mezi (LVM), led to major monetary losses, according to the State Audit Office (LRVK), LSM reported. The audit concluded that LVM’s management and the Ministry of Agriculture had failed to ensure sufficiently effective oversight of the company. The government’s decision to provide support to timber…
Estonia: Fatherland leader most popular candidate for PM: poll
The leader of Estonia’s national-conservative opposition party, Fatherland (Isamaa), Urmas Reinsalu, is the country’s most popular candidate for prime minister, according to a Norstat poll done in May 2026 for the Institute for Societal Research (YI), ERR reports. The survey showed that 27% of respondents would prefer to see Reinsalu as prime minister, followed by…
Baltic: NATO, EU chiefs back Baltics after Russian threats
Leaders of NATO and the EU expressed full support for the Baltic States after Russian threats, ERR reported. Russia accused the Baltic States of allowing Ukrainian drone strikes from their territory, threatening retaliation. NATO secretary general Mark Rutte called the Russian accusations “absolutely ridiculous,” while European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stated that the…
Lithuania: Macedonia to open embassy in Vilnius
The government of North Macedonia has decided to open an embassy in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, Media Information Agency reports. The embassy will represent Macedonia’s interests across the three Baltic States. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision and reaffirmed Lithuania’s support for Macedonia’s EU membership, BNS reported. Lithuania and Macedonia established diplomatic relations in…
Latvia: Four parties agree on new coalition agenda
Four political groups in Latvia have signed an agreement on tasks and working principles for a new coalition government, LETA reports. The new coalition would consist of the opposition United List and National Alliance as well as current coalition partners New Unity and the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS). United List’s Andris Kulbergs would…
Estonia: Coalition party opposes reelection of incumbent president
Estonia’s incumbent president, Alar Karis, does not have sufficient support in the parliament, the Riigikogu, to be elected for a second term, according to Kristina Kallas, chairwoman of the liberal coalition party, Estonia 200 (E200), ERR reports. Kallas said that a majority of E200 MPs did not support Karis, and she called for considering other…
Baltic: Russia doubles rail tariffs to Estonia, Latvia
Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has doubled rail freight tariffs to Estonia, Latvia, and Finland as of 1 June 2026, ERR reports. The double rate will apply to freight transported via Belarus to Latvia and Estonia as well. Freight to Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave or Lithuania is exempt, however. Estonian logistics expert Raivo Vare pointed out…
Estonia: Fatherland leads party poll in May 2026
Estonia’s national-conservative opposition party, Fatherland (Isamaa), remained the country’s most popular political party in May 2026, according to a new Norstat poll for the Institute for Societal Research (YI), ERR reported. The survey showed that Fatherland’s support among eligible voters was 26.6%, followed by three other opposition parties: the Estonian Centre Party (Keskerakond) with 21.5%,…
Latvia: Passenger traffic by land, sea up in 2025
Passenger traffic by land and sea transport increased in Latvia in 2025, according to the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), LSM reported. The number of passengers on land transport totalled 192.4 million in 2025, which was up 0.6% from 191.2 million in 2024. The number of passengers on regular bus lines amounted to 97.6 million (down…