The Latvian government has postponed reviewing Welfare Minister Evika Silina’s (New Unity) proposed draft bill on the ratification of the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on violence against women and domestic violence, LETA reports. One of the parties in the coalition government, United List, wanted to introduce additions to the draft bill. United List’s parliamentary…
Latvia’s State Revenue Service (VID) has decided to shut down the business operations of Klaugu Muiza, which is ultimately owned by sanctioned Russian billionaire Pyotr Aven, LETA reports. At the same time, VID banned any reorganisation of the company and change of board members. The company owns the Klaugu Manor in Lazdona parish. The EU…
NATO’s summit in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, was “truly historic,” Lithuania’s former chief of defence, Lieutenant General Valdas Tutkus, stated, Baltic News Network reports. He noted that the Baltic States received new security guarantees. Tutkus cautioned that the most “populist” demands could, if things went awry, lead to another world war. He argued that not…
The Estonian government wants to bring forward Estonia’s EU presidency, now slated for 2031, BNS reports. The government argues that organising the EU presidency would be difficult as Estonia will hold parliamentary elections that year. Estonia is due to preside over the EU Council for the first half of 2031. The government suggests switching the…
Latvian consumers are worried the most about the rising prices of utilities, electricity, and food products, according to a Norstat poll for Luminor Bank, Baltic News Network reports. The survey showed that 29% of respondents were worried the most about heating and other utility costs, another 29% about electricity costs, and 24% about food prices….
Following Latvia’s initiative, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA) has declared Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, Baltic News Network reports. Also, the declaration sharply condemns Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and urges OSCE member states to support the creation of a special tribunal to investigate…
Latvia’s President, Edgars Rinkevics, met with the governor of the Bank of Latvia, Martins Kazaks, to discuss issues related to the banking and financial sector, Baltic News Network reports. The officials noted that high lending costs weakened banks’ interest in providing lending services. Rinkevics called for a “radical change of direction” from Latvian commercial banks,…
An administrative court in Latvia has upheld the decision of the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) to annul the broadcasting license of the independent Russian TV channel, Dozhd (TV Rain), TVNET reports. Dozhd announced that it would appeal the ruling in all instances, including in the European Court of Human Rights if necessary. Dozhd…
Ukraine’s future is in NATO, and the country will join the defence alliance, Latvia’s Prime Minister, Krisjanis Karins, stated, Baltic News Network reports. Speaking at the opening of the newly-formed NATO-Ukraine Council, Karins said that the longer Russia continued the war in Ukraine, the more united NATO would become. He said that there were two…