NATO is preparing for a possible Russian attack on the alliance’s eastern flank, with the Baltic States being the main target, according to German tabloid Bild, LETA reports. Bild referenced a “secret document” of the German Defence Ministry, describing a possible scenario of a war between Russia and NATO in summer 2025. According to the…
The municipal administration of Latvia’s capital, Riga, banned a protest in support of Palestine planned for 6 January 2023, LETA reported. Janis Lange, executive director of Riga’s municipal administration, prohibited the protest after security services concluded that the event could pose a threat to public safety. The “For Free Palestine” movement said that the rally…
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry hosted the annual foreign and security policy conference, Snow Meeting, in Vilnius on 12 January 2024, Baltic News Network reported. The conference was attended by the foreign ministers of Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Sweden, as well as political leaders and security policy experts from several countries. The participants discussed support for Ukraine…
Researchers at Russia’s Pskov State University have compiled an analytical report on the use of Russia’s “soft power” instruments in the Baltic States, Baltic News Network reports. The report discusses the challenges posed by restrictions on Russian propaganda in the region, suggesting alternative methods of influence. The report claims that people in the Baltic States…
Defects in new electric trains of Latvia’s state-owned carrier, Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), disrupted the daily commute of hundreds of passengers in the first week of 2024, LSM reported. The technical problems resulted in running cancellations and delays of many departures. Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens assured that most of the defects were “relatively trivial.” However, some…
Latvia’s registered unemployment level stood at 5.7% of the economically active population at the end of 2023, which was down from 6.1% at the end of 2022, according to data from the State Employment Agency (NVA), LETA reported. The number of registered unemployed totalled 50,344 at the end of 2023, which was down from 53,536…
Latvia will gradually assume responsibility for NATO’s Baltic air policing mission due to ongoing repairs at the Estonian Air Force base in Ämari, LETA reports. The Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) air base in Lielvarde will host the mission for nine months from 1 March 2024. This is the first time that the mission rotation…
More than a third of Latvian residents believe that 2024 will be financially better for them than 2023, according to a Norstat poll for Luminor Bank, Baltic News Network reports. The survey showed that 38% of residents expect this year to be financially better than last year. Young people aged 18-29 years are particularly optimistic,…
Latvia’s Office of the Prosecutor General has fined the local LPG supplier, Latvijas Propana Gaze (LPG), and its co-owner, Anatolijs Cernihs, for attempted violation of international sanctions, LETA reports. The prosecutor banned LPG from making any transactions with Belarusian companies for one year. The sanctions violation involved iron and steel products. The prosecutor confiscated EUR…