Latvia’s Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Inga Berzina, has proposed renaming the ministry to the Ministry of Nature Protection and Regional Development, LETA reports. Earlier, environmental services were transferred to the Ministry of Climate and Energy. Berzina said that the name change could be implemented after the distribution of functions in July 2024….
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has approved in final reading amendments to merge the country’s public broadcasters, Latvijas Televizija (LTV) and Latvijas Radio, in 2025, LETA reported. Under the plan, the two companies will merge into a new public broadcasting corporation, Latvijas Sabiedriskais Medijs (LSM). Latvijas Radio’s trade union objected to the plan, arguing that…
Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) has identified 985 Russian citizens who did not comply with the law on immigration and may therefore have to leave the country, LETA reports. The persons have two weeks to respond to notifications urging them to legalise their status. Some of the persons may already have left…
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has approved the seizure of the so-called Moscow House in central Riga, LSM reports. The state is likely to auction the property. The building used to serve as a Russian cultural centre owned by the Moscow city government. Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) reported that the building was used to…
There will be no referendum against same-sex civil partnership in Latvia, LSM reports. A campaign to hold a popular referendum to suspend the publication of the new partnership law collected just some 15% of the around 155,000 signatures needed. The campaign, which was supported by the opposition United List, National Alliance, Latvia First, and For…
The Latvian government has outlined a comprehensive action plan to strengthen national security over the next few years, LETA reports. Key initiatives include securing allied presence, implementing NATO’s strategic concept, contributing to the EU’s security and defence policy, strengthening cooperation with transatlantic partners, and promoting EU-NATO cooperation. The plan prioritises dialogue with NATO member states,…
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…
Latvia’s national airline, airBaltic, carried around 4.5mn passengers in 2023, which was 36% more than in 2022, according to preliminary data, LETA reports. The carrier operated over 44,000 flights, which was 18% more than a year earlier. The company offered direct flights on over 100 routes from bases in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Tampere, and Gran…
