Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) has asked the Prosecution Office to charge a non-citizen Latvian resident for planning terrorist attacks in Latvia, LSM reports. VDD’s investigation established that the person supports the ideology of the Islamic State terrorist group. The suspect was arrested in May 2024 after explosives, ammunition, and sulfuric acid were found at…
The Latvian government has extended the enhanced border surveillance regime on the country’s border with Belarus until the end of 2024, LSM reports. Prior to the decision, the regime was set to end on 12 September 2024. The Ministry of Interior said that the reinforced border protection regime ensured the inviolability of the state border…
Latvia’s foreign trade turnover totalled EUR 23.26bn at current prices in the first seven months of 2023, which was EUR 1.52bn (6.1%) less than in the same period of 2023, according to the Central Statistical Bureau’s (CSP) provisional data, LSM reports. Exports of goods amounted to EUR 10.7bn (down 4%) and imports to EUR 12.56bn…
German airline Lufthansa may invest in Latvia’s national air carrier, airBaltic, according to Bloomberg, LETA reports. Sources said that negotiations on the deal were still at an early stage. Earlier, German news agency dpa cited Lufthansa’s CEO, Jens Ritter, who said that the company was interested in another airline operating its shorter routes, LSM reported….
Latvia’s Transport Minister, Kaspars Briskens, has no intention to resign despite criticism of his communication, LSM reports. Earlier, President Edgars Rinkevics and Prime Minister Evika Silina criticised the minister’s messaging on the future of the country’s national air carrier, airBaltic, and the Rail Baltica railway project. Speaking after a meeting with Briskens, Rinkevics said that…
The Latvian state is negotiating with a well-known strategic investor on the possible acquisition of a 10% stake in the country’s national air carrier, airBaltic, according to LTV’s information, LSM reports. Klavs Vasks, chairman of airBaltic’s supervisory board, confirmed that the unnamed strategic investor could acquire a minority stake in the company. In 2023, Prudentia…
The Latvian government plans to restrict the ability of Russian citizens to buy land in Latvia, LETA reports. The ruling three-party coalition has agreed on the plan conceptually, following a proposal from the Ministry of Agriculture. The government will analyse the example of similar draft legislation in Finland. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze has discussed…
The Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that crashed in Latvia’s eastern Rezekne municipality was an Iranian-designed Shahed drone carrying 90 kg of explosives, the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) announced, LETA reports. The drone’s warhead did not detonate in the crash. NBS deactivated the drone and is now inspecting its components. Janis Garisons, former state…
Latvia’s Financial Sector Development Board (FSAP), chaired by Prime Minister Evika Silina, reviewed the country’s anti-money laundering (AML) measures during a meeting on 5 September 2024, LSM reports. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FID) reported on Latvia’s progress in relation to the Council of Europe’s evaluation of the country’s AML efforts. The meeting also addressed concerns…