Costs associated with forest restoration, maintenance, and logging increased in Latvia in 2022, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau, LSM reports. The average cost of forest restoration amounted to EUR 792-931 per hectare, which was up 2.5-12.4% from EUR 742-890 per hectare in 2021. The average cost of logging operations rose by 31.0%…
Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the resumption of limited acceptance of visa applications from Russian citizens at Latvian diplomatic and consular missions abroad, LSM reports. The decision comes after the suspension of all visa applications from Russian citizens in response to the Wagner Group mutiny in Russia. Visa applications will now be accepted…
The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, Rihards Kols (National Alliance), urged member states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to designate the Russian private military company, Wagner Group, as a terrorist organisation, LSM reports. Speaking at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Vancouver, Canada,…
Latvia’s Education Minister Anda Čakša (New Unity) refused to resign as demanded by the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees (LIZDA), LSM reports. She insisted that her actions as minister thus far had provided no grounds for such a demand. Čakša recognised the need to address the budgetary allocation for teacher salaries during…
The mayor of Latvia’s capital Riga, Martins Stakis, has resigned, LSM reports. He said that the move was due to disagreements within the ruling coalition regarding an investigation into alleged violations in the management practices and use of funds in the city’s transport department. A new mayor needs to be elected within two months, Baltic…
Exiled Russian liberal opposition leader, economist Vladimir Milov, says Russians are not welcome in Latvia and advises Russian emigrants to leave the country, LSM reports. Speaking in an interview with LSM’s Russian service, Milov noted that the pro-Russian position of many Russian-speakers in Latvia leaves an imprint on all Russians. "Even if you are the…
New electricity distribution tariffs came into force in Latvia on 1 July 2023, LSM reports. Ahead of the change, distribution system operator Sadales Tikls (ST) urged consumers to change the tariff plan for facilities with low electricity consumption. However, ST’s client portal was unavailable due to technical maintenance on 29-30 June 2023. ST said that…
Scientists from Latvia’s Riga Technical University (RTU) have developed an environmentally friendly solution to the problem of dusty roads, LSM reports. The solution is now being tested on several road sections. Viktor Kharitonov, lead researcher at RTU’s Faculty of Civil Engineering, said that the solution extracts lignin from waste generated in wood processing and uses…
The Latvian capital, Riga, is hosting the Latvian Song and Dance Festival from 30 June to 10 July 2023. Tickets are still available to many festivities, and some events are free. In addition, you can watch performances live on LSM.