Lithuania’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Mantas Adomenas, has resigned after being caught driving under the influence of alcohol, BNS reports. Police stopped him in the town of Alanta. Adomenas said that he had 0.62 permilles of alcohol in his bloodstream. He apologised for the incident and said that he would resign. Adomenas was appointed deputy foreign…
Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has carried out probes at the state-owned postal company, Latvijas Pasts, LETA reports. KNAB refused to provide further information about the ongoing investigation. The agency stressed that there were no criminal proceedings involving employees of Latvijas Pasts currently. Marcis Vilcans, board chairman of Latvijas Pasts, said that the…
Latvian ministries and other institutions have submitted proposals for priority budget measures worth EUR 1.983bn for 2024, according to the Ministry of Finance, LETA reports. Finance Minister Arvils Aseradens said that funding requests were EUR 250mn lower than in 2023. The largest requests were for teacher wages, health care, and defence. Other requests included covering…
A man serving a sentence for attempted murder escaped from Latvia’s Riga Central Prison on 23 July 2023 but was caught within a few hours, LSM reports. Police launched an extensive search for the convict across the country, limiting the movement of persons and searching vehicles leaving Riga. Interior Minister Maris Kucinskis said that road…
Around 400 bicycles have been reported stolen in Estonia so far in 2023, ERR reports. Reported thefts in Harjumaa county number 300, which is 70% more than a year earlier. Kaido Atspol, detective at the East Harjumaa Police Department, said that most cases of bicycle theft took place in central Tallinn. Owners usually buy new…
A group of MPs from Latvia’s ruling New Unity party has proposed amendments that would introduce harsher penalties for exceeding speed limits in road traffic, Baltic News Network reports. Under the proposal, the fine for driving 60 km/h or more above the speed limit would rise from the current EUR 240-460 to EUR 720-960 and…
Estonia’s Ministry of Interior will propose banning the use of non-personalised prepaid SIM cards, ERR reports. Under the proposal, anyone would still be able to buy a prepaid SIM card, but would have to provide personal details to activate the card. Veiko Kommusaar, undersecretary for internal security at the Ministry of Interior, noted that Estonia…
Latvia donates around 70% of cars seized from drunk drivers to Ukraine, the State Revenue Service (VID) announced, LSM reports. The government has sent a total of 151 confiscated vehicles to Ukraine since March 2023. The local charity organisation, Agendum, provides for the delivery of most of the cars to Ukrainian government institutions.
Latvia’s Riga City Council has obliged owners of outdoor sales and catering establishments to ensure that their sound equipment and musical instruments do not disturb local residents, LSM reports. Under the new rules, municipal police can impose limits on loud music in outdoor cafés, bars, and similar establishments. Violations can lead to fines of up…
