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,…
Coalition partners in Latvia’s Riga City Council — New Unity, Code for Riga, National Alliance, and the Latvian Association of Regions (LRA) — are in talks to establish a new coalition, LETA reports. The factions regard the decision of mayor Martins Stakis to step down as “counterproductive” and emphasised the need to prevent snap elections,…
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…
Finland’s new Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, will visit Estonia on 5 July 2023 to meet with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and President Alar Karis, ERR reports. This will be Orpo’s first official foreign visit since being sworn in on 20 June 2023. The two prime ministers will discuss bilateral relations, regional security, and EU…
Estonia’s Ministry of Justice is undertaking efforts to improve the clarity and transparency of electronic voting rules, aligning them with the guidelines provided by the Supreme Court, BNS reports. The changes will elevate e-voting documentation to a higher decision-making level. Previously, the responsibility for the documentation largely rested with the National Electoral Committee and the…
Lithuania’s President, Gitanas Nauseda, said that everyone has the right to "civilised relations," commenting on the Vilnius Pride march on 1 July 2023, ELTA reports. Speaking in an interview with TV3, Nauseda expressed confidence that Lithuania would solve problems related to the question of civil partnerships. He argued that there was no reason to clash…
The Lithuanian MEP, Viktor Uspaskich, and his former wife, Jolanta Blazyte, are funding a new social media platform and alternative news website, 77.lt, LRT reports. The website, which was launched in April 2023, has attracted users who spread fake news about the coronavirus pandemic, vaccines, and the war in Ukraine. The network operates as part…
The Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees (LIZDA) has demanded the resignation of Education and Science Minister Anda Caksa by the end of the working day on 3 July 2023, DELFI reports. If the minister refuses to resign, LIZDA may take further action, potentially delaying the start of the new school year. The…