Latvia’s new president, Edgars Rinkevics, held his inauguration speech in the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, outlining his vision of a “strong, modern, just, and safe” Latvia, on 8 July 2023, LSM reports. The President noted that Latvia was one, yet not homogenous, and stressed that the rights of every person must be protected. Latvia’s biggest…
Following the introduction of stricter entry procedures for Russian citizens in the Baltic States in September 2022, over 4,000 Russians have been denied entry, Rustamas Liubajevas, commander of Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service (VSAT), announced, LRT reports. He said that Estonia had turned away 1,850, Lithuania 1,278, and Latvia 890 Russian citizens. Liubajevas revealed that…
The situation on Lithuania’s borders with Belarus and Russia is quite calm ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Rustamas Liubajevas, commander of Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service (VSAT), announced, The Baltic Times reports. He said that while there was no additional activity of Belarusian or Russian border guards at the moment, VSAT officers were…
Estonian MEP Yana Toom of the Estonian Centre Party (Keskerakond) visited Russia to meet with pro-Russia activist Zoja Paljamar, who was barred from entering Estonia for security reasons, ERR reports. Toom said that she was visiting her sister in Russia. “Perhaps someone also has a relative in North Korea, too,” she explained. Toom announced on…
Baltic and Polish culture ministers will sign a joint declaration of support for the restoration of Ukraine’s cultural heritage, Baltic News Network reports. The ministers will sign the declaration on the final day of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival at the Latvian Museum of Architecture (LAM) in Riga on 9 July 2023. The joint…
The Baltic States should disconnect from the Russian-controlled BRELL power grid and synchronise with the European system as planned by the end of 2025, Kalle Kilk, CEO of Estonia’s electricity transmission system operator, Elering, stated, Postimees reports. Kilk noted that Russia provided the Baltic States with grid balancing services. Disconnecting from the Russian grid now…
The presidents of Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland — Egils Levits, Gitanas Nauseda, and Andrzej Duda — have sent a joint letter to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and leaders of NATO member states to warn them of the threats posed by the developments in Belarus, BNS reports. In the letter, the three presidents pointed out…
Estonia’s biggest beer producer, Saku Õlletehas (Saku Brewery), reported sales of EUR 72.3mn in 2022, which was down 11% from 2021, ERR reports. The company’s annual net profit amounted to EUR 6.6mn, which was down 18.5% from a year earlier. The company attributed the worse results to the cessation of exports to Russia and Belarus,…
Switzerland’s EuroChem Group has announced its decision to temporarily suspend operations at its Lithuanian fertiliser plant, Lifosa, DELFI reports. The company said that sanctions have hindered the plant’s profitability. The Lifosa plant has been closed for scheduled repairs since May 2023. However, EuroChem has now confirmed that it has been unable to find a viable…