About: Latvia
Latvia calls for permanent US troops to guard against Russia threat
Latvia needs a permanent US military presence to deter Russia and wants to boost its defences with US Patriot missiles, Defence Minister Artis Pabriks said on Monday (30 November) as NATO's chief visited allied troops in the Baltic country.
Taiwan, Europe must defend democracy together, president tells visiting Baltic MPs
Taiwan and Europe must work together to defend against authoritarianism and disinformation, President Tsai Ing-wen told visiting lawmakers from the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on Monday (29 November).
Latvia toughens rules for unvaccinated people
Employers in Latvia are allowed to dismiss employees who refuse to get vaccinated against Covid-19 from Monday (15 November), under new rules aimed at taming the pandemic in the EU member state.
Neighbours of Belarus say migrant crisis risks military clash
Countries bordering Belarus expressed concern on Thursday (11 November) that a crisis over growing numbers of migrants trying to break through its frontiers into the European Union could escalate into a military confrontation. Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia condemned “the deliberate...
Latvia allows businesses to fire the unvaccinated
The Latvian parliament on Thursday (4 November) allowed businesses to fire workers who refuse to either get a COVID-19 vaccine or transfer to remote work, as the country battles one of the worst COVID-19 waves in European Union.
Latvia declares emergency after surge in Covid cases
Latvia has declared a three-month state of emergency starting from Monday (8 November) following a surge in Covid-19 infections to record levels, as its vaccination rate remains one of the lowest in the EU.
Latvia announces four weeks of lockdown as COVID-19 cases spike
Latvia announced a COVID-19 lockdown from 21 October until 15 November to try to slow a spike in infections in one of the least vaccinated European Union countries.
EU weighs further sanctions on Belarus over illegal migrants
European Union foreign ministers debated new economic sanctions on Belarus on Monday (18 October), including on airlines, to halt what Brussels says is a deliberate policy by Minsk to fly in thousands of migrants and send them across the border.
Latvia’s president contracts COVID despite being vaccinated
Latvian President Egils Levits has contracted COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated, his chief of staff said Thursday (14 October), as the Baltic country reported a new record for daily coronavirus cases.
Latvia declares emergency after surge in Covid cases
Latvia has declared a three-month state of emergency starting from Monday (11 October) following a surge in Covid-19 infections to record levels, as its vaccination rate remains one of the lowest in the EU.
Poland, Latvia worry over Russia’s war games on tense EU-Belarus border
Poland and Latvia expressed concern on Thursday (2 September) over Russia's looming military drills held jointly on Belarus' western border where the European Union accuses Minsk of pushing migrants over to put pressure on the bloc.
Latvians take to the water for distanced concerts
Latvians are taking to the country's waterways for a socially distanced musical experience this summer, boarding kayaks, dinghies and motor yachts to enjoy some music -- even if unvaccinated.
Latvia starts pushing back migrants at tense Belarus border
Latvian border guards turned back dozens of migrants into Belarus overnight under a new state of emergency designed to stem a flow of arrivals the European Union says is orchestrated by Minsk.
Latvia, Lithuania take emergency action over Belarus border
Latvia on Tuesday (10 August) declared a local state of emergency along its border with Belarus, as Lithuanian lawmakers approved the construction of a fence to stem an influx of illegal migrants.
Baltics step closer to plugging into EU power grid, ending dependence on Russia
Three EU Baltic states on Thursday (13 May) took a big step toward accessing the bloc's power grid, a move intended to end energy dependence on Russia dating back to the Soviet era.
Burns death of homophobia victim shocks Latvia
The death of a gay Latvian man this week after his clothes were soaked with fuel and lit on fire has shocked the country, with campaigners calling it a homophobic attack and accusing police of inaction.
Lithuania to start supplying LNG to Poland next year
Lithuanian state-controlled energy company Ignitis Group will start supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Poland next year when a new pipeline between the two countries comes online, its CEO said on Monday (1 March).
Latvia health minister fired in vaccine row
Latvia's prime minister on Tuesday (5 January) fired his health minister in a row over coronavirus vaccination policy, straining ties within the governing coalition.
Lukashenko closes borders with Poland and Lithuania, says he doesn’t want ‘war’
Belarus will close its borders with EU neighbours Poland and Lithuania and step up security measures at the Ukrainian frontier, President Alexander Lukashenko announced on Thursday (17 September).
Baltic states ban Lukashenko amid crackdown on opposition
The Baltic states on Monday (31 August) banned embattled Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko as he cracked down further on the opposition movement following another huge rally at the weekend.
EU code of practice on disinformation ‘insufficient and unsuitable,’ member states say
A coalition of EU member states have hit out at the bloc's efforts to stem the spread of disinformation, calling the self-regulatory framework currently in place "insufficient and unsuitable."
Baltics open Europe’s first pandemic ‘travel bubble’ as curbs ease
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia opened their borders to each other at the stroke of midnight, creating the first "travel bubble" within the European Union in a bid to jump-start economies broken down by the coronavirus pandemic.
Eastern Europeans want more EU funds for military mobility
The EU should provide more funds to enable faster movement of military forces across Europe, defence ministers from four eastern European member states said on Tuesday (10 March), two weeks before the bloc starts a new round of divisive talks over the next seven-year budget.