This week Latvia and other EU countries continued accepting refugees from Ukraine. Many countries continue maintaining anti-Russian sanctions and condemning its supporters.
This week Latvia’s Saeima decided to ban all festive events in the vicinity of monuments dedicated to the Soviet army. This means no celebration of 9 May in Latvia. The parliament also banned the public use of war propaganda symbols, such as Z and V, which are used by the Russian army in Ukraine.
It is no secret that the sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus have a very strong impact on the rest of the world. Prices of energy resources, raw materials and food products have jumped sharply after Russia’s attack on Ukraine. The Bank of Latvia has upgraded the average inflation outlook for 2022 from the previous 6.1% to 9.5%.
There was some good news this week: the International Basketball Federation handed Latvia the right to host the finals of the European Basketball Championship 2025.
BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: Propaganda; Lembergs’ «honour»; Legislative draft; Ukrainian refugees; Price surge; Basketball championship; Gas in Estonia.
PROPAGANDA
Latvia bans use of symbols of war propaganda
Moscow. Photo: AP/SCANPIXOn Thursday, 31 March, Latvia’s Saeima passed in the final reading amendments to the Law on the Safety of Public Entertainment and Festivity Events, banning the use of symbols representing military aggression and war crimes, except for cases when there is no intention to justify or glorify war crimes.
The initial version of the law amendments was submitted by the Union of Greens and Farmers. One of the goals of these amendments is banning the public use of symbols associated with or glorifying military aggression. This includes the letters «Z» and «V» used by the Russian military in Ukraine.
More here
LEMBERGS’ «HONOUR»
Latvian minister invites annulling Ventspils ex-mayor’s honorary status in LU
Aivars Lembergs. Photo: Zane Bitere/LETALatvian Minister of Education and Science Anita Muižniece has sent an invitation to the University of Latvia to annul ex-mayor of Ventspils Aivars Lembergs’ status of honorary member of the University of Latvia.
«Following complaints from law enforcement institutions and criminal procedures commenced for Aivars Lembergs, I have sent a request to annul his honorary University of Latvia member status, which was provided to him in 1998,» the minister wrote on Twitter.
BNN previously reported that the chairman of the Senate of the University of Latvia Kristaps Jaudzems did previously submit a request to annul Lembergs’ honorary status, but it was not supported.
More here
LEGISLATIVE DRAFT
Latvian Saeima decides to view Civil Union legislative draft
Photo: Evija Trifanova/LETAOn Thursday, 31 March, Latvian Saeima submitted to committees the legislative draft prepared by the Ministry of Justice, which provides for the registration of new forms of civil unions between adults, including the option to register same-sex relationships.
Previously members of the Legal Affairs Committee argued over this, with some deputies and representatives of residents voicing support for this proposal and others arguing against it.
The ministry prepared the legislative draft in response to the 2020 ruling of the Constitutional Court in the case regarding the birth of a child during vacation. The court ruled the Constitution provides a duty for the legislator to ensure legal protection of same-sex families, including the duty for the legislator to provide such families a legal way to register their relations and be recognized as a family by the state.
More here
UKRAINIAN REFUGEES
Nearly 10 000 Ukrainian refugees receive residence and work permits in Latvia
Photo: Edijs Pālens/LETASince the start of the war in Ukraine, 6 663 people have been provided with accommodation in Latvia with assistance from the Civil Protection Commission. 9 706 Ukrainian citizens have been issued with residence and work permits so far, according to the latest information from Latvia’s Ministry of the Interior.
Accommodation was necessary for 1 431 people in Riga.
Most Ukrainian refugees are women and children. Some of the arriving Ukrainian refugees come to live with relatives, friends or acquaintances.
Ukrainian residents who have biometric passports and do not require social assistance or accommodation assistance can remain in Latvia for up to 90 days a year without informing local authorities.
More here
PRICE SURGE
Bank of Latvia upgrades inflation outlook to 9.5% for 2022
Photo: UnsplashThe Bank of Latvia has upgraded the average inflation outlook for 2022 from the previous 6.1% to 9.5%. For next year the inflation outlook is upgraded from 2.9% to 3.7%, said Bank of Latvia Monetary Policy Office head Uldis Rutkaste at a discussion organised by the central bank on Wednesday, 30 March.
Upgrade of the outlook was done in response to the increase of global energy resources and food prices, which was caused by the start of the armed conflict in Ukraine, said Rutkaste.
At the same time, the average inflation outlook for 2024 remains at 2.1%. This reflects the drop of energy prices, but still above the highest levels of previous years.
More here
BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Latvia given right to host finals of European Basketball Championship 2025
Photo: UnsplashOn Tuesday, 29 March, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) provided Latvia the rights to host the finals of European Basketball Championship 2025.
The basketball championship of 2025 is scheduled to take place in September.
Since the introduction of a new format in 2015, four countries host European championships. Each country hosts games of one sub-group and one country hosts the finals.
More here
GAS IN ESTONIA
Estonia not willing to build gas terminal without Latvia and Finland
Photo: PixabayThe Estonian government is looking into ways to cut the country’s energy dependence on natural gas from Russia, by supporting the building of a liqueified natural gas (LNG) terminal in Estonia. Politicians in Tallinn feel that the project would be economically viable, if Latvia and Finland agreed to take part, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reports.
On Tuesday, March 29, the Estonian government led by the liberal Reform Party discussed the project at a cabinet meeting. Timo Tatar, Undersecretary of Energy at the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, told ETV news broadcast Aktuaalne kaamera on Tuesday that the state should learn, if other countries were willing to get involved in the project and explain them the options.
More here
BNN summary of the week: Banning propaganda symbols. Inflation outlook. Basketball in Latvia
