"Latvia will continue its relentless work during and after its Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to achieve full justice and hold Russia accountable for the crimes committed in Ukraine", said Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima and Head of the Latvian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), at a meeting of the PACE Bureau in Paris on Thursday, 14 September.

Russian citizens who applied but failed to pass the official language examination or did not take it for justified reasons may obtain a residence permit for a term of up to two years, according to the amendments to the Immigration Law adopted by the Saeima in the second and final reading on Thursday, 14 September.

On Thursday, 7 September, the Saeima decided to extend the participation of the Latvian National Armed Forces troops in the NATO international operation in Kosovo until 31 December 2025.

On Thursday, 7 September, the Saeima adopted in the third reading amendments to the Civil Law as well as related amendments providing that the bride and the bridegroom may invite one or two persons at the age of majority as witnesses, but their non-appearance will not preclude entering into marriage.

On Thursday, 7 September, the Saeima considered the final report of the Parliamentary Investigative Committee established to assess the effect of the financial sector “overhaul” on the state finance and capital market system.

On Friday, August 25, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica welcomed Hiroyuki Nagahama, Vice-President of the Japanese House of Councillors, accompanied by a delegation. During the meeting, it was underlined that Latvia and Japan are like-minded partners with common interests, including the preservation of the rules-based international order, the strengthening of democracy, the development of science and technology, as well as the improvement of the welfare of people.

The Baltic and Nordic countries (NB8) are strong supporters of Ukraine, and Latvia is open to even closer coordination and cooperation within the NB8 format, supporting the Ukrainians both militarily and on their path towards the European Union and NATO, said Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, during a meeting with his NB8 parliamentary counterparts in Stockholm on Thursday, 24 August.

“The flag of an independent, flourishing Ukraine proudly flies alongside the flags of other European countries and has now become a global symbol of freedom and bravery. Your rightful place is within a united and free Europe,” stated Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 24 August, marking the Independence Day of Ukraine, during a commemorative ceremony organised by the Baltic Cooperation Group and the Nordic Ukraine Forum in the Norrmalmstorg Square in Stockholm.

In these turbulent times, with the war raging in Ukraine, we must stand more united than ever before. Russia is continuing its violent war of aggression, and we must do everything possible to hold it accountable for its atrocities. At the same time, as like-minded countries united by common values—freedom, independence, and democracy—we must work shoulder to shoulder to strengthen the security of our region. This is our top priority, stated Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 24 August, during a meeting with Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Swedish Parliament.

On Wednesday, 22 August, Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, met with John McKay, Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence of the House of Commons of Canada, and his delegation. Speaker Smiltēns thanked Canada for its commitment to expand its military presence in Latvia and to form a combat-capable brigade. This summer Latvia and Canada signed a common road map to strengthen Canada-led allies’ presence in Latvia with specific tasks and time frames.