The decision taken by the President of the Russian Federation to recognise the independence of Luhansk and Donetsk, the Ukrainian territories outside the government’s control, is a continuation of the attack on Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity that began in 2014 by unlawfully changing borders in Europe.

On Monday, 21 February, the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a statement on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, strongly condemning the decision of the Russian Federation to recognise the independence of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk "people's republics". 

“Russia has attempted through various means to divide Europe, cause fear in the European public and threaten several European countries. Such countries as Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and the Baltic States face disinformation, cyber-attacks, various threats, and other means of aggression by Russia daily, and need the support of the European Union and its leaders more than ever. We believe in European solidarity and its power to protect our citizens. For this reason, Europe must stand together against any attempts to undermine the peace and stability of the region”, says the Statement by the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly signed on Friday, 18 February.

On Thursday, 10 February, the Saeima adopted in the final reading the Law on good‑will reimbursement to the Jewish community in Latvia. The Law provides for partial compensation of the cadastral value—determined by the state—of the property unclaimed during the restitution period.

On Thursday, 10 February, the Saeima supported the government decision to extend the state of emergency at the Latvia‑Belarus border.

On Thursday, 10 February, the Saeima adopted in the second and final reading the Draft Law ratifying the agreement between the Benelux and Baltic States on the automatic recognition of higher education qualifications.

On Tuesday, 8 February, Members of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee met with Senator Bogdan Klich, Chair of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the Senate of the Republic of Poland. During the meeting, both parties signed a joint statement on the security situation in Europe, expressing support for Ukraine and condemning Russia’s aggression.

Latvia and Azerbaijan are brought together by friendly relations and dynamic parliamentary dialogue, particularly through the close ties between the parliamentary cooperation groups of both countries. “We are keen on furthering our successful transnational cooperation,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, at the main building of the Saeima on 2 February, while meeting Sahiba Gafarova, Chair of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who is on an official visit to Latvia, accompanied by a delegation.

The Saeima Visitor and Information Centre, which plays a crucial role in fostering parliamentary dialogue with society, is a direct source of information on the work of the Parliament and has been implementing various projects already for 13 years. The Visitor Centre was established on 29 January 2009.

On Friday, 21 January, MPs from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania will join for a meeting of the Security and Defence Committee of the Baltic Assembly (BA) to discuss the challenges in addressing security issues on the European Union's (EU) eastern border and the cooperation of the Baltic States in combatting organised crime.