On Thursday, 7 April, the Saeima adopted in the second and final reading urgent amendments to the Immigration Law, suspending the issue of first-time temporary residence to the citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus until 30 June 2023.

On Thursday, 7 April, the Saeima adopted in the second and final reading urgent amendments to the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians, including amendments related to providing housing for Ukrainian civilians in Latvian municipalities.

On Thursday, 7 April, the Saeima adopted a law establishing that this year, 9 May will be a day of commemoration of the victims of the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Latvia thanks the Czech Republic for its contribution to the Baltic security by participating in NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence battle group as well as in the Baltic Air Patrol Mission. It holds both a significant symbolic and practical meaning, said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima during her working visit to the Czech Republic. 

On Thursday, 31 March, the Saeima adopted in the second and final reading urgent amendments to the Law on the Safety of Public Entertainment and Festivity Events. The amendments impose a ban on symbols used to signal military aggression and war crimes, except in cases where the goal is not the justification or glorification of such crimes.

To reduce people’s manifestations of aggression towards other members of the society, on Thursday, 31 March, the Saeima adopted in the third reading amendments that establish liability for aggressive behaviour. 

We are united in our belief that Ukraine deserves a place in Europe. The Baltic States and the Czech Republic advocate granting the European Union (EU) candidate status to Ukraine. This was noted by Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, following the meeting in Prague between the speakers of the parliaments of the Baltic States and the officials of the Czech Parliament.

The Baltic States and the Czech Republic share a similar history of Soviet oppression and occupation and later that of re-gaining freedom from tyranny. This is why we understand how wrong Putin’s war is, and we stand shoulder to shoulder in our support for Ukraine. We who have lived under oppression know how difficult it is to fight for freedom. But we can win, said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Wednesday, 30 March in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, during her address in the conference in honour of the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Baltic States and the Czech Republic.

On Tuesday, 29 March, during a meeting in the framework of the Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments in Slovenia, the chairs of the Parliaments of the Baltic States and Poland agreed that although for more than a month Ukraine has heroically defended itself against the Russian aggression, this brutal war must not become an accepted reality, and the military, political, and humanitarian support for Ukraine on the part of the democratic world must not subside. Meanwhile, Russia has to pay a high price for the war that it has begun.