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Latvia - December 2022

Saeima drops draft law which would grant legal protections to same-sex couples

Latvia’s new Parliament discarded a draft Civil Union law, which had been undertaken by the previous Saeima in order to comply with a ruling of the Constitutional Court. The draft law provides legal protections to families, including same-sex couples. The momentum behind the initiative was sustained by a petition signed by more than 23,000 citizens. The leader of the Progressive Party has pledged to continue working towards the adoption of the law. It has been possible for same-sex couples to register a civil union with the Administrative Court since May 2022. The previous Saeima had failed to approve the law by the June deadline set by the Constitutional Court, and the October elections have only seen the vote share of conservative parties who tout traditional family values, such as the National Alliance and Latvia First, grow. The fact that this issue has been dropped from the agenda makes the possibility of codifying legal protections for same-sex couples, such as property, tax and inheritance, more remote.

Sources: Baltic News Network (1), Baltic News Network (2), LSM

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Info
Rights 0 Rights  (0)
Political Equality
Gender Equality

Government closes exiled Russian TV news station, citing national security

The broadcasting license of the independent Russian news station, TV Rain, was retracted by the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP), citing administrative violations, such as failure to provide Latvian subtitles, as well as reasons of national security. In March, TV Rain suspended its operations in Russia, after pressure from the Russian government for allegedly spreading disinformation and in view of the forthcoming war censorship laws, and began broadcasting from Riga in July. The move by the NEPLP forced TV Rain to cease its broadcasts in Latvia, and triggered further bans to be enforced by Baltic neighbours. In parallel, the State Security Service (VDD) issued a warning to members of For Stability!, a Eurosceptic party which has gained support in the Latvian Russian-speaking minority, for providing interviews to sanctioned media sources.

Sources: Baltic News Network (1), Baltic News Network  (2), Baltic News Network  (3), Latvian State Security Service (VDD)

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Rights 0 Rights  (0)
Civil Liberties
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of The Press