Weekly Latvian news digest

Celebrating 34 years of freedom since the end of Soviet occupation! | 2025 digest index

Monday, November 17 – Sunday, November 23, 2025

This week, Latvia marked its Independence Day (November 18, 1918) with solemn and reflective ceremonies. President Edgars Rinkēvičs, in his speech, emphasized that the nation's freedom is a "non-negotiable value" and called for unity and resilience in the face of current geopolitical challenges. He stressed the importance of a strong national defense and unwavering support for Ukraine. Similarly, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, in her message, highlighted the significance of the day for remembering the sacrifices of previous generations and for building a "secure and prosperous future" for the next. The celebrations were accompanied by a special Independence Day concert at the Latvian National Theatre, a recording of which is now available to listen to again.

In a significant legal ruling, the European Court of Human Rights found that Latvia violated the right to privacy in a case concerning the tapping of a suspect's phone conversations back in 2009. The court concluded that the national courts failed to properly examine the applicant's complaint about the surveillance, marking an important moment for legal oversight and civil liberties in the country.

On the defense and security front, it's been a busy period. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže made a strong statement, urging EU member states not to wait for a full consensus to take action against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, which is used to circumvent sanctions. She advocated for a "coalition of the willing" to address this pressing issue. Meanwhile, the Baltic Air Policing mission had another active week, with NATO jets stationed in Lithuania being scrambled multiple times to identify and escort Russian military aircraft flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. This continuous activity underscores the heightened state of alert in the region.

Latvia's firm stance on Ukraine was further solidified this week. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Russia's latest drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure as "barbaric," reaffirming Riga's commitment to supporting Kyiv for as long as necessary. This position was echoed in international reports detailing the ongoing diplomatic efforts to maintain robust international backing for Ukraine against Russian aggression, with Latvia continuing to play a vocal role in advocating for sustained support.

A report this week shed light on the immense importance of the national airline, airBaltic, to the Latvian economy. The study found that the airline's total impact accounted for nearly 3% of Latvia's entire Gross Domestic Product in 2024, supporting over 18,000 jobs and proving to be a vital economic engine. In other transport news, there are promising developments for regional rail travel, with the highly anticipated Riga-Tartu express train potentially launching passenger services as early as December, improving connectivity between Latvia and Estonia.

In cultural news, the Latvian National Guard Orchestra is currently on a tour in California, showcasing the country's musical talent abroad. The tour includes performances for local communities and Latvian expatriates, serving as a cultural bridge between the two nations. Separately, a recording of the full Independence Day concert from the Latvian National Theatre has been made available online, allowing those who missed the live event to experience the patriotic musical celebration.

In a landmark moment for Latvian sports, the beach volleyball duo of Tīna Graudiņa and Anastasija Kravčenoka have secured a spot in the World Championship final. This is a historic achievement, marking the first time a Latvian pair has ever reached the final of such a prestigious global tournament. Their incredible performance has generated massive excitement and national pride, with the entire country eagerly awaiting the championship match.

Priecīgu Neatkarības dienu!

Otrā valsts budžeta lasījuma priekšlikumā Saeimā tiks iesniegtas gandrīz 600 grozījumu ierosmes. Šis ievērojamais skaits parāda plašo diskusiju par nākamā gada finanšu plānu, kas ietvers daudzas nozaru un projektu prioritātes. Citu nozīmīgu izmaiņu gaitu sabiedrībā, nākamgad dzīvokļu mājās iestājas vērienīgi tiesiskie grozījumi, kas mainīs māju pārvaldes un īpašnieku tiesību un pienākumu regulējumu.

Valsts katastrofu brīdināšanas sistēma tika pārbaudīta pirmdien, 26. novembrī. Šis ikgadējais tests ir obligāts, lai pārliecinātos, ka sistēma ir gatava brīdināt iedzīvotājus par jebkuru ārkārtas situāciju. Rezervistu vajadzību jomā, Aizsardzības ministrija oficiāli aicina iespējamos militāros rezervistus, īpaši ar medicīnisko izglītību, aktīvi pieteikties dienestam, nostiprinot valsts aizsardzības spējas. Tieslietu sistēmā notiek arī vēsturisks moments – Saeima oficiāli apstiprināja jauno Valsts prokuroru, noslēdzot ilgstošu amata vakances periodu.

Šonedēļ valstī tika pieminētas divas skumjas zaudējumu dienas. Sabiedrība atsaucās uz bēdīgo Zolitūdes traģēdijas gadadienu, atzīmējot 12 gadus kopš lielveikala "Maxima" sagrūšana Rīgā, godinot upuru piemiņu. Mākslas pasaulē pēkšņi aizgājis leģendārais latviešu fotomākslinieks Ulvis Alberts, atstājot pēc sevis neaizmirstamu mantojumu latviešu fotomākslas vēsturē. Tika arī pēdējo reizi atvadīties no dārgā un pazīstamā ceļotāja un dabas aizstāvja Kārļa Bārdeļa.

Oktobra beigās Latvijā bezdarba līmenis saglabājās stabils, rādot, ka darba tirgus ir noturīgs, neskatoties uz globālajām ekonomiskajām neskaidrībām. Rīgas domes mērs solās, ka atjaunotais Viesības tilts tiks pilnībā atklāts satiksmē 2028. gadā, kas ir svarīgs solis pilsētas transporta infrastruktūras attīstībā.

Labas ziņas kultūras entuziastiem – starptautiskais dokumentālo filmu festivāls ArtDocFestRiga atgriezīsies ar jaunu spēku nākamgad, turpinot tradīciju rādīt spilgtas un aktuālas dokumentālās kino meistardarbus.

Tēvzemei un brīvībai, For Fatherland and Freedom, Latvia's Indepenence Monument in Rīga