Latvia

Main article: Countries of the world

Climate

Main article: Climate in Europe

Population

Main article: Population of Latvia

Cities

• Threshing barn is the capital

Citizenship and residence permit

2023: Holders of a residence permit from Russia will be exported from the country if they do not pass the test for knowledge of the Latvian language

In March 2023, it was announced that in Latvia, holders of a residence permit for Russian citizens will be taken to land border crossing points with the Russian Federation if they do not pass a test for knowledge of the national language.

At the same time, we are not talking about expulsion - such a measure will be applied only if Russian citizens refuse to leave the country voluntarily. Since passenger traffic between Latvia and Russia is disrupted, those who will be ordered to leave the country will most likely be taken to border points. If the expelled have problems with returning to Russia, the border service may expel them to another country.

2019: Number of permits with a residence permit per 1000 residents of Latvia

Passport strength

President

2023: Openly homosexual Edgar Rinkevich becomes President of Latvia

The Latvian Parliament on May 31, 2023 elected the current Foreign Minister Edgar Rinkevich as president of the country. "I know that mega-hysterics will begin now, but I am proud that I am gay," Rinkevich said on his Twitter 9 years ago.

Rinkevich needed three rounds of voting to win, because the ruling coalition could not agree on a single candidate. Rinkevich is the second openly gay head of state in the world, the first being Paolo Rondelli, Captain Regent of San Marino.

Government

Home Office

Main article: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Latvia

2023: Prime Minister Carins resigns

Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins resigned in August 2023.

As a reason for the resignation, the prime minister speaks of a certain "coalition crisis" - and yes, the news is quite unexpected, since a week before that Karins was not going to resign at all.

Parliament

2022: Proportion of women in Parliament

Foreign policy

2023: Latvia hands over all 5 of its military helicopters to Ukraine, having already spent 1.3% of GDP to support an ally

"We have a fleet of helicopters, the latter are now being repainted to be usable and look good and sent to Ukraine," Prime Minister Krishyanis Karins said in June 2023 at a conference on the restoration of Ukraine in London.

Also, all Latvian portable anti-aircraft missile systems Stinger are already located in Kyiv, Riga also helps Ukraine with drones.

According to The Military Balance 2023, Latvia has only 5 helicopters: 2 Soviet transport Mi-17s and 3 multi-purpose American UH-60 Black Hawk.

"Our government spent more than 1.3% of our GDP on all types of assistance to Ukraine, of which more than 1% was only for military needs," the Latvian prime minister also said.

2022

80 million euros of citizens and companies of Russia frozen

By September 2022, Latvian banks froze about 80 million euros due to sanctions against citizens and companies from the Russian Federation, which followed the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Six citizens directly subject to sanctions and 35 legal entities that are affiliated with sub-sanctions have been identified in the country, so the assets and securities of these persons are frozen, said Santa Purgaile, chairman of the country's finance and capital market commission (FKTK).

Allocation of $0.25 billion as military assistance to Ukraine during a special operation of Russia

Armed Forces

2024

Number of military personnel: 22,600 people

Map of some military installations

2023

Defense spending - 2.2% of GDP

Return of mandatory military service

The Latvian Parliament in April 2023 again introduces compulsory military service in order to increase the number of its defense forces amid the conflict in Ukraine. A member of NATO and the EU is strengthening its military equipment, including air and coastal defense systems. Latvia's decision to reintroduce compulsory military service puts it on a par with Estonia and Lithuania.

2018: Three tanks in service

2015: Joining JEF

November 30, 2015 Great Britain in 7 countries Britain-,,, Denmark Estonia Latvia,, and - Lithuania Netherlands Norway signed an agreement on the establishment. JEF

Economy

Main article: Economy of Latvia

Health care

• Health care in Latvia

Education

Literacy rate

Science and Research

2020: Fewer than 5,000 animals used for scientific purposes

Almost 8 million animals are used for scientific purposes in Europe and half of them are laboratory mice and rats.

Culture

Language

Social media

2023: Fines of 350 euros for congratulations on Victory Day and likes on social networks

The state police of Latvia in June 2023 monitored social networks and sends administrative fines to citizens for congratulations on Victory Day and likes under such posts.

The information was confirmed both in parliament and in the state police. A spokeswoman for the latest Simon Gravite said the institution would so far refrain from commenting on the number of fines.

Delfi reports that the amount of the fine is 350 euros. At the same time, the average salary in Latvia for March 2023 was 1117 euros. Thus, such a fine can be 31% of the average salary in Latvia.

On May 9, Latvia was also fined (https ://t.me/pezdicide/3046) for St. George ribbons, and was detained for trying to lay flowers at the monument to the Winners. It's funny that earlier in Latvia, the Reporters Without Borders NGO awarded 16th place in the world in the "free speech rating," despite the media sweep.

2019: Less than 50% of citizens use Facebook

Music

Religion

Latvian Orthodox Church

The Sejm of Latvia in 2022 recognized the independence of the Latvian Orthodox Church from the Moscow Patriarchate, without having any legal authority.

Neopagan cult "Dievturiba"

The neopagan cult of "Dievturiba" is actively popularized in the country

2022

32.5% of the population believes in life after death

16% of the population attends divine services at least once a month

2021:10% of the population say religion is important in their lives

2018: Protestants are the largest religious group

2016: Proportion of believing population

Sport

2022: The most popular sport is ice hockey

MEDIA

2022:60% of the population watches TV every day

Crime

2021: Number of intentional murders

and the United

Prisons

2019: The minimum age for children to be jailed is 14

2018: Number of prisoners

Death penalty

History

2003: EU accession referendum

Main article: European Union (EU, EU)

1945: Part of the territory of Latvia passes to Russia

Main article: Results of World War II

1940: Joining the USSR

Main article: World War II

On June 3, 1940, the USSR Charge d'Affaires in Lithuania V. Semenov wrote a review note on the situation in Lithuania, in which the Soviet embassy drew Moscow's attention to the Lithuanian government's desire to "fall into the hands of Germany," and to the intensification of "the activities of the German fifth column and arming members of the Union of Shooters," preparation for mobilization. It speaks of "the true intentions of the Lithuanian ruling circles," which, if the conflict is resolved, will only strengthen "their line against the treaty, moving to" business collusion with Germany, waiting only for a convenient moment for a direct strike on the Soviet garrisons. "

On June 4, under the guise of exercises, the troops of the Leningrad, Kalinin and Belorussian Special Military Districts were raised on alarm and began to advance to the borders of the Baltic states.

On June 14, the Soviet government presented an ultimatum to Lithuania, and on June 16 - Latvia and Estonia. In the main features, the meaning of ultimatums coincided - the governments of these states were accused of gross violation of the conditions of the Mutual Assistance Treaties previously concluded with the USSR, and a demand was made to form governments capable of ensuring the implementation of these treaties, as well as allowing additional contingents of troops to enter the territory of these countries. The conditions were accepted.

On June 15, additional contingents of Soviet troops were introduced to Lithuania, and on June 17 - to Estonia and Latvia.

Lithuanian President Antanas Smetona insisted on organizing resistance to Soviet troops, however, having been refused by most of the government, he fled to Germany, and his Latvian and Estonian colleagues - Karlis Ulmanis and Konstantin Päts - went to cooperate with the new government (both were soon repressed), as did Lithuanian Prime Minister Antanas Merkis. In all three countries, Soviet-friendly governments were formed, headed, respectively, by Eustace Paleckis (Lithuania), Johannes Vares (Estonia) and August Kirchenstein (Latvia).

The process of Sovietization of the Baltic countries was monitored by the authorized governments of the USSR - Andrei Zhdanov (in Estonia), Andrei Vyshinsky (in Latvia) and Vladimir Dekanozov (in Lithuania).

The new governments lifted bans on the activities of communist parties and demonstrations, issued pro-Soviet political prisoners and called snap parliamentary elections. At the July 14 votes in all three states, the pro-communist Blocs (Unions) of the working people formally won were the only electoral lists admitted to the elections. According to official data, in Estonia the turnout was 84.1%, while 92.8% of the votes were cast for the Union of the Working People, in Lithuania the turnout was 95.51%, of which 99.19% voted for the Union of the Working People, in Latvia the turnout was 94.8%, 97.8% of the votes were cast for the Block of the Working People.

The newly elected parliaments on July 21-22 proclaimed the creation of the Estonian SSR, the Latvian SSR and the Lithuanian SSR and adopted the Declarations on entry into the USSR. On August 3-6, 1940, in accordance with the decisions of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, these republics were adopted into the Soviet Union.

From the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian armies, Lithuanian (29th rifle), Latvian (24th rifle) and Estonian (22nd rifle) territorial corps were formed, which became part of PribOVO.

1866

1700: The beginning of the Northern War by the invasion of the Elector of Saxony and King Augustus II of Poland in Swedish Livonia with the aim of capturing Riga

On February 11 (February 21), 1700, the troops of the Elector of Saxony and King Augustus II of Poland invaded Swedish Livonia without declaring war. August hoped to capture Riga, which occupied a key strategic position in the Baltic states, and this, firstly, weaken the Swedes, and secondly, get ahead of Russia in the territorial acquisitions of its ally.

1658: As part of Sweden

1618

1260: Possessions of German Knights and Prince Bishops

1237: The Latgals

600g

Calendar

Notes