Latvia & nearby
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Nausėda Denies CIA Prison in Lithuania; No New Investigation Planned
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has rejected calls for a new investigation into a possible CIA secret prison, despite European Court of Human Rights rulings confirming its existence.
Apollo.lv · 14 Jul, 21:37
Tallinn's Old Town Empties: Residents Decrease, Many Businesses Close
Only 2,000 people live in Tallinn's Old Town, with about 20% of commercial spaces vacant. A wine bar owner describes changes worsened by tourist rentals and nighttime noise.
ERR (rus) · 14 Jul, 20:36
Government fails to approve action plan due to lack of funding for over 200 measures
On Tuesday, July 14, the Latvian government did not approve its action plan because many of the 215 measures lack funding and would require amending this year's budget. Coalition partners await a proposal from the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, but no specific measures to be dropped have been named.
LSM · 14 Jul, 20:36
Search for missing diver off Roja called off
The Coast Guard of the Naval Forces called off the search for a missing diver in the Baltic Sea on Monday evening, July 13, about 10 nautical miles northeast of Roja. The diver was not found.
LSM (rus) · 14 Jul, 20:36
EC Report: Latvia Faces Population Decline and Aging Society
The European Commission's latest demographic report projects that Latvia's population will continue to shrink and age, posing challenges for the labor market, healthcare, and public finances.
TVNET · 14 Jul, 19:37
Traffic restrictions in Daugavpils on Viestura Street for a month due to asphalt renovation
From July 14 to August 14, traffic on a section of Viestura Street in Daugavpils will be restricted because of asphalt resurfacing work, with a speed limit of 30 km/h and no stopping or parking on workdays.
Jauns.lv · 14 Jul, 19:36
Heavy Machinery Used to Rescue Cow Stuck in Pond
In Kassinumme village, Jõgeva parish, Estonia, on July 13, a cow stuck in a pond was rescued with the help of heavy machinery.
ERR (rus) · 14 Jul, 19:36
Latvian Parliament Committee Backs Further Reduction of Russian Language Content on LSM
The Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee on Tuesday supported proposals to significantly reduce Russian-language content in public media, including LSM.
LSM · 14 Jul, 18:36
Russia Plans to Take Baltic States to International Court of Justice Over Alleged Discrimination
Russia announced it will take the Baltic states to the International Court of Justice, accusing them of discriminating against ethnic Russians. The Baltic states deny the allegations, and the case could become the most expensive litigation in their history.
ERR News · 14 Jul, 17:37
Grüne Fee director: EU regulation will make it impossible to sell lettuce and long cucumbers without packaging
The executive director of fresh cucumber producer Grüne Fee says that after the EU regulation comes into force, many fruits and vegetables may disappear from store shelves because they spoil quickly without packaging. Long cucumbers without film last only 3-4 days, but packaged they keep up to three weeks.
ERR (rus) · 14 Jul, 17:37
Elksniņš: State wants to shirk responsibility for closing Daugavgrīva prison
Daugavpils mayor Andrejs Elksniņš criticizes the Ministry of Justice's proposal to transfer the property of the closing Daugavgrīva prison's Grīva branch to the municipality, calling for state support in managing the degraded area.
Jauns.lv · 14 Jul, 17:37
Lithuania's New Government Takes Oath in Parliament
On Tuesday, the government led by Mindaugas Sinkevičius was sworn in before the Seimas, becoming the third cabinet since the 2024 elections. The coalition, comprising Social Democrats and two center-left parties, holds 75 of 141 seats.
Delfi · 14 Jul, 17:36
Search for Missing Diver in Baltic Sea Called Off After 38 Hours
The Coast Guard service of the Latvian Navy ended the search operation for a missing diver in the Baltic Sea on Monday evening, approximately 10 nautical miles northeast of Roja. The diver was not found.
LSM · 14 Jul, 17:36
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Russia Conducts Live-Fire Exercise on Lake Peipus Near Estonian Border
On July 9, Russia held an unannounced live-fire exercise on Lake Peipus, just kilometers from the Estonian border, marking the first such drill on the lake in recent memory.
Postimees · 14 Jul, 16:38
140 people evacuated from factory in Lagedi
On July 13, a fire in a factory's ventilation system in Lagedi, Estonia, led to the evacuation of 140 workers. The fire was extinguished by 3:45 PM, with no injuries reported.
ERR (rus) · 14 Jul, 16:37
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Large Hedgehog Family with Seven Babies Spotted in Saulkrasti Region
A mother hedgehog with seven babies was recorded in the Saulkrasti region; one baby got lost and needed help to return to the family.
Apollo.lv · 14 Jul, 16:36
Traffic Changes Near Riga Airport: Adjustments to Pilot and Tower Streets
The Mārupe municipality has announced traffic reorganizations near Riga Airport, including the restoration of two-way traffic on Tower Street and one-way traffic on Pilot Street, as well as revised access to the P4 long-term parking lot and the airBaltic training center.
Jauns.lv · 14 Jul, 16:36
330 kg of Marijuana Found at Customs Warehouse in Riga; Four Suspects Detained
Officials from the Customs Board of the State Revenue Service (VID), during an inspection with a service dog, discovered 330 kilograms of marijuana at a customs warehouse in Riga. The Tax and Customs Police have initiated criminal proceedings and detained four individuals on suspicion of drug smuggling and sanctions violations.
LSM (rus) · 14 Jul, 16:36
“Summer Horizon”: Estonian Orthodox Church, Medieval Days in Tallinn, and Tourism in Heat
The upcoming “Summer Horizon” program will cover the situation of the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church, the Medieval Days in Tallinn, and tourism opportunities during the heatwave.
ERR (rus) · 14 Jul, 15:37
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Customs Dog Finds 330 kg of Drugs; Several People Detained
Officers from the State Revenue Service Customs Board discovered 330 kg of narcotics in a customs warehouse with the help of a service dog. Four Latvian citizens have been detained, and searches were conducted in Riga and Liepaja.
TVNET · 14 Jul, 15:36
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Wednesday to Be Warm and Sunny
Wednesday will bring mostly sunny and warm weather across Latvia, with light cloud cover, morning fog in some areas, and temperatures reaching up to +26°C.
Apollo.lv · 14 Jul, 15:36
Bill to Preserve Latvijas Radio and Latvijas Televīzija Brands to Be Advanced After Elections
The Council for Electronic Public Media will draft a bill after the 15th Saeima elections to legally enshrine the brand names of Latvijas Radio and Latvijas Televīzija. On July 14, the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee supported the proposal.
LSM (rus) · 14 Jul, 15:36
Voluntary State Defense Service applications allowed from age 17
The government has supported a bill allowing 17-year-olds to voluntarily apply for the State Defense Service.
LSM · 14 Jul, 15:36
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Apollo.lv invites readers to test their knowledge with a new quiz
Apollo.lv has published a quiz featuring questions about the number of letters in the Latvian alphabet, the animal with three hearts, and the country with the most time zones.
Apollo.lv · 14 Jul, 14:37
Järvan: Lastekodu Street's traffic calming causes confusion, not safety
Tallinn's Vice Mayor Kristjan Järvan criticizes the reconstructed Lastekodu Street's traffic calming measures, saying confusing situations do not improve safety and that similar bollards will not be used in the future.
ERR (rus) · 14 Jul, 14:37
Estonia Proposes Ending Mandatory Bulk Communications Data Retention
Estonia's justice and digital minister has sent the government a draft law that would end telecom operators' obligation to retain communications data en masse at the state's request. The bill aims to align Estonia's data regime with EU court rulings on privacy and introduces a 'quick freeze' mechanism for investigations.
ERR News · 14 Jul, 14:36
Tallink's chief captain: Modern passenger ships built to survive any accident
Tallink's chief captain Tarvi-Carlos Tuulik says a major leap in ship safety occurred 10–12 years ago, when new requirements were introduced mandating that passenger ships must be built to return to port on their own after any accident.
ERR News · 14 Jul, 13:37
Estonian President Congratulates France on Bastille Day
Estonian President Alar Karis congratulated French President Emmanuel Macron and the people of France on Bastille Day, emphasizing strong allied ties and shared democratic values.
ERR (rus) · 14 Jul, 13:37
Sedokova and Timma Asset Division: Closed Hearings Requested; Next Session in August
Lawyers for singer Anna Sedokova have requested the asset division case with Jānis Timma be heard in closed sessions. Timma's family lawyer says no justification was given, and the court has begun investigating Sedokova's assets.
BNN · 14 Jul, 13:37
Former border guard accused of taking bribes from freight company
The Internal Security Bureau has sent a case to the prosecutor's office against a former border guard who allegedly accepted bribes from a freight transport company to allow trucks to cross the border out of turn.
Delfi · 14 Jul, 13:36
Water Temperature in Gulf of Riga Reaches 20°C in Some Places
In spots, the Gulf of Riga has warmed to 20°C, while western beaches have cooled. A slight rise is expected in coming days, followed by a drop next week.
Apollo.lv · 14 Jul, 13:36
Three individuals to stand trial for laundering nearly €1.5 million
The Riga District Court Prosecutor's Office has transferred a criminal case to the Economic Court, charging three individuals with money laundering and illegal use of a payment instrument on a large scale as part of an organized group.
LSM (rus) · 14 Jul, 13:36
Lithuania Receives Over 8,100 Voluntary Applications for Mandatory Military Service
Lithuania has received more than 8,100 voluntary applications for mandatory military service this year, a record number reflecting growing security awareness among youth.
LRT English · 14 Jul, 12:37
Latvia Plans to Ban Imports of Russian and Belarusian Books, Clothing, and Toys
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has drafted a law to ban the import of several industrial goods from Russia and Belarus, including books, clothing, and toys, which are not covered by EU sanctions.
Delfi · 14 Jul, 12:36
Police Launched 280 Money Laundering Cases Last Year, More Than in Previous Years
The State Police initiated 280 criminal proceedings for money laundering in 2025, a significant increase compared to the previous two years. However, most cases do not lead to prosecution, and often money is confiscated without identifying the perpetrators.
LSM · 14 Jul, 12:36
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PTAC finds seven cases of failure to apply reduced VAT on food
PTAC conducted 64 inspections in early July and found seven cases where the reduced 12% VAT rate was not applied to four food product groups. Most violations were corrected immediately during the inspection.
TVNET · 14 Jul, 11:37