Latvia & nearby (37)

Two Smiltene municipality employees had a joint company with a Ukrainian businessman now under investigation in Ukraine

Two employees of the Smiltene municipality in Latvia had a joint company with a Ukrainian businessman. He now appears in a tax fraud investigation launched in Ukraine.

TVNET · 25 Oct, 21:11

Experts: Voters Often Care More About What Parties Want to Change Than What They Have Already Done

The campaign for Estonia's Riigikogu elections is already under way several months ahead of the vote. Experts say the low-rated Reform Party can still recover, but voters will want concrete pledges.

ERR (rus) · 25 Oct, 21:09

Two killed, two seriously injured in car crash in Salnava parish

A passenger car left the P48 road, hit a tree and overturned in Salnava parish, Ludza municipality, on Sunday morning; two people died and two were hospitalised with serious injuries. A local eyewitness has urged drivers on social media never to drive drunk.

Latvijas Avīze · 25 Oct, 21:09

Sigulda coach fired over inappropriate text messages to underage trainee

A coach at the Sigulda sports school in Latvia has been dismissed after sending a minor trainee text messages that showed sexual interest. He admitted writing them while intoxicated and said he regrets it.

Apollo.lv · 25 Oct, 21:09

Outrage over dog walk at Riga's Brothers' Cemetery as city urges residents to call police

A social media user posted a video of a person walking a dog near the Mother Latvia monument at Riga's Brothers' Cemetery. Riga City Council urged people to report such cases to the municipal police immediately.

Latvijas Avīze · 25 Oct, 20:10

TV show: Outgoing lawmakers rush amendments in Saeima's final days

Deputies of Latvia's 14th Saeima are hurrying to advance several amendments to laws in their last working days and also plan to adopt new legislation. This was reported on Sunday by the programme "Nekā personīga".

Apollo.lv · 25 Oct, 20:10

Estonian insurers begin offering cover for war-related risks

A growing number of insurers in Estonia now offer clients compensation for damage linked to war and hostilities. The Estonian Insurance Association hopes any price increases will be small.

ERR (rus) · 25 Oct, 20:09

A Year After Its Creation, Latvia's Crisis Management Centre Still Lacks Secure Premises and Constant Contact with the Army

After a late-August storm, the first major test for Latvia's Crisis Management Centre, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs admits the centre does not work in its current form. A TV3 programme reports it has no secure premises and no uninterrupted communication with the army.

TVNET · 25 Oct, 20:09

The book that helped shape the Estonian written standard

The 1739 publication in Tallinn of the first complete Bible in Estonian helped make North Estonian the dominant written standard. The translation influenced literary Estonian and the spread of reading.

Estonian World · 25 Oct, 19:11

English woman living in Estonia: my first sauna visit shocked me

Shona Soitu, originally from the UK, moved to Estonia two years ago for love. She spoke about habits, saunas, her wedding and her wish to learn Estonian properly.

ERR (rus) · 25 Oct, 19:10

Sausage in pastry at Riga airport priced at €5.50 sparks social media banter

A Threads user shared a screenshot showing a sausage roll priced at €5.50 at Riga airport. Commenters said high food prices are common at airports and shared their own examples.

NRA · 25 Oct, 19:10

Over a million euros: what Saeima deputies receive compensation for

Deputies of Latvia's outgoing 14th Saeima were paid more than one million euros in fuel and housing rent compensation in under four years. The compensation system is now being debated, including within parliament itself.

LSM (rus) · 25 Oct, 19:09

Allied Military Equipment to Move Intensively Across Latvia From 26 October

From 26 October to 2 November, allied troops and military equipment will move along Latvian roads and railways as part of the NATO exercise “Resolute Reforger 2026”. About 3,000 soldiers and 1,000 pieces of equipment will take part.

Latvijas Avīze · 25 Oct, 19:09

Couple from Riga moves to the countryside and grows edible flowers for restaurants

Peteris and Ieva Langrats, who both grew up in Riga, moved seven years ago to Ieva's family estate in Ledmane Parish, Ogre Municipality. They now run a business called Gardi ziedi, growing edible flowers, plants and herbs for restaurants.

LSM (rus) · 25 Oct, 18:11

Latvia plans to keep restrictions on Russian and Belarusian citizens until end of 2027

Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposes keeping restrictions on accepting visa applications and on entry into Latvia for Russian and Belarusian citizens in force until 31 December 2027. The proposal is part of draft rules prepared by the ministry.

TVNET · 25 Oct, 18:11

Fire-hit apartment building in Jelgava still partly without water and electricity on Sunday

Part of the apartment building at Stacijas iela 5a in Jelgava, damaged by a fire overnight into Sunday, still has no water or electricity. Residents have returned to their flats, while the municipality has provided a drinking water barrel and police patrols.

Delfi · 25 Oct, 18:11

Health Ministry seeks €26,079 to cover medical care for illegal border crossers

Latvia's Ministry of Health proposes reallocating €26,079 to cover medical care costs for people who tried to cross the Latvia–Belarus border illegally. The proposal is set out in a draft order prepared by the ministry.

Apollo.lv · 25 Oct, 18:10

Two Dead, Two Injured After BMW Hits Tree in Latvia's Ludza Municipality

On Sunday, 25 October, a BMW X5 passenger car left the P48 road in Salnava parish and struck a tree. Two people died, and two more were taken to a medical facility with injuries.

Delfi · 25 Oct, 17:11

Kalviņš: Viswanathan's scientific work cannot be judged by publication count alone

Ivars Kalviņš, president of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, says Divya Viswanathan's output should be judged differently from that of academic researchers, because she has worked in pharmaceutical business. He said she has about ten publications in Indian journals.

Latvijas Avīze · 25 Oct, 17:10

Two killed in road accident in Salnava parish, Ludza municipality

A road accident in Salnava parish, Ludza municipality, on Sunday, 25 October, left two people dead and two others injured.

TVNET · 25 Oct, 17:10

Estonian schools increasingly refuse to host children's hobby clubs, author warns

Schools across Estonia are more often barring after-school hobby clubs from their buildings this autumn. An author argues that directors' workload should be eased and notes that the law gives pupils the right to use their school's premises free of charge.

ERR (rus) · 25 Oct, 17:09

Estonian Police: Signs of Radicalization Seen in Ever Younger Teens

The head of the radicalization prevention group at Estonia's Police and Border Guard Board Northern Prefecture says signs of radicalization are already visible among 12- and 13-year-olds. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice is seeking a provider of services for young people with extremist views.

ERR News · 25 Oct, 16:11

Commuter angry over undersized morning bus that left passengers standing; transport authority explains carrier duties

A reader named Solvita told LA.LV that the morning bus she takes to work was too small, forcing many passengers to stand. Latvia's Road Transport Directorate says carriers must provide a vehicle matching the capacity stated in ticketing systems.

Latvijas Avīze · 25 Oct, 16:11

Madona Municipality Plans Unified Management of Sport

Madona Municipality in Latvia intends to change how its sport sector is organised, aiming for better cooperation and use of resources. The changes are meant to widen residents' opportunities to take part in sport.

Stars (Madona) · 25 Oct, 16:10

Belarus Restricts Some Latvian Goods: Commentary on Who Pays for Political Disputes

A weekly commentary in Stars, a newspaper from Madona in Latvia, looks at Belarus's decision to restrict imports of certain Latvian-made goods. The author asks who actually bears the cost of political disputes between states.

Stars (Madona) · 25 Oct, 15:11

Rain and wind to mark start of the working week in Latvia

Latvia's Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre forecasts rain across nearly the whole country on Monday, with strong gusts. Daytime highs will be +9 to +12 degrees.

Jauns.lv · 25 Oct, 15:11

New Working Week in Latvia Begins with Rain and Wind

Rain and strengthened winds are expected in Latvia overnight into Monday and during the day, with gusts reaching up to 19 metres per second on the coast. Daytime temperatures will be between +9 and +12 degrees.

OgreNet · 25 Oct, 15:10

Two people killed in road crash in Salnava, Ludza municipality

A serious road accident took place in Salnava, Ludza municipality, on 25 October. Initial reports say two people died and two others were seriously injured.

Latvijas Avīze · 25 Oct, 15:09

«Drone House» board member: a small country should let robots, not people, do the fighting

Viesturs Silenieks, a board member of the drone training centre «Drone House» and a National Guard member, says in LSM's «Formā!» podcast that a small country should have unmanned aircraft fight instead of people.

LSM · 25 Oct, 15:09

Comedy «Snow Games» to premiere in Estonia in November

The premiere of «Snow Games», a play by British playwright Peter Quilter, will take place in Tallinn on 13 November in Russian. Director Eduard Toman is staging it, with Alexander Kuchmezov and Natalia Murina in the lead roles.

ERR (rus) · 25 Oct, 15:09

Photos From a Central Riga Rental Listing Spark Online Backlash

A rental listing for an apartment in central Riga has drawn debate on the social network Threads, as the photos show conditions at odds with the description of a cozy home. Commenters question the price and the landlord's attitude.

NRA · 25 Oct, 15:09

Anthropologist: Basements and Garages in Eastern Estonia Help Residents Hold On to Identity

Spanish anthropologist Francisco Martínez, in a book based on five years of research in Ida-Virumaa, describes basements, garages and dachas as places where residents find freedom from social pressure. He argues the region shows that Estonian society is not homogeneous.

Estonian World · 25 Oct, 14:11

Tallinn's Lasnamäe resident paid €70 in parking fines at his own building

Sergei, a resident of Tallinn's Lasnamäe district, paid a total of €70 in parking fines at his own building despite being entitled to park there. After the news outlet Zerkalo got involved, the fine was cancelled and the housing association agreed to refund the money.

ERR (rus) · 25 Oct, 14:10

Women's association «Skudras» holds photo-orienteering game «Safe Riga» in the capital

On Saturday, 24 October, the women's association «Women for Protection «Skudras»» held the photo-orienteering game «Safe Riga» in Riga to introduce people to crisis preparedness. The association's anthem is «Yellow Curtains» by Edvīns Zariņš from Bauska.

Bauskas Dzīve · 25 Oct, 14:10