Latvia & nearby
Tallinn's Taru complex prepares to open, housing state agencies and the Natural History Museum
A museum and office complex called Taru has been completed next to the Noblessner quarter in Tallinn, Estonia. Several state bodies will move in, with the first staff of the Land and Spatial Board arriving on 9 November.
ERR (rus) · 21 Oct, 21:54
Latvia's National Security Council: Russian Sabotage Risks in Europe Have Risen Significantly
Latvia's National Security Council says risks linked to Russian sabotage and subversion across Europe have grown significantly, especially against infrastructure supporting Ukraine and defence industry firms. It still considers a large-scale Russian attack on NATO unlikely.
NRA · 21 Oct, 21:54
Latvia Temporarily Restricts Foreign Access to Digital Resources Over PHP Vulnerabilities
Cert.lv, Latvia's cyber incident response institution, has temporarily restricted access from abroad to several Latvian digital resources after two critical vulnerabilities were found in the PHP programming language. The restrictions may remain in place until 26 October.
Jauns.lv · 21 Oct, 20:55
German Army Holds Brave Blue 26 Exercise in Estonia
A ten-day German armed forces exercise, Brave Blue 26, has been under way in Estonia since 16 October, rehearsing the transfer of reinforcements to the Baltic states in a crisis. German military vehicles will be visible in various parts of Estonia in the coming days.
ERR (rus) · 21 Oct, 20:54
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Shared platform for state and municipal websites temporarily shut off over cybersecurity concerns
Latvia's State Chancellery has temporarily suspended access to the unified website platform to protect it from possible cyberattacks. Until the vulnerabilities are fixed, a number of state and municipal websites will be unavailable.
Apollo.lv · 21 Oct, 19:54
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Shared platform for state and municipal websites suspended over two PHP vulnerabilities
Access to Latvia's shared platform for state and municipal websites has been temporarily suspended because of two critical vulnerabilities in PHP software. The Cabinet of Ministers press secretary, Laura Krastiņa, informed TVNET.
TVNET · 21 Oct, 19:54
Delegation from Ukrainian partner city Chuhuiv visits Kuldīga
Representatives of the Ukrainian city of Chuhuiv, which has been a partner of Latvia's Kuldīga municipality since 2021, are visiting this week. They met local leaders, toured local institutions and shared their experience of running municipal services during wartime.
Jauns.lv · 21 Oct, 19:53
Estonian football championship: Harju beat Flora at home
In a rescheduled round 34 match of the Estonian football championship, Harju from Laagri beat Tallinn's Flora 3-1 at home. Flora remain second with 58 points.
ERR (rus) · 21 Oct, 19:53
Progressives ask anti-corruption bureau to review PM's freelance adviser Dejus over "golden visa" dealings
The Saeima faction of the Progressives party has asked Latvia's Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau and the Prosecutor General's Office to assess a possible conflict of interest involving the prime minister's freelance adviser Didzis Dejus. The case concerns foreign investors registered in his consultancy who gained residence-permit rights.
NRA · 21 Oct, 18:54
Riga Panel Block Resident Asks What to Do About Smoking Neighbours and Unpaid Bills
Ilze, a resident of a panel apartment building in Riga, complains about cockroaches, cigarette smoke and a neighbour's utility debt. A representative of the property manager Civinity Mājas explains what residents can do.
Latvijas Avīze · 21 Oct, 18:53
Koklīši Pine in Saulkrasti Municipality Competes for Latvia's European Tree of the Year Title
The Saulkrasti municipality has entered the Koklīši pine, which grows on the Zvejniekciems beach, into the "European Tree of the Year in Latvia" contest. Residents can support it by voting until 10 November.
Jauns.lv · 21 Oct, 18:53
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Crash causes traffic disruption on Riga bypass
A road accident on Wednesday has made traffic difficult on the Riga bypass. The State Police gave the information to the news agency LETA.
Apollo.lv · 21 Oct, 17:55
One of the Largest Drug Labs in the Baltics Uncovered in Lithuania
Lithuanian police found over 500 kilograms of methamphetamine and 300 kilograms of amphetamine in a secret lab in Vilnius District. Four people have been detained, including a Dutch citizen named as the main organiser.
NRA · 21 Oct, 17:53
Estonian parliament passes law on preventing financial fraud
Estonia's parliament, the Riigikogu, passed a law on 21 October that lets banks suspend suspicious payments and share fraud-related information. Estonian residents lost around 29 million euros to scammers last year.
ERR (rus) · 21 Oct, 16:56
Tougher gambling restrictions left for the 15th Saeima to decide
The Saeima's Budget and Finance Committee on 21 October backed advancing amendments to Latvia's Gambling and Lotteries Law to a first reading. Further reworking is left to the next parliament, while the industry warns it could push players to illegal sites.
LSM · 21 Oct, 16:56
October 21 heat record broken at Skulte station in Saulkrasti
On Wednesday afternoon the Skulte observation station in Saulkrasti municipality recorded +15.6 degrees, a new high for 21 October at that station. The previous record there dated from 1949.
Diena · 21 Oct, 16:55
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Two Children Died in Pļavnieki: Migration Agency Employee Sentenced to Two Years in Prison Over Firearm Storage Violations
A court has sentenced an employee of Latvia's Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs to two years in prison and 220 hours of community service. Last year in Pļavnieki, his son accidentally shot a friend with the father's weapon and then shot himself, and both children died.
Apollo.lv · 21 Oct, 16:55
Rinkēvičs Urges Saeima to Review Law Granting Citizenship to Divya Kannan Vishwanath
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs has written to the Speaker of the Saeima, asking parliament to dispel doubts about the law recognising Divya Kannan Vishwanath as a Latvian citizen. The law will be promulgated on 22 October.
NRA · 21 Oct, 16:55
Krapsis Fined €11,700 in Latvian Police Video Radar Procurement Case
The Riga City Court has found police official Normunds Krapsis and Andris Locs guilty of abuse of office over a video radar purchase. Krapsis says he will appeal.
Jauns.lv · 21 Oct, 16:55
Social media users debate whether to list parental leave on a CV
On the social platform Threads, users are debating in October 2026 whether parental leave should appear in a CV work history. Opinions differ: some omit it fearing discrimination, others include it to explain a gap.
Latvijas Avīze · 21 Oct, 16:54
Lithuania's Foreign Ministry denies easing visa rules for Pakistani citizens
Lithuania's Foreign Ministry called reports that it had eased visa requirements for Pakistani citizens "manipulation". It says the rules are unchanged and the topic was not discussed at recent consultations.
LRT English · 21 Oct, 16:53
Estonian justice minister: worst AI abuses should be treated as crimes against humanity
Estonia's Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa Pakosta urged international AI regulation on an ERR webcast, proposing that the most harmful AI uses be classed as crimes against humanity. She also covered child protection, medical privacy and the future of her party, Eesti 200.
ERR News · 21 Oct, 16:53
Saeima committee backs keeping LTV and Latvijas Radio brands
The Saeima's Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee has backed preserving the historic brands of Latvian Television and Latvijas Radio. A ban on merging their news services will be advanced in a separate bill.
LSM (rus) · 21 Oct, 15:54
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New communications cable to be built across the Baltic Sea between Estonia, Finland and Sweden
Swedish company GlobalConnect will lay a new fibre-optic cable linking Sweden, Estonia and Finland. Estonian officials say the connection is urgently needed after recent incidents in the Baltic Sea.
TVNET · 21 Oct, 15:54
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Saeima committee issues written warning to Andrejs Judins
The Saeima's Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee decided to issue a written warning to Andrejs Judins (New Unity), chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, in an ethics case. He was accused of possible inappropriate conduct toward a Saeima staff member.
Apollo.lv · 21 Oct, 15:54
Narva Demands Ro-Ro Art Club Vacate Premises by 16 November Over Unpaid Rent
The Ro-Ro art club in Narva, Estonia, has been notified that its lease will be terminated from 16 November because of rent arrears. If the debt is not settled by the end of October, the city department plans to go to court.
ERR (rus) · 21 Oct, 15:53
Several cars involved in crash on Riga bypass near Upeslejas
A traffic accident involving several vehicles has occurred at the 11th kilometre of the Riga bypass (A4) in Ropaži Municipality. Traffic is being routed through a single lane, and drivers should expect delays.
Jauns.lv · 21 Oct, 15:53
Aleksei Yevgrafov Returns as Head of Centre Party Group in Narva City Council
Aleksei Yevgrafov has resumed the post of chair of the Centre Party faction in the city council of Narva, Estonia. Vladimir Aret, who led it on an interim basis, is now his deputy.
ERR (rus) · 21 Oct, 14:55
Pļavnieki tragedy: Migration agency employee gets two years in prison for weapon storage violations
A court of first instance has sentenced an employee of Latvia's Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, whose son died last year in Pļavnieki. He was found guilty of violating firearm storage rules.
LSM (rus) · 21 Oct, 14:54
Saeima committee members surprised by cybersecurity sum in Health Ministry's priority list
The largest sum in the Health Ministry's list of urgent needs for extra funding next year, €32.95 million, is requested for cybersecurity. This surprised participants of a joint Saeima committee meeting.
LSM · 21 Oct, 14:54
Criminal case sent forward against 14 Belarusians over illegal cigarette factory near Grobiņa
Latvia's Tax and Customs Police have completed an investigation in a separate criminal case against 14 Belarusian nationals suspected of making cigarettes illegally near Grobiņa. The damage to the state is estimated at more than 5.6 million euros.
NRA · 21 Oct, 14:54
LSM Russian-language service launches Latvian-learning series on overcoming the language barrier
The Russian-language edition of Latvian public media LSM has published a piece titled "Learning Latvian" on overcoming the language barrier. It promises personal experience and recommendations for people learning Latvian.
LSM (rus) · 21 Oct, 13:54
Estonian PM: 20 Seats in Parliament Enough for Reform Party to Stay a Force
Estonian Prime Minister and Reform Party leader Michal said on a TV show that the party aims to win 20 seats in next spring's Riigikogu elections. He also discussed income tax cuts, fuel excise duty and the Rail Baltica project.
ERR News · 21 Oct, 13:54
Slaidiņš: Plans Rehearsed in Belarus Drills Matter More Than Troops Near the Border
Major Jānis Slaidiņš, a Zemessardze staff officer, told TV24 that the scenarios played out in Belarusian military exercises matter more than visible troop movements. Meanwhile, Latvia's government plans to extend visa restrictions on Russian and Belarusian citizens to the end of 2027.
Latvijas Avīze · 21 Oct, 13:53
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Drunk driver detained in Jēkabpils for carrying a person on the roof of a BMW
Police in the Latvian city of Jēkabpils detained an intoxicated driver overnight who was giving a person a ride on the roof of a BMW car. The State Police reported the incident.
Apollo.lv · 21 Oct, 13:53
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Repair Work to Alter Some Train Trips on Tukums and Aizkraukle Lines Next Week
Some train trips on the Tukums and Aizkraukle lines in Latvia will change next week because of repair work. The passenger rail operator AS Pasažieru vilciens informed the news agency LETA.
TVNET · 21 Oct, 13:53