Latvia
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- parliamentary democracy
- CONSTITUTION
- the constitutional law of 1991 integrated the 1922 Constitution
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on civil law with traces of socialist tradition
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral Parliament (Saeima)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court, judges confirmed by Parliament; Constitutional Court, judges confirmed by Parliament.
RELIGIONS
Lutheran majority, Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish minorities
From the country
- JANUARY 1, 2003LatviaDEATH PENALTY
On April 15, 1999, Parliament voted to abolish the...
On April 15, 1999, Parliament voted to abolish the death penalty for crimes committed in peacetime
- JANUARY 1, 2003LatviaDEATH PENALTY
President Guntis Ulmanis imposed a moratorium on executions...
President Guntis Ulmanis imposed a moratorium on executions in September 1996
- JANUARY 1, 2003LatviaDEATH PENALTY
The last execution was carried out in January 1996
The last execution was carried out in January 1996
- MAY 11, 2002LatviaDEATH PENALTY
Serial killer Yuri Ustimenko, was caught in Poland...
Serial killer Yuri Ustimenko, was caught in Poland earlier the week
- MAY 3, 2002LatviaDEATH PENALTY
Latvia signed Protocol 13 to the European Convention...
Latvia signed Protocol 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which ensures the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances
- FEBRUARY 21, 2002LatviaDEATH PENALTY
Latvia's Saeima [Unicameral Parliament] turned over...
Latvia's Saeima [Unicameral Parliament] turned over draft amendments to several laws that are to be harmonized with the international protocol aimed at the abolition of the death penalty to parliamentary commissions
- FEBRUARY 12, 2002LatviaDEATH PENALTY
The cabinet of ministers approved draft amendments...
The cabinet of ministers approved draft amendments to the Criminal Code, Criminal Law and the law on the enactment of the criminal law in order to bring this legislation in line with the international protocol on the abolition of the death penalty
- JANUARY 7, 2002LatviaDEATH PENALTY
The Latvian Cabinet of Ministers' committee approved...
The Latvian Cabinet of Ministers' committee approved amendments to several laws in order to harmonize these laws with the international protocol aimed at the abolition of the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2002LatviaDEATH PENALTY
On April 15, 1999, Parliament (64-15) voted to abolish...
On April 15, 1999, Parliament (64-15) voted to abolish the death penalty
- APRIL 25, 2001LatviaDEATH PENALTY
Latvia was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution...
Latvia was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 25, 2001
- JANUARY 1, 2001LatviaDEATH PENALTY
On April 15, 1999, Parliament (64-15) voted to abolish...
On April 15, 1999, Parliament (64-15) voted to abolish the death penalty
- MAY 18, 2000LatviaDEATH PENALTY
The Saeima passed amendments to the Criminal Law that...
The Saeima passed amendments to the Criminal Law that stipulate that murder under unmitigated circumstances during wartime is punishable by death