The Treaty between Latvia and Russia on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil, Family, and Criminal Matters should be denounced, decided the Saeima on Thursday, 18 January. Parliamentarians voted in favour of a draft law suspending the Treaty.

“The people of Latvia side firmly with the people of Ukraine, and our support for Ukraine will never end. We stand with you and we will stay by your side. We will support your fight for victory and your journey towards NATO and the EU,” said Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 16 January, in Kyiv at a meeting with Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The delegation led by the Speaker of the Saeima visited Kyiv to affirm solidarity with the Ukrainian people and express unwavering support for the sovereignty of Ukraine. 

“My heart breaks as I realise the terrible loss of your loved ones, the sorrowful tears of long-suffering Ukrainian mothers and wives. These tears are now writing the history of the Ukrainian people’s unwavering fight and love for their homeland and, at the same time, the history of Russia’s bloody cruelty. These sad pages of history will make our children and grandchildren respect and bow their heads to the Ukrainian people and also recognise the true face of Russia,” said Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 16 January, in Kyiv, in an address to the Members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. 

“This year, along with several other countries, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our accession to the European Union. It was a significant development in Latvia’s growth. But our accession has also strengthened the European Union. A strong European Union is in the interests of Latvia. We will continue to be an active and relevant Member State in building an increasingly strong and secure Europe,” said Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Friday, 12 January, meeting with the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola.

On Thursday, 11 January, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa and the Latvian parliamentary delegation and thanked the people of Latvia for their tireless support. Members of the Saeima confirmed that Ukraine can continue to count on us and thanked the Ukrainians for their struggle not only for their own freedom, but also for that of our country and the entire world.

Strongly condemning Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and the terror and inhumane violence against the Ukrainian population, members of the Saeima have sent a letter to the French President and the Parliament urging to consider denying entry and residence in France to athletes from the aggressor countries – Russia and Belarus. The initiative comes from the Sports Subcommittee, and it was signed by 80 MPs. 

To guarantee national security, including the prevention and timely averting of threats to a democratic state, on Thursday, 11 January, the Saeima adopted in the final reading urgent draft law on the transfer of ownership of the so-called Moscow House in Riga to the State of Latvia. 

Smoking, buying tobacco products, as well as selling them will not be allowed for persons under the age of 20. These restrictions will also apply to tobacco substitute products, herbal smoking products, electronic smoking devices and refill containers. This is provided for by amendments to the law, which were adopted by the Saeima in the final reading on Thursday, 11 January. The ban will come into force on 1 January 2025. To date, these products were available to persons aged 18 and over. 

A van previously used by the Latvian Parliament has departed for Ukraine to bring gifts collected in a Christmas charity event for boarding school children in Yablunivka, Chernihiv Oblast. Afterwards, the van will be handed over to Ukraine to ensure the rotation of troops to the front line.

On Thursday, 21 December, the Saeima adopted the Resolution on the return of illegally displaced Ukrainian children from the territory of Russia and Belarus to Ukraine.