On Monday, 3 March, the European Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima adopted the Joint Statement on Russia’s Aggression in Ukraine strongly condemning the Russian Federation’s military aggression in Ukraine and stressing Latvia’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the legitimate power of the Verhovna Rada of Ukraine. Both committees also called upon the Presidium of the Saeima to convene an extraordinary plenary sitting during which the parliament as a whole would also adopt such a statement.

Latvia strongly stands for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and is of the opinion that any measures aimed at splitting Ukrainian society and questioning the territorial integrity of the country must be condemned in the strongest terms possible.

“In these Olympics you showed how strong Latvia is, how big and mighty we are. Not only do we have silver and bronze medals, I can say with full conviction that we have a team of gold,” said Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 27 February, when meeting the Latvian Olympic Team in the Saeima to congratulate them on their success at the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

On Wednesday, 19 February, the European Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee adopted the Statement on the situation in Ukraine stating that their deeply regret and strongly condemn the injuring and killing of civilians during clashes in Kiev. The responsible parties must be brought to justice. The Committees fully support the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia to provide medical care and cover related costs to ten injured Ukrainian protesters, and they urge the Cabinet of Ministers to expand the scope of medical assistance for the victims of violence in Ukraine.

“Relations between Latvia and Georgia are close and friendly, and Georgia has many friends in Latvia, especially in our parliament”; this was stressed by Solvita Āboltiņa on Wednesday, 12 February, as she and her shadows met with Teimuraz Janjalia, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Georgia to the Republic of Latvia.

In order to learn about the everyday work of MPs and the staff of the parliament, on Job Shadow Day, 12 February, more than 250 youths from all over Latvia visited the Saeima. Shadows of other officials, ministerial employees, experts and journalists who visited the Saeima were able to attend committee meetings.

On Thursday, 6 February, the Saeima re-examined amendments to the Saeima Election Law and decided that the voting system for Latvian citizens residing abroad shall remain unchanged – votes cast abroad in Saeima elections shall be considered to be cast in the Riga constituency.