The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced November 20 that 26 more Belarusian citizens have been declared persona non grata and are consequently denied entry to Latvia.
Diplomacy
Former Rīga mayor Nils Ušakovs, now a European Parliament (EP) member, has been made Full Member of EP Intergroup on LGBTI rights, the group announced on Facebook November 19.
On 13 November 2020, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, met with the leader of the Belarusian opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and effective president-elect of the country, who was also taking part in the annual security and foreign policy forum the Rīga Conference 2020.
On November 6, politicians from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia participate digitally in the 39th session of the Baltic Assembly and the 26th Baltic Council.
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs has put himself into self-isolation after it emerged that Slovenian Foreign Minister Anže Logar -- who was in Rīga earlier this week -- has tested positive for the coronavirus.
On 23 October 2020, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, and continuing with the public debate on Latvia’s candidacy for a seat on the United Nations Security Council, a presentation and a discussion will be held on a study by the Latvian Institute of International Affairs, titled “Latvia’s interests and opportunities in becoming a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council” (UNSC).
The foreign ministers of the Baltic states and Canada had a meeting in Vilnius on October 16.
Latvia signed on the dotted line October 16, committing itself to lease a ready-made pavilion at the postponed Dubai Expo.
On October 13, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, took part in the meeting of the European Union General Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a release.
On Wednesday, October 14, the election of the Constitutional Court’s President was held at the Court’s sitting. The Justices unanimously elected the current Vice-president of the Constitutional Court Sanita Osipova to the position.
Latvia and Lithuania were responsible for the delivery of surveillance drones to Belarus even in the middle of a brutal assault on civil society by self-proclaimed president Alexander Lukashenko, according to a report in the online publication EU Observer.
On 30 September 2020, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, welcomed his Estonian counterpart, Urmas Reinsalu, who was in Latvia on an official visit.
French President Emmanuel Macron continued his two-day visit to Latvia September 30 with a busy day scheduled.
Belarus has made a response to the sanctions imposed on Belarus by Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, banning a number of Baltic state officials from entering the country, said Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz.
France, Latvia and Lithuania have released the text of a joint declaration on the importance of protecting democracy. It is reprduced below in full and is signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš -- not President Egils Levits, who welcomes Macron to Rīga later on Tuesday.
Based on the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia, as well as in coordination with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Estonia and Lithuania, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs on September 25 announced the imposition of an indefinite entry ban on 101 Belarusian officials.
Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President and Trade Commissioner of the European Commission, met with a person who was later tested positive on COVID-19, according to the politician's Twitter post September 23.
On 22 September 2020 in Riga, the Foreign Minister of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs and the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, Linas Linkevičius, presented diplomat and linguist, Alberts Sarkanis, with the annual Balts’ Award bestowed by the two countries for outstanding achievements in research and fostering the Balts’ heritage.
On September 21, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, took part in a meeting of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council, according to a statement from Foreign Ministry.
Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, met with the Belarusian president-elect Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Riga on 20 September 2020, according to a release from the Ministry.
On 18 September 2020, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, took part in an urgent debate on the human rights situation in Belarus at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Foreign Ministry said in a news release.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed an order on Wednesday for the dismissal of the Belarusian ambassador to Latvia, Vasily Markovich (Маркович Василий Михайлович), Latvian Television reported September 16.
On September 29 and 30 this year, French President Emanuel Macron will visit Latvia, said the press service of the President of Latvia September 16.
Interior Minister Sandis Ģirģens (KPV LV) denied Latvia's possibility to take in migrants from burnt-down migrant camp in Moria, Lesbos island, in Greece, the Minister said September 15.
The foreign ministers of the Nordic-Baltic region (NB8) are meeting in Tallinn on September 9.
Saeima adopted amendments to the law last week with regard to strengthening independence of the judges of the Constitutional Court. Experts say, though, that there is more room for improvement, Latvian Radio reported September 8.
The delegations of Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden (NB8) on September 4 submitted a joint statement to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (EPPA) on the situation in Belarus after the presidential election, offering strong support to democratic forces and calling for action from the Council of Europe.
"We call on the governments of the member states of the Council of Europe to support democratic reforms and democratic institutions in Belarus aimed at strengthening them, as well as supporting civil society, including the independent media. We also call on the Council of Europe to use its knowledge and experience to fully support Belarus in its efforts to achieve multi-opinion democracy and implement the necessary constitutional reforms in cooperation with other international partners,” said Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Head of the Latvian Delegation to the EPPA.
"We call on the governments of the member states of the Council of Europe to support democratic reforms and democratic institutions in Belarus aimed at strengthening them, as well as supporting civil society, including the independent media. We also call on the Council of Europe to use its knowledge and experience to fully support Belarus in its efforts to achieve multi-opinion democracy and implement the necessary constitutional reforms in cooperation with other international partners,” said Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Head of the Latvian Delegation to the EPPA.
Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement September 4 condemning cash payments promised by the Russian Federation to members of the former Soviet occupation regime in Latvia.
Latvian Television reported on Thursday, 27 August that the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis will be temporarily entrusted with duties of the EU Trade Commissioner.
It is often the impression that the fate of Belarusians is decided everywhere but Belarus, the Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs (“New Unity”) said in an interview on Latvian Television August 19.