On Thursday, 31 March, the Saeima adopted in the second and final reading urgent amendments to the Law on the Safety of Public Entertainment and Festivity Events. The amendments impose a ban on symbols used to signal military aggression and war crimes, except in cases where the goal is not the justification or glorification of such crimes.

To reduce people’s manifestations of aggression towards other members of the society, on Thursday, 31 March, the Saeima adopted in the third reading amendments that establish liability for aggressive behaviour. 

We are united in our belief that Ukraine deserves a place in Europe. The Baltic States and the Czech Republic advocate granting the European Union (EU) candidate status to Ukraine. This was noted by Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, following the meeting in Prague between the speakers of the parliaments of the Baltic States and the officials of the Czech Parliament.

The Baltic States and the Czech Republic share a similar history of Soviet oppression and occupation and later that of re-gaining freedom from tyranny. This is why we understand how wrong Putin’s war is, and we stand shoulder to shoulder in our support for Ukraine. We who have lived under oppression know how difficult it is to fight for freedom. But we can win, said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Wednesday, 30 March in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, during her address in the conference in honour of the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Baltic States and the Czech Republic.

On Tuesday, 29 March, during a meeting in the framework of the Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments in Slovenia, the chairs of the Parliaments of the Baltic States and Poland agreed that although for more than a month Ukraine has heroically defended itself against the Russian aggression, this brutal war must not become an accepted reality, and the military, political, and humanitarian support for Ukraine on the part of the democratic world must not subside. Meanwhile, Russia has to pay a high price for the war that it has begun.

Ukraine needs strong military, political, and humanitarian support in the current circumstances. It is in Europe’s interests that Ukraine remains an independent country that has chosen to live in a democracy. At the same time, Ukraine should be given a clear perspective of joining the European Union (EU), which would be a strong motivation to endure the cruel war while fighting for its freedom. This was underlined by Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, in the Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments in Slovenia.

One month after Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and the country’s Parliament, Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, together with the parliament speakers of Lithuania and Estonia, went to Kyiv to meet with the President, Chairman of the Parliament, and Prime Minister of Ukraine. During the visit, the parliament speakers of the three Baltic States and Ukraine signed a joint declaration, condemning Russia’s aggression and expressing support for Ukraine and a fast‑track procedure for its accession to the European Union.

The property rights of St. Peter’s Church in Riga are transferred to the foundation of the Riga St. Peter’s Church, the Saeima decided on Thursday, 24 March. The draft Law on St. Peter’s Church, adopted in the third and final reading, provides for the gratuitous transfer of the St. Peter’s Church to the foundation established by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia and the German St. Peter’s congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia.

On Thursday, 24 March, the Saeima adopted in the second and final reading urgent amendments to the Law on the Support for Ukrainian civilians. Among other provisions, the amendments stipulate allocation of a one-time crisis allowance to Ukrainian civilians fleeing the war in the amount of 272 euros for adults and 190 euros for each child.