The Saeima¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:

National Armed Forces Law

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. Purpose of the Law

This Law determines the composition, tasks, management system, funding and control of the National Armed Forces.

Section 2. National Armed Forces and the Goals thereof

(1) The National Armed Forces are an aggregate of military formations, formed by a militarily organised, trained, and armed part of the nation.

(2) The goal of the National Armed Forces is to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Latvian State, and its population against aggression.

Section 3. Composition of the National Armed Forces

(1) The National Armed Forces are formed by:

1) regular forces;

2) the National Guard;

3) reserve of the National Armed Forces.

(2) The Minister for Defence shall approve the structure and legal status of the National Armed Forces on the basis of a proposal from the Commander of the National Armed Forces.

(3) In a state of emergency the composition of the National Armed Forces shall include the Security Department of the Bank of Latvia, and it may also include the State Border Guard. During a period of war the Security Department of the Bank of Latvia and the State Border Guard shall be included in the composition of the National Armed Forces.

(4) The functioning of the National Guard of Latvia shall be regulated by a special law.

(5) In order to enforce the law, the Military Police shall operate with the rights of investigative institutions and investigatory operations subject in the regular composition of forces of the National Armed Forces.

(6) Reserve of the National Armed Forces shall be formed by Latvian citizens subject to military service, which are included in the National Armed Forces Reserve.

[11 March 2010; 18 May 2017]

Section 4. Deployment of the National Armed Forces

(1) The deployment of the National Armed Forces units in peacetime shall be determined by the Minister for Defence on the basis of a proposal from the Commander of the National Armed Forces.

(2) The units of the National Armed Forces shall be deployed in military sites.

[11 March 2010; 19 February 2015; 18 May 2017]

Section 4.¹ Military Sites

(1) A military site is an immovable property (part thereof) in possession or holding of the Ministry of Defence or in ownership, possession or holding of another natural or legal person which has been transferred for use to the National Armed Forces in order to perform the tasks specified in this Law.

(2) A person is prohibited from entering a military site without permission.

(3) A person has a duty to comply with the prescribed procedures for stay at a military site. The person who does not comply with the abovementioned provision may be subject to removal from the site.

(4) Special informative signs shall be used for the designation of military sites. The Cabinet shall determine the samples of informative signs, the procedures for using and placing the relevant signs.

(5) Military sites shall be managed by the State Centre for Defence Military Objects and Procurement.

(6) A written agreement between the National Armed Forces and the owner, possessor or holder of the immovable property shall be concluded on the transfer of the immovable property (part thereof) which is in the ownership, possession or holding of a natural or legal person for use to the National Armed Forces and the conditions for the use thereof.

[18 May 2017; 30 May 2019]

Section 5. Basic Personnel Recruitment Principles of the National Armed Forces

(1) Only Latvian citizens shall be recruited in the personnel of the National Armed Forces.

(2) In peacetime, the personnel of the National Armed Forces shall be formed by:

1) professional service soldiers who fulfil service in accordance with a contract;

2) the National Guards;

3) civilian employees;

4) reserve soldiers called up for further or test military training.

(2¹) [11 March 2010]

(3) A special law shall regulate personnel recruitment and the course of military service.

[24 February 2005; 2 November 2006; 6 December 2007; 11 March 2010]

Section 5.¹ Insignia of the National Armed Forces

(1) The Commander of the National Armed Forces, the components of the National Armed Forces, individual units and warships may have their own flag, which shall be approved by the Minister for Defence.

(2) The procedures for the making and using of the flags referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall be determined by the Minister for Defence.

(3) Individual higher officers may have their own attributes, which shall be approved and the procedures for the use thereof shall be determined by the Minister for Defence.

[20 December 2001]

Chapter II
Tasks of the National Armed Forces and the Measures for the Implementation thereof

[11 March 2010]

Section 6. Tasks of the National Armed Forces

(1) The National Armed Forces have the following tasks:

1) the defence of the land territory of the State and ensuring of inviolability thereof, as well as the control, defence of the water aquatorium and the airspace of the State and ensuring of inviolability thereof;

2) the participation in international military operations in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and international agreements;

3) the participation in the prevention of situations that constitute a threat to the State in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations.

(2) The units (sub-units) of the National Armed Forces may become involved in the performance of other tasks not provided for in this Law by an order of the Cabinet.

[11 March 2010]

Section 6.¹ Measures for the Implementation of the Tasks of the National Armed Forces or Individual Units thereof

(1) In fulfilling the tasks laid down in Section 6 of this Law, the National Armed Forces shall perform the following measures:

1) ensure the readiness of units for combat and mobilisation;

2) prepare personnel and units for participation in international operations and the rapid reaction forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union;

3) destroy explosive objects and perform blasting work;

4) perform coast guard functions, co-ordinate and perform human search and rescue operations at sea, eliminate the effects of accidents occurred at sea, participate in ecological surveillance and control of the navigation regime;

5) in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet, ensure the State Border Guard with technical means, vessels and aircraft for the performance of tasks thereof at sea;

6) train reserve soldiers and provide support to educating the youth in the field of national defence;

7) perform special operations;

8) in accordance with the provisions of international agreements, perform the exchange of classified information with State authorities of Latvia and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or institutions of the European Union Member States;

9) perform the observation and control of air space, territorial sea and inland waters (except rivers and lakes) as well as exclusive economic areas;

10) organise the representational military ceremonies of the Republic of Latvia and the National Armed Forces and ensure a guard of honour;

11) perform military intelligence at operational and tactical levels;

12) ensure the host nation support to the armed forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and European Union Member States;

13) perform other measures for the prevention and suppression of dangerous situations to the State defined in the National Defence Plan.

(2) In addition to the measures determined in Paragraph one of this Section, the Military Police shall perform the following measures:

1) in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the President, ensure the protection (security guard) of the President, his or her family members, the newly-elected President (from the time of being elected until the giving of the solemn oath), person who have held the office of the President, the Chancellery and the residence of the President;

2) in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet, ensure the protection (security guard) of foreign and international organisation representatives invited by the President;

3) in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Minister for Defence shall:

a) perform the protection (security guard) of foreign officials and international organisation representatives invited by the Ministry of Defence and the Commander of the National Armed Forces;

b) perform the protection (security guard) of objects and officials stipulated by the Minister for Defence and the Commander of the National Armed Forces;

c) escort military transport columns and guard military cargoes, regulate movement of vehicles of the National Armed Forces and perform its control (traffic supervision), regulate movement of other vehicles, and perform its control (traffic supervision) in facilities under possession of the Ministry of Defence, facilities to be protected and in the places of military events, as well as regulate movement of other vehicles in the routes of movement of military transport columns to be escorted, transport of the National Armed Forces, and military cargoes to be guarded;

d) take care of security at the places of military events;

3¹) regulate movement of vehicles in the routes of movement of those persons whose protection (security guard) in accordance with this Law is performed by the Military Police and also in other places if it is necessary to ensure protection (security guard) of the abovementioned persons;

4) prevent and interrupt criminal offences, administrative violations and other legal violations in military units or in the places of their deployment, in facilities to be protected, in the places of the residence of persons to be protected and in the places of military events, and in compliance with the competence thereof establish and detain persons violating the law;

5) conduct a pre-trial investigation within the competence specified in the Criminal Procedure Law;

6) in compliance with the competence thereof perform the search, the conveyance by force or detention of persons who are evading investigation (participation in procedural activities), those who evade investigation (participation in procedural activities), court or the serving of their sentences, as well as those who are absent without information as to whereabouts;

7) ensure the accompanying guard (convoying) and security guard of persons detained for committing a criminal offence, if the pre-trial investigation of the criminal offence is within the scope of the competence of the Military Police and the detainee is taken out of a temporary place of detention, in order to perform criminal proceeding activities.

(3) In fulfilling the tasks laid down in Section 6 of this Law, the National Armed Forces shall provide support to:

1) the State Security Service - in anti-terrorism measures, as well as measures for the prevention or combating of threats of terrorism;

2) the system of civil protection - in preventive and reactive measures, in measures for the elimination of consequences caused by emergency situations, as well as rescue and search operations;

3) the State Police - for ensuring public order and safety;

4) the State Border Guard - for ensuring the inviolability of the State border;

5) the Cadet Force Centre - for implementing a cadet force interest educational programme;

6) State security institutions - for performance of national security measures.

(4) Officials of the Military Police, upon fulfilment of their service duties according to their competence, have a right to examine a person at objects in possession of the Ministry of Defence, protected objects, and in places of military events, if there are reasonable suspicions that the relevant person has committed an offence, in order to ascertain whether the person is under the influence of alcohol, narcotic, psychotropic or toxic substances in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations.

[11 March 2010; 19 February 2015; 25 February 2016; 18 May 2017; 30 May 2019]

Section 7. Tasks of the Land Forces

[11 March 2010]

Section 7.¹ Tasks of the National Guard

[2 November 2006]

Section 8. Tasks of the Naval Forces

[11 March 2010]

Section 9. Tasks of the Air Forces

[11 March 2010]

Section 10. Security Services of the Saeima and the President

[27 November 2008]

Section 11. Special Operations Forces and the Tasks thereof

[20 December 2001]

Section 12. Military Police and the Tasks thereof

[11 March 2010]

Section 12.¹ Latvian National Defence Academy and the Tasks thereof

[11 March 2010]

Section 12.² Training and Doctrine Command

[11 March 2010]

Section 12.³ Logistics Command

[11 March 2010]

Chapter III
Management of the National Armed Forces

Section 13. Management of the National Armed Forces

(1) The management of the National Armed Forces shall be exercised by the Commander of the National Armed Forces who is subordinated to the Minister for Defence. The Commander of the National Armed Forces is the most senior military official in the State. The Commander of the National Armed Forces shall have a deputy who shall fulfil his duties in the Commander's absence. The deputy of the Commander of the National Armed Forces is the Chief of the Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces.

(2) In the cases laid down in Section 49.¹ of the Law On Aviation the Prime Minister has all the authority of the Minister for Defence laid down in the laws and regulations of the Republic of Latvia.

(3) In order to ensure performance of the tasks related to membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and European Union, the Commander of the National Armed Forces, upon co-ordination with the Minister for Defence and taking into account the management system of the National Armed Forces and the competence of other institutions and officials laid down in laws and regulations, may delegate the management of individual National Armed Force units or individual soldiers to the military management of the armed forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and European Union and also jointly established military units.

(4) The principle of undivided authority shall be observed in the National Armed Forces.

[25 March 2004; 28 April 2005; 2 November 2006; 27 November 2008; 11 March 2010; 5 June 2014; 18 May 2017]

Section 14. Commander of the National Armed Forces

(1) The Commander of the National Armed Forces shall be confirmed in office for a period of four years and removed from office by the Saeima on the basis of a proposal from the President.

(2) The Commander of the National Armed Forces shall:

1) be responsible for the preparedness of the National Armed Forces, their mobilisation and combat readiness, as well as their readiness to carry out specified tasks;

2) ensure continuous leadership of the National Armed Forces, and the planning of tasks and the control of the implementation thereof;

3) be responsible for the development of the State Defence Operational Plan, and of the regulatory documents for the readiness of the National Armed Forces for the defence of the State and the implementation thereof;

4) be responsible for submitting of a timely request to the Minister for Defence regarding the necessary personnel, materials and technical facilities and financial resources for the implementation of the tasks of the National Armed Forces, and the effective utilisation of such resources;

5) determine the tasks of the National Armed Forces units.

(3) During a period of war or in a state of emergency the Commander of the National Armed Forces or an authorised person thereof shall participate in Cabinet meetings with advisory rights.

[24 February 2005; 11 March 2010; 19 February 2016; 25 February 2016]

Section 15. Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces

(1) The Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces is an institution of the Commander of the National Armed Forces which ensures for the Commander the possibility of exercising continuous management, as well as a co-operation organisation in the circumstances of combat operations.

(2) The Chief of the Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces shall lead the Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces. The Chief of the Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces shall be appointed and removed from office by the Cabinet, on the basis of a proposal from the Minister for Defence.

[24 February 2005; 11 March 2010]

Section 16. Commanders of Individual Forces in the National Armed Forces

[11 March 2010]

Section 16.¹ By-laws of Units of the National Armed Forces

The Commander of the National Armed Forces shall approve the by-laws of regular forces of the National Armed Forces. The commanders of the units of regular forces of the National Armed Forces shall approve the by-laws of the units subordinate thereto. The Constitution of the National Defence Academy of Latvia shall be approved in accordance with the Law on Institutions of Higher Education.

[19 February 2015]

Chapter IV
Co-operation, Funding and Control of the National Armed Forces

Section 17. Co-operation of the National Armed Forces

(1) The National Armed Forces shall co-operate with State, local government, and private institutions in accordance with the procedures laid down in law.

(2) In an emergency situation the involvement of units of the National Armed Forces in the provision of assistance to the civil defence system shall occur by order of the Minister for Defence.

(3) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which the National Armed Forces shall participate in emergency, firefighting and rescue operations, as well as in the measures for the elimination of the consequences caused by emergency situations.

(4) In the case of the threat of terrorism the Minister for Defence, upon request of the Minister for the Interior, shall order the Commander of the National Armed Forces to provide support to the measures led by the State Security Service for the prevention of the threat of terrorism or the combating thereof, determining the tasks to be performed, the time and place. The leader of the measures referred to is responsible for the orders issued to the units of the National Armed Forces involved in the measures for the prevention of the threat of terrorism or the combating thereof.

(5) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which the National Armed Forces shall be involved in destruction of explosive devices or in performance of destruction works on dry land in peacetime.

[24 February 2005; 6 December 2007; 27 November 2008; 11 March 2010; 19 February 2015; 30 May 2019]

Section 18. Funding and Supply of the National Armed Forces

(1) The National Armed Forces shall be funded from the State budget, except for the Bank of Latvia Defence Administration, which shall be funded from the Bank of Latvia funds.

(2) The National Armed Forces shall be supplied with materials and technical resources through a unified procurement and supply system. The Minister for Defence shall approve the procurement regulations. The Commander of the National Armed Forces shall determine the internal supply procedures for the National Armed Forces. The Bank of Latvia Defence Administration shall be supplied with materials and technical resources and, in co-ordination with the Ministry of Defence, the procedures for supply shall be determined by the Bank of Latvia.

(3) The movable and immovable property used by the National Armed Forces is State property, which is transferred to the possession of the Ministry of Defence. The expenses of use of such property shall be covered by funds from the State budget allocated to the Ministry of Defence.

4) [19 February 2015];

(5) Centralised procurement for the needs of the National Armed Forces shall be carried out and the construction shall be organised by the State Centre for Defence Military Objects and Procurement.

[20 December 2001; 11 March 2010; 19 February 2015; 30 May 2019]

Section 19. Control of the Activities of the National Armed Forces

(1) The civilian control of the activities of the National Armed Forces within the scope of their competence shall be performed by the Minister for Defence, the State Audit Office, the Cabinet, the President and the Saeima.

(2) The internal control of the activities of the National Armed Forces shall be performed by the Commander of the National Armed Forces.

Chapter V
Planning of Development and Activities of the National Armed Forces

[20 September 2001]

Section 20. Planning of Development of the National Armed Forces

(1) The development of the National Armed Forces shall be planned and the development plan of the National Armed Forces observing military planning procedures shall be developed by the Ministry of Defence on the basis of the State Defence Concept, the State Defence Operational Plan and the recommendations of the Commander of the National Armed Forces.

(2) The following shall be determined in the development plan of the National Armed Forces:

1) the development objectives, the capabilities to be developed and action in the long-term (for 12 years) of the National Armed Forces;

2) the development priorities, tasks, terms of performance, as well as the mutual connection in the planning and budget development in the middle-term (for four years).

(3) The development plan of the National Armed Forces shall be approved by the Cabinet every four years. The Minister for Defence, where necessary, shall prepare amendments to the development plan of the National Armed Forces and submit them to the Cabinet for approval.

(4) On the basis of the development plan of the National Armed Forces, the Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces shall each year develop the annual development plan of the National Armed Forces in which the tasks and measures of the National Armed Forces for the next year shall be determined in accordance with the funds allocated. The annual development plan of the National Armed Forces shall be approved by the Minister for Defence.

[11 March 2010]

Section 21. National Armed Forces Mobilisation Plan

(1) The National Armed Forces mobilisation plan shall be developed for the case of a state of emergency or a period of war. It shall include the partial or full expansion in combat readiness of the National Armed Forces, and determine the management, duties, procedures and materials and technical facilities of the mobilisation.

(2) The National Armed Forces mobilisation plan shall be:

1) developed by the Ministry of Defence;

2) approved by the Cabinet.

[11 March 2010]

Chapter VI
Administrative Offences in the Field of National Defence and Competence in Administrative Offence Proceedings

[3 October 2019 / Chapter shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 12 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 22. Unauthorised Entry in Military Sites or Protected Objects of the National Armed Forces

For unauthorised entry in military sites or protected objects of the National Armed Forces, a fine of up to three hundred units of fine shall be imposed.

[3 October 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 12 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 23. Damaging or Destruction of Military Site Equipment

For the damaging or destruction of military site equipment, a fine of up to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed.

[3 October 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 12 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 24. Competence in Administrative Offence Proceedings

Administrative offence proceedings for the administrative offences referred to in this Chapter shall be conducted by the Military Police.

[3 October 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 12 of Transitional Provisions]

Transitional Provisions

1. With the coming into force of this Law, Chapter I, Sections 1-8 and Chapter II of the law On the Defence Forces (Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1992, Nos. 46/47/48; Latvijas Republikas Saeimas un Ministru Kabineta Ziņotājs, 1994, Nos. 13, 23; 1995, No. 2; 1996, No. 14; 1997, Nos. 6, 20; 1999, No. 14), are repealed.

2. With the coming into force of this Law, Chapter II and Section 10, Paragraph eight of the law On State Defence (Latvijas Republikas Saeimas un Ministru Kabineta Ziņotājs, 1995, Nos. 2, 21; 1996, No. 6; 1997, No. 6), are repealed.

3. Amendments to Section 8, Clause 4 regarding the co-ordination and performance of rescue operations at sea shall come into force on 1 January 2002.

[20 September 2001]

4. [24 February 2005]

5. [24 February 2005]

6. Until the day of the coming into force of the Cabinet Regulation referred to in Section 12, Paragraph two, Clause 3 of this Law, but not later than until 1 July 2009, Cabinet Regulation No. 587 of 9 August 2005, Procedures by which the Security Service of the Saeima and the President shall Ensure the Protection (Security Guard) of Foreign and International Organisation Representatives Invited by the Saeima and the President, shall be in force insofar as it is not in contradiction with this Law.

[27 November 2008]

7. Until 31 December 2011 military employees with whom employment contracts have been entered into until 31 March 2010 shall also be included in the composition of the personnel of the National Armed Forces during peacetime in addition to that referred to in Section 5, Paragraph two of this Law, as well as in the composition of the personnel for participation in international operations.

[11 March 2010; 16 December 2010]

8. Until the day of the coming into force of the Cabinet regulations referred to in Section 6.¹, Paragraph one, Clause 5, Paragraph two, Clause 3 and Section 17, Paragraph three but not later than until 30 June 2010, the following Cabinet regulations shall be in force, insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law:

1) Cabinet Regulation No.126 of 19 March 2002, Procedures by which the State Border Guard shall Perform Guarding of the State Sea Border utilising Technical Means, Craft and Aircraft of the National Armed Forces;

2) Cabinet Regulation No.113 of 10 February 2009, Procedures by which the National Armed Forces shall Participate in Emergency, Firefighting and Rescue operations, as well as in the Elimination of the Consequences Caused by Emergency Situations;

3) Cabinet Regulation No.535 of 17 June 2009, Procedures by which the Military Police shall Ensure the Protection (Security Guard) of Foreign and International Organisation Representatives invited by the President.

[11 March 2010]

9. If a recommendation for the privatisation of the immovable properties referred to in Section 18, Paragraph four of this Law is received until 31 March 2010, this shall be examined in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations.

[11 March 2010]

10. Until 30 June 2010 the Military Police, in addition to the measures laid down in Section 6.¹, Paragraph two of this Law shall ensure protection (security guard) of Members of the Saeima and the Presidium of the Saeima, as well as the institutions (objects) of the Saeima; in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Presidium of the Saeima, as well as the protection (security guard) of foreign and international organisation representatives invited by the Saeima in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

[11 March 2010]

11. Until 31 December 2011 the Cabinet shall approve the development plan of the National Armed Forces, which has been prepared in accordance with that laid down in Section 20, Paragraph two of this Law.

[11 March 2010]

12. Chapter VI of this Law shall come into force concurrently with the Law on Administrative Liability.

[3 October 2019]

This Law was adopted by the Saeima on 4 December 1999.

President V.Vīķe-Freiberga

Rīga, 24 November 1999

¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2021 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)