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

Law on the Coat of Arms of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme, and Zemgale

Section 1. The purpose of this Law is to determine the legal protection and use of the coats of arms of the cultural and historical (historically ethnographic) regions referred to in Article 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia - Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme, and Zemgale - (hereinafter also - the coat of arms) as national symbols.

Section 2. Coat of arms of Vidzeme - a silver griffin with a sword of the same colour in the right hand, on a red field. The image of the coat of arms and its outline is provided in Annex 1 to this Law.

Section 3. Coat of arms of Latgale - a silver griffin with a sword of the same colour in the right hand, turned in the opposite direction on a blue field. The image of the coat of arms and its outline is provided in Annex 2 to this Law.

Section 4. Coat of arms of Kurzeme - a red lion turned in the opposite direction on a silver field. The image of the coat of arms and its outline is provided in Annex 3 to this Law.

Section 5. Coat of arms of Zemgale - silver elk on a blue field. The image of the coat of arms and its outline is provided in Annex 4 to this Law.

Section 6. The coat of arms may be created in any form which is clearly visible and which ensures its conformity with the relevant description of the coat of arms and the image or outline appended to the law.

Section 7. The coat of arms shall be used in the cases provided for in the law and Cabinet regulations, and also by such State and local government authorities for which such right is determined by an order of the President which has been issued, taking into account an opinion of the State Heraldry Commission. The order shall be co-signed by the relevant member of the Cabinet.

Section 8. Private individuals have the right to use the coat of arms, guaranteeing proper respect towards it, except for the cases when the use of the coat of arms misleads regarding the legal status of the user.

Section 9. (1) For the violation of the provisions for the use of the coat of arms of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme, or Zemgale, a fine of up to forty-five units of fine shall be imposed on heads of institutions of public entities or on legal persons.

(2) For the use of the coat of arms of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme, or Zemgale by misleading regarding the legal status of the user thereof, a fine of up to forty-five units of fine shall be imposed on natural or legal persons.

(3) For displaying obvious disrespect towards the coat of arms of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme, or Zemgale, a fine of up to ninety units of fine shall be imposed.

[30 May 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 2 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 10. The administrative penalty for displaying obvious disrespect towards the coat of arms of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme, or Zemgale shall be imposed regardless of the fact against which visual rendition of the coats of arms disrespect was displayed.

[30 May 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 2 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 11. Administrative offence proceedings for the offences referred to in Section 9 of this Law shall be conducted by the State Police, the municipal police, the administrative commission or sub-commission of a local government.

[30 May 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 2 of Transitional Provisions]

Transitional Provisions

[30 May 2019]

1. The State and local government authorities, and also private individuals shall ensure the compliance of the use of the coat of arms with the requirements of Sections 7 and 8 of this Law within one year from the day of coming into force of this Law or shall discontinue the use of the coat of arms.

[30 May 2019]

2. Sections 9, 10, and 11 of this Law shall come into force concurrently with the Law on Administrative Liability.

[30 May 2019]

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 22 March 2012.

President A. Bērziņš

Rīga, 11 April 2012

Law on the Coat of Arms of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme, and Zemgale
Annex 1

Image and Outline of the Coat of Arms of Vidzeme

Law on the Coat of Arms of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme, and Zemgale
Annex 2

Image and Outline of the Coat of Arms of Latgale

Law on the Coat of Arms of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme, and Zemgale
Annex 3

Image and Outline of the Coat of Arms of Kurzeme

Law on the Coat of Arms of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme, and Zemgale
Annex 4

Image and Outline of the Coat of Arms of Zemgale

¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2022 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)