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

On the Prohibition against Organisation of Specific Public Events on 9 May

Section 1. The purpose of this Law is:

1) to protect the interests of the State and the public safety, prevent disorders, safeguard public health and morality;

2) to prevent the belittling of and threat to the values of Latvia as a democratic and national state, including social division, glorification of war, military aggression, totalitarianism, violence, and also false representation of historical events;

3) to show solidarity with the Ukrainian nation whose national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity are threatened as a result of Russia's military aggression, and to commemorate those who have suffered and died in Ukraine.

Section 2. This Law hereby stipulates that on 9 May it is prohibited to organise public entertainment and festivity events, meetings, processions, and pickets (hereinafter - the public events) in public outdoor spaces throughout the territory of Latvia, except for such public events which correspond to the purpose specified in Section 1 of this Law.

Section 3. If the public event does not correspond to the purpose specified in Section 1 of this Law and the organisation thereof in accordance with legal acts requires a permit from a local government, the local government shall not issue the relevant permit.

Section 4. The use of pyrotechnic articles shall be prohibited all day on 9 May and also until 7 a.m. on 10 May.

Transitional Provision

A local government shall cancel the permit for the organisation of the public event in its administrative territory on 9 May if such permit has been issued until the day of coming into force of this Law, and it shall reimburse the recipient of the permit the fee for the organisation of public events in public spaces.

The Law shall come into force on the day following its proclamation.

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 20 April 2023.

President E. Levits

Rīga, 26 April 2023

¹The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2023 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)