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

Mobilisation Law

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. Terms Used in this Law

The following terms are used in this Law:

1) mobilisation - purposefully planned and prepared State military and civil defence measures for the prevention of endangerment to the State or the eradication of consequences thereof by utilising specific human, material and financial resources;

2) mobilisation request - a document in which a request for mobilisation has been expressed, the mobilisation task and duty has been stated and which expresses the needs of the National Armed Forces and the State civil defence system for mobilisation resources in case of endangerment to the State;

3) deferred supplies - goods, materials and services the necessity of which is previously planned and regarding the supply and provision of which relevant contracts are entered into, but which are actually received only in case of mobilisation;

4) defence industry - merchants and scientific institutions that are engaged in the development, production, improvement, storage, transportation, technical maintenance, repair, or disposal of military or dual-use technologies or items and also provide services related to such activities;

5) defence industry development support - a set of well-targeted and organised development support measures at national and international level which are taken to extend the base of mobilisation resources and which are applicable in the defence industry to activities such as applied research, knowledge transfer, development, testing and putting into production of new technologies or products, and also promotion of export capacity, international cooperation and recognition;

6) security of supply - a guarantee of supply in respect of the supply of material and technical stock or services necessary for the National Armed Forces within the scope of which a possibility of third party intervention is reduced to the maximum possible extent and which is necessary to ensure performance of the tasks entrusted to the National Armed Forces in accordance with this Law and other national laws and regulations or international commitments of the Republic of Latvia.

[20 May 2004; 19 December 2019]

Section 2. Purpose of the Law

The purpose of the Law is as follows:

1) specify the legal and organisational grounds for the preparation and implementation of the mobilisation of the National Armed Forces and the State civil defence system, the duties and responsibility of State and local government institutions, legal persons governed by private law, and also natural persons regarding mobilisation matters;

2) promote targeted and coordinated extension of the basis of mobilisation resources and also the security of supply of material and technical stock and services necessary for the performance of the tasks of the National Armed Forces by facilitating the implementation of appropriate defence industry development support measures.

[19 December 2019]

Section 3. Resources and Types of Mobilisation

(1) Mobilisation shall comprise the National Armed Forces, the State civil defence system and the national economy.

(2) Citizens and non-citizens of Latvia (hereinafter - the residents), material and financial resources of the State (also resources situated in foreign states), local governments and legal persons governed by private law shall form the mobilisation resources. If necessary, material resources owned by residents may also be used as mobilisation resources.

(3) Types of mobilisation shall be as follows:

1) general mobilisation shall be announced in the state of emergency or in the event of war by involving all the mobilisation resources and using them for the needs of State defence in the amount specified in mobilisation plans;

2) partial mobilisation shall be announced in a state of emergency or exceptional state by limited involvement of the mobilisation resources for the prevention of endangerment to the State or the eradication of the consequences thereof;

3) local mobilisation shall be announced in a state of emergency situation in a specified administrative territory;

4) mobilisation of national guardsmen and reserve soldiers shall be announced in order to ensure the performance of the tasks specified in the State Defence Plan and the State Defence Operational Plan.

[11 May 2006; 19 December 2019; 20 May 2021]

Section 4. Preparation and Implementation of Mobilisation

(1) Mobilisation shall be prepared and implemented in accordance with the National Security Law, this Law and the regulatory enactments of the Cabinet.

(2) Preparation of mobilisation shall include:

1) development of laws and regulations governing mobilisation;

2) development of the mobilisation plan and other documents stipulated by the Cabinet;

3) preparation of the mobilisation management system for work in case of mobilisation;

4) preparation of State and local government institutions for work in case of mobilisation;

5) preparation of the National Armed Forces and civil defence units for mobilisation;

6) establishment of the mobilisation resources necessary for the mobilisation of the National Armed Forces and civil defence units;

7) establishment, accumulation, maintenance and renewal of State material reserves;

8) preparation of the catastrophe medicine system, emergency medical assistance and medicinal product provision system for work in case of mobilisation;

9) preparation of the mass media for work in case of mobilisation;

10) examinations of mobilisation readiness and mobilisation training;

11) training and qualification improvement of mobilisation experts;

12) international co-operation regarding mobilisation planning and preparation matters;

13) development of the policy for defence industry development support;

14) development of the laws and regulations governing the defence industry development support;

15) preparation and implementation of measures for the defence industry development support;

16) subjecting a national guardsman to increased readiness regime.

(3) Implementation of mobilisation shall include:

1) reorganisation of State and local government institutions for work in case of endangerment to the State;

2) mobilisation of the National Armed Forces and civil defence units;

3) measures for the re-orientation of the national economy from the circumstances of peacetime to work in case of endangerment to the State;

4) rationed supply of residents with food, industrial and medical goods, provision of emergency medical assistance, communications, transport and other services in case of endangerment to the State;

5) provision of the National Armed Forces, the State Fire and Rescue Service, the State Police, the State Border Guard, the State Emergency Medical Service, and civil defence units to be mobilised with energy resources in case of endangerment to the State;

6) ensuring work of the mass media in case of endangerment to the State.

[11 May 2006; 16 September 2010; 19 December 2019; 6 October 2022]

Section 5. International Co-operation in Mobilisation Matters

The Republic of Latvia shall implement international co-operation in mobilisation matters on the basis of generally accepted international principles of security and defence of the State and people in compliance with international agreements and other international regulatory enactments.

Chapter II
Mobilisation Management, Mobilisation Announcement and Demobilisation

Section 6. Mobilisation Management System

(1) The mobilisation management system is an integral part of the State defence management system.

(2) The mobilisation management system shall ensure the management of mobilisation of the National Armed Forces, State civil defence system and national economy in case of endangerment to the State.

(3) The mobilisation management system shall consist of three levels:

1) the State level;

2) the level of the National Armed Forces and civil defence system;

3) the level of local governments.

[20 May 2004]

Section 7. Mobilisation Management Structure

(1) Mobilisation units may be established or mobilisation workers shall be assigned for the planning, preparation and implementation of mobilisation in State and local government institutions.

(2) The Cabinet shall determine the tasks, authorisations and duties of officials of the State and local government institutions, mobilisation units and mobilisation workers involved in the planning, preparation and implementation of mobilisation, as well as the principles of operation in peacetime and in case of endangerment to the State.

[20 May 2004; 11 May 2006]

Section 8. Announcement of Mobilisation or Demobilisation

(1) The Cabinet shall take a decision to announce mobilisation or demobilisation and shall announce mobilisation or demobilisation. If the Prime Minister determines that the Cabinet cannot meet within an hour in order to take a decision to announce mobilisation and to announce mobilisation, he or she shall take a decision to announce mobilisation and shall announce mobilisation.

(2) Mobilisation shall be announced by utilising all types of means of communications and mass media.

(3) The Prime Minister shall notify the Saeima in writing regarding the announcement of mobilisation or demobilisation within twenty-four hours.

Chapter III
Regulation of Planning, Preparation and Implementation of Mobilisation, Competence of State and Local Government Institutions in Mobilisation Matters

[11 May 2006]

Section 9. Regulation of Planning, Preparation and Implementation of Mobilisation

In order to regulate the planning, preparation and implementation of mobilisation, the Cabinet shall issue the following regulations:

1) [20 May 2021];

2) regarding the procedures for the establishment of civil defence units to be mobilised and financing thereof, by determining:

a) the civil defence units to be mobilised, tasks and the material and technical facilities thereof, as well as the material and technical facilities for the civil defence units within the scope of the competence of ministries,

b) the provision and organisation of training;

c) the procedures for the financing of the establishment and development of civil defence units to be mobilised,

d) the procedures for mobilisation in case of endangerment to the State,

e) the tasks and obligations of State and local government institutions and legal persons governed by private law in case of mobilisation of civil defence units;

3) regarding the institutional structures necessary for mobilisation, the planning and utilising of material and financial resources, by determining:

a) the units in State and local government institutions necessary for the planning, preparation and implementation of mobilisation, their tasks and duties,

b) the procedures for the planning and utilisation of the material and financial resources necessary for mobilisation,

c) the tasks and duties of State and local government institutions and legal persons governed by private law in the planning and utilisation of the material and financial resources necessary for mobilisation;

4) regarding mobilisation plans, by determining:

a) the mobilisation plans and planning system,

b) the scope of mobilisation planning in State and local government institutions and the procedures for the co-ordination of planning,

c) the procedures for the approval and clarification of mobilisation plans,

d) the samples of document forms of the mobilisation plans;

5) regarding deferred supplies, determining:

a) the type of material resources and services for the needs of deferred supplies,

b) the procedures for the planning and fulfilment of deferred supplies;

6) regarding provision of residents with food in case of endangerment to the State, by determining:

a) the norms for the provision of residents with food in case of endangerment to the State,

b) the procedures for the planning of provision with food, as well as issuance and control of issuance of food in the State,

c) the tasks and duties of State and local government institutions in provision of residents with food in case of endangerment to the State;

6¹) the norms for the provision of residents with essential goods in case of endangerment to the State, by determining:

a) the essential goods, with which residents must be ensured in case of endangerment to the State,

b) the procedures for the planning of provision with essential goods, as well as issuance and control of issuance of essential goods in the State,

c) the tasks and duties of State and local government institutions in provision of residents with essential goods;

7) the provision of the National Armed Forces, the State Fire and Rescue Service, the State Police, the State Border Guard, the State Emergency Medical Service, and civil defence units to be mobilised with energy resources in case of endangerment to the State, by determining:

a) the procedures for the supply with gas and electricity,

b) the amount of fuel reserves, the procedures for the establishment, maintenance and renewal thereof,

c) the procedures for the planning, fulfilment and control of fulfilment of mobilisation requests for provision with fuel,

d) the tasks and duties of State and local government institutions in provision of the National Armed Forces, the State Fire and Rescue Service, the State Police, the State Border Guard, the State Emergency Medical Service, and civil defence units to be mobilised with fuel;

8) [20 May 2004];

9) regarding the provision of emergency medical assistance and counter-epidemic measures, the preparation and work of a medical product provision system in case of endangerment to the State, by determining:

a) the amount of emergency medical assistance to residents and soldiers of the National Armed Forces and the organisation of provision thereof,

b) the procedures for the planning and carrying out of counter-epidemic measures,

c) the procedures for the preparation and work of the medicinal product provision system in case of endangerment to the State,

d) the tasks and duties of State, local government and private medical institutions in provision of emergency medical assistance and carrying out of the counter-epidemic measures in case of endangerment to the State;

10) regarding the operation of hydro-meteorological services in case of endangerment to the State, by determining:

a) the planning of the work of hydro-meteorological services,

b) the work procedures of hydro-meteorological services in case of endangerment to the State;

11) regarding mobilisation requests, by determining:

a) the planning procedures of mobilisation requests,

b) the procedures for the achievement of the task specified in the mobilisation request and the performance control,

c) the procedures for the calculation of costs and losses caused in connection with the fulfilment of the mobilisation request, as well as for the payment of compensation for costs and losses,

d) the procedures by which the lawfulness of the determination of the mobilisation request shall be provided,

e) the samples of document forms of the mobilisation request;

12) regarding the guaranteeing the work of the post office, radio, television and other mass media in case of endangerment to the State, by determining:

a) the procedures for the ensuring of continuous work of the post office in case of endangerment to the State,

b) the procedures for the guaranteeing the continuous work of the radio, television and other mass media in case of endangerment to the State;

13) regarding examinations of mobilisation readiness and mobilisation training, by determining:

a) the planning, preparation and procedural requirements of examinations of mobilisation readiness and mobilisation training;

b) the criteria for the evaluation of the results of mobilisation readiness examinations and mobilisation training,

c) the samples of document forms of the examinations of mobilisation readiness and mobilisation training plans,

d) the norms of national economy resources to be involved in the mobilisation training;

14) regarding the procedures by which the Ministry of Defence conducts project competitions for development support of military or dual-use items by prescribing the following:

a) the procedures for preparing and announcing grant projects;

b) the procedures for evaluating project applications and taking decisions on winners of competitions;

c) the procedures for awarding aid and ensuring control in respect of the use of the provided aid according to the intended purposes.

[20 May 2004; 11 May 2006; 16 September 2010; 19 December 2019; 20 May 2021]

Section 10. Competence of State and Local Government Institutions in Mobilisation Matters

(1) The competence of State and local government institutions in mobilisation matters is specified as follows:

1) the Cabinet shall coordinate the operation of the mobilisation system in case of endangerment to the State;

2) the Ministry of Defence shall plan, prepare and manage the mobilisation of the National Armed Forces in case of endangerment to the State;

3) the Ministry of Interior shall plan, prepare and manage the mobilisation of the civil defence units in case of endangerment to the State;

4) the Ministry of Economics shall plan, prepare and manage the mobilisation of the national economy in case of endangerment to the State.

(2) The Cabinet shall determine the competence of other State and local government institutions involved in the planning, preparation and implementation of the mobilisation of the National Armed Forces, the civil defence units and the national economy sectors.

[11 May 2006; 20 May 2021]

Section 10.¹ Cooperation with Non-governmental Organisations of the Defence Industry

(1) In developing and implementing the policy for defence industry development support, the Ministry of Defence shall consult with non-governmental organisations of the defence industry. The non-governmental organisation of the defence industry comprising merchants and scientific institutions with the largest number of employees shall appoint their representatives to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Industrial Advisory Group.

(2) A person who corresponds to the requirements laid down in the law for receipt of a special permit for access to an official secret may be appointed as a representative to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Industrial Advisory Group. Where necessary, the representative of the non-governmental organisation of the defence industry who has been appointed to cooperate with the Ministry of Defence shall also receive a special permit for access to an official secret. The special permit for access to an official secret shall be issued in accordance with the procedures laid down in the law On Official Secret.

[19 December 2019]

Chapter IV
Duties of State and Local Government Institutions, Legal Persons Governed by Private Law, and Residents in Preparation and Implementation of Mobilisation

[11 May 2006]

Section 11. Duties of State and Local Government Institutions and Legal Persons Governed by Private Law

(1) State and local government institutions and legal persons governed by private law, to which mobilisation requests are specified, have the following duties:

1) to fulfil the mobilisation requests;

2) to develop mobilisation plans in conformity with their competence.

(2) In case of the announcement of mobilisation, when fulfilling the mobilisation requests, State and local government institutions and legal persons governed by private law have a duty to transfer the property specified in the mobilisation request to the holding of the National Armed Forces and civil defence units. The abovementioned property shall be returned to the owner thereof after the announcement of demobilisation. The actual losses caused to the property shall be compensated to the owner. The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the payment of the compensation for losses after the announcement of demobilisation.

(3) Legal persons governed by private law have no right to refuse to fulfil the requests of mobilisation if such requests conform to the relevant profile of activities or if conversion of activities is possible. Expenditures and losses caused while fulfilling the mobilisation requests shall be covered from the State budget in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

(4) State and local government institutions, as well as legal persons governed by private law have a duty to provide information necessary for the planning of mobilisation.

[20 May 2004; 11 May 2006]

Section 12. Duties of Residents

(1) Residents have the following duties:

1) in the event of mobilisation to perform that determined in the summons issued by the structural units for the record of the National Armed Forces' reserve;

2) to implement the orders of a local government in the relevant administrative territory in case of mobilisation of the State civil defence system.

(2) In case of the announcement of mobilisation, when implementing the mobilisation requests, residents have a duty to transfer the property specified in the mobilisation request to the holding of the National Armed Forces and civil defence units. The referred to property shall be returned to the owner thereof or (in case of the death of the owner) his or her heirs after the announcement of demobilisation. The actual losses caused to the property shall be compensated to the owner or (in case of death of the owner) his or her heirs. The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the payment of the compensation for losses after the announcement of demobilisation.

[2 November 2006]

Chapter V
Mobilisation of Residents

Section 13. Conscription of Citizens into Active Service

The conscription of Latvian citizens - reserve soldiers and reservists - into the active service in case of mobilisation shall take place in accordance with the Military Service Law according to procedures stipulated by the Cabinet. The mobilisation of national guardsmen shall take place in accordance with the procedures laid down in the National Guard of the Republic of Latvia Law.

[20 May 2021 / The new wording of the Section shall come into force on 3 November 2022. See Transitional Provisions]

Section 14. Mobilisation of Residents in Civil Defence Units and for Implementation of Civil Defence Measures

(1) Residents who are not subject to mobilisation in the National Armed Forces and the State Border Guard in accordance with the mobilisation task shall be subject to mobilisation in the civil defence units and for the implementation of civil defence measures. The persons referred to in Section 14.¹, Paragraphs one and two shall not be subject to mobilisation.

(2) Residents capable of work from individual trades and professions in conformity with the profile of the unit's operations shall be subject to mobilisation in civil defence units.

(3) [20 May 2004]

[20 May 2004; 20 May 2021]

Section 14.¹ Exceptions to the Conscription of Citizens into Active Service and Mobilisation of Residents in Civil Defence Units and Implementation of Civil Defence Measures

(1) The following persons shall not be subject to the mobilisation referred to in Sections 13 and 14 of this Law:

1) the President and an official of the Chancery of the President;

2) a member of the Saeima;

3) the Secretary General of the Saeima Administration and an official specified by the Presidium of the Saeima;

4) a Member of the European Parliament;

5) a European Commissioner;

6) a member of the Cabinet;

7) a State Secretary of a ministry;

8) the Director of the State Chancellery;

9) the Director General of the State Revenue Service;

10) the Treasurer;

11) the Ombudsman;

12) the President, Vice-president, and a member of the Council of Latvijas Banka;

13) the Auditor General and a member of the Council of the State Audit Office;

14) the Chairperson and a member of the Council of the Financial and Capital Market Commission;

15) the Chairperson, the Vice-chairperson, and a member of the National Electronic Mass Media Council;

16) the Chairperson and a member of the Council of the Public Utilities Commission;

17) a judge of the Constitutional Court;

18) a judge of the Supreme Court;

19) a judge of a regional court;

20) a judge of a district (city) court;

21) the Prosecutor General and a prosecutor assigned to a military court;

22) an advocate assigned to a military court;

23) an official with special service ranks and an employee of the institutions of the system of the Ministry of the Interior and the Prisons Administration;

24) an official and an employee of a State security institution;

25) an employee of diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Latvia abroad;

26) a member of a local government;

27) an executive director of a local government;

28) an employee of local government police;

29) an employee of port police;

30) an official and an employee of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau.

(2) Depending on the type, intensity, and nature of endangerment to the State, the Cabinet may decide to apply the exceptions to mobilisation to other officials, employees of State and local government authorities, or officials and employees of bodies governed by public and private law that are involved in the implementation of measures for overcoming endangerment to the State or ensure continuity of operation of critical infrastructure or critical financial services.

(3) The Cabinet shall lay down the procedures for applying the exceptions to the conscription of citizens into active service and mobilisation of residents in civil defence units and implementation of civil defence measures to the persons referred to in Paragraph two of this Section, and also the procedures for informing the structural unit for the record of reserve of the National Armed Forces of the persons referred to in Paragraphs one and two of this Section.

[20 May 2021]

Chapter VI
Examinations of Mobilisation Readiness and Mobilisation Training

Section 15. Examinations of Mobilisation Readiness

(1) In order to determine the readiness of State and local government institutions, the National Armed Forces, civil defence system and national economy for mobilisation, examinations of mobilisation readiness shall be planned and organised without the announcement of mobilisation.

(2) The following have the right to examine mobilisation readiness:

1) the Prime Minister - in the whole territory of the State or a part thereof;

2) ministers (State ministers) - in the institutions subordinate thereto, in commercial companies, and in the institutions included in the mobilisation plans of the relevant sector, as well as the mobilisation readiness of legal persons governed by private law;

3) the heads of local governments - in the institutions of the relevant local government, as well as the mobilisation readiness of legal persons governed by private law that are included in the mobilisation plans of the administrative territory of the local government.

[11 May 2006]

Section 16. Mobilisation Training

(1) In order to prepare for mobilisation and to train the personnel involved in the implementation of mobilisation, mobilisation training shall be planned and organised.

(2) The planning and organisation of mobilisation training is within the competence of ministries and local governments, as well as other institutions stipulated by the Cabinet.

(3) The Cabinet shall issue an order on a 72-hour combat readiness examination, determining a time period for the organisation thereof which does not exceed 30 days.

[11 May 2006; 6 October 2022]

Section 17. Compensation for Losses

Losses caused to State and local government institutions that are subject to the examination of mobilisation readiness or are involved in mobilisation training, to the legal persons governed by private law, as well as to residents shall be covered from the State budget in accordance with the procedures and in the amount stipulated by the Cabinet.

[11 May 2006]

Chapter VII
Liability for Violations of This Law

Section 18. Liability for Violations of This Law

For avoiding mobilisation, intentional hindering of mobilisation operations and intentional failure to fulfil the mobilisation requests the persons at fault shall be held liable in accordance with law.

Transitional Provision

[20 May 2021]

Amendment to Section 13 of this Law regarding the new wording thereof shall enter into force concurrently with the amendments to the National Guard of the Republic of Latvia Law which provide for the procedures for mobilisation of national guardsmen.

[20 May 2021]

The Law shall come into force on 1 January 2005.

[26 November 2003]

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 30 May 2002.

Acting for the President, Chairperson of the Saeima J. Straume

Rīga, 18 June 2002

¹The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2023 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)