Text consolidated by Valsts valodas centrs (State
Language Centre) with amending laws of:
22 February 2001 [shall
come into force from 20 March 2001];
20 June 2002 [shall come into force from 19 July
2002];
25 November 2004 [shall come into force from 22 December
2004];
11 May 2006 [shall come into force from 13 June
2006];
14 July 2011 [shall come into force from 11 August
2011];
18 May 2017 [shall come into force from 14 June
2017].
If a whole or part of a section has been amended, the
date of the amending law appears in square brackets at
the end of the section. If a whole section, paragraph or
clause has been deleted, the date of the deletion appears
in square brackets beside the deleted section, paragraph
or clause.
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The Saeima1 has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following Law:
Status of the Foreign Armed Forces
in the Republic of Latvia
Chapter I
General Provisions
Section 1. Scope of Application of
this Law
(1) This Law prescribes the status of the foreign armed forces
in the Republic of Latvia during the time period while they are
fulfilling service duties within the scope of international
co-operation, as well as the procedures for transit by land of
the foreign armed forces through the Republic of Latvia.
(2) The following persons shall be persons contained in the
foreign armed forces:
1) military personnel who is in the composition of the armed
forces of the relevant foreign country;
2) civilians who are employed in the armed forces of the
relevant foreign country.
(3) A person who is a stateless person or a citizen of such
country, which has not signed the Agreement among the States
Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty and the other States
Participating in the Partnership for Peace regarding the Status
of their Forces, may not be considered a civilian contained in
the foreign armed forces. A citizen or non-citizen of Latvia, as
well as foreigner or a stateless person who has received a
permanent residence permit in the Republic of Latvia may not be
considered a civilian contained in the foreign armed forces.
(4) This Law shall not apply to persons who enjoy privileges
and immunity in the territory of Latvia in accordance with the
1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and 1963 Vienna
Convention on Consular Relations.
[20 June 2002; 25 November
2004]
Section 2. Legal Basis for Residence
of the Foreign Armed Forces
[20 June 2002]
Section 2.1 Legal Basis
for Residence of the Foreign Armed Forces
Units of the foreign armed forces shall reside in the Republic
of Latvia upon implementing co-operation provided for in
international agreements.
[14 July 2011]
Section 2.2 Provision of
Support to the National Armed Forces
(1) Armed forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and
European Union Member States may be involved in the provision of
support to the National Armed Forces in executing tasks assigned
to them in accordance with the National Armed Forces Law. In
providing support to the National Armed Forces in executing tasks
assigned to them, the units of armed forces of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organisation and European Union Member States and
officials thereof have the relevant rights of the National Armed
Forces and officials thereof.
(2) The tasks to be performed by the units of armed forces of
the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and European Union Member
States involved in provision of support to the National Armed
Forces, the time and place of and restrictions on performance
thereof shall be determined by the Commander of the National
Armed Forces or the responsible official appointed by him or
her.
[18 May 2017]
Section 3. Crossing of the State
Border of the Republic of Latvia and Residence in the Republic of
Latvia
(1) The persons contained in the foreign armed forces are
entitled to cross the State border of the Republic of Latvia and
reside in the territory thereof in accordance with the procedures
specified in this Law.
(2) The persons contained in the foreign armed forces shall
present the following documents when crossing the State border of
the Republic of Latvia:
1) the military personnel - passport or other travel document
recognised by the Republic of Latvia and issued by the country
sending the relevant person;
2) civilians - passport.
(3) When crossing the State border of the Republic of Latvia,
the unit commander (responsible person) shall present a list of
the unit staff, which has been approved by the Ministry of
Defence of the Republic of Latvia. Notes regarding crossing the
State border of the Republic of Latvia shall be made on the
list.
(4) Bringing in and control of road transport vehicles,
aircraft and sea-going vessels, as well as cargoes and armaments
shall take place in accordance with the procedures determined in
laws and other regulatory enactments of the Republic of
Latvia.
(5) The persons contained in the foreign armed forces who
reside in the Republic of Latvia, fulfilling service duties
within the scope of international co-operation, need not register
with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of the
Ministry of the Interior.
[20 June 2002; 25 November
2004]
Section 3.1 Transit by
Land of the Foreign Armed Forces through the Territory of the
Republic of Latvia
(1) A decision on transit by land through the Republic of
Latvia of units of the armed forces of the countries other than
Member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or the
European Union (hereinafter - third countries), if the territory
is concurrently to be crossed by military personnel consisting of
more than 500 persons, shall be taken by the Minister for Defence
after co-ordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Ministry of the Interior. If the territory of the Republic of
Latvia is to be concurrently crossed in transit by land by
military personnel of the third countries consisting of more than
500 persons, the decision shall be taken by the Cabinet.
(2) Units of the armed forces of the third countries shall
cross the territory of the Republic of Latvia in transit by land
in escort of the National Armed Forces.
[14 July 2011]
Section 4. Armament and Material and
Technical Provision
(1) Foreign armed forces shall co-ordinate with the Ministry
of Defence of the Republic of Latvia the type and amount of the
armament and material and technical provision thereof to be
brought in by the foreign armed forces in the Republic of
Latvia.
(2) The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia shall
issue a permit to the foreign armed forces for bringing in and
bringing out the armament and perform accounting and control of
the armament brought in according to the co-ordinated lists.
(3) Military equipment shall be transported across the State
border of the Republic of Latvia and in the territory of the
Republic of Latvia unloaded and separately from the ammunition
thereof. If it is provided for in the instructions for use of
military equipment, such equipment shall be transported in
packaging. Armament systems of military equipment shall be
ensured against moving.
(31) Armed forces of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation and European Union Member States may transport
primed military equipment across the internal border of the
Republic of Latvia and in the territory of the Republic of Latvia
in order to ensure measures for the suppression of danger to the
State and if it is provided for in the instructions for use of
military equipment.
(4) Weapons shall be transported across the State border of
the Republic of Latvia and in the territory of the Republic of
Latvia unloaded, in packaging and separately from the ammunition
thereof, if it is not otherwise provided for in the instructions
for use of weapons.
(41) Armed forces of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation and European Union Member States may transport
primed weapons across the internal border of the Republic of
Latvia and in the territory of the Republic of Latvia in order to
ensure measures for the suppression of danger to the State and if
it is provided for in the instructions for use of weapons.
(5) Tracked vehicles shall be moved in the territory of the
Republic of Latvia with special vehicles intended for the
transportation thereof, if such vehicles are not suitable or
tracks are not equipped for driving a road covered with
asphalt.
[20 June 2002; 25 November 2004; 18
May 2017]
Section 5. Provisions for Carrying
and Use of Firearms
Persons contained in the foreign armed forces, during
residence thereof in the Republic of Latvia, are entitled to
carry and use firearms solely for fulfilment of service
duties.
[20 June 2002]
Section 6. Jurisdiction
(1) Persons contained in the foreign armed forces, during
residence thereof in the Republic of Latvia, shall comply with
the regulatory enactments of the Republic of Latvia and the
international agreements binding on the Republic of Latvia.
(2) If a person contained in the foreign armed forces commits
an administrative violation in the Republic of Latvia, the
Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia may request that
the management of the armed forces of the relevant foreign
country brings the person out from the territory of Latvia before
the specified term.
(3) If a law enforcement institution of Latvia has detained a
person contained in the foreign armed forces, the Ministry of
Defence of the Republic of Latvia shall be notified thereof.
[20 June 2002]
Chapter II
Organisation of Military Training and Manoeuvres
[20 June 2002]
Chapter III
Special Provisions
Section 10. Electronic
Communications
(1) Services of the public electronic communications network
shall be provided in accordance with the Electronic
Communications Law.
(2) For the purpose of achieving the objective put forward the
foreign armed forces may install and use means of electronic
communications (also radio communications systems) after receipt
of a permit, observing the radio frequency spectrum band
allocation by radio communications types and classification by
radio communications systems specified in the national radio
frequency plan, as well as the utilisation of the radio frequency
bands by general authorisations.
(3) Permits for the installation and use of radio
communications systems of the foreign armed forces shall be
issued by the State joint stock company "Electronic
Communications Office" (hereinafter - Electronic Communications
Office) upon a relevant request of the Ministry of Defence of the
Republic of Latvia. Such permits in relation to individual radio
communications equipment or systems or also individual types of
radio communications shall be issued by the Ministry of Defence
of the Republic of Latvia, if the Ministry of Defence of the
Republic of Latvia has entered into a relevant agreement thereof
with the Electronic Communications Office.
(4) Permits for the installation and use of radio
communications systems of the foreign armed forces in radio
frequency bands, which in the national radio frequency plan are
designated solely for the operation of the radio communication
systems intended for the needs of State defence in conformity
with the radio communication types specified in the national
radio frequency plan, shall be issued by the Ministry of Defence
of the Republic of Latvia, taking into account the results of
international radio frequency co-ordination notified by the
Electronic Communications Office, if international co-ordination
is necessary, and the conditions of an international agreement
binding on Latvia, if such agreement has been entered into.
(5) If it is necessary to perform additional measures in order
to avoid interference in the electronic communications network of
Latvia, which might be caused by a specific radio communications
equipment or system of the foreign armed forces, or also other
specific electrical devices, the Ministry of Defence of the
Republic of Latvia shall supervise the operation of such
equipment of the foreign armed forces, including determine the
provisions, restrictions or prohibitions for the use of a
specific radio communications equipment or system, or also the
type of radio communications.
[14 July 2011]
Section 11. Driver's Licences of Persons Contained
in the Foreign Armed Forces
A driver's licence or a permit issued in the country which
sends the person contained in the foreign armed forces shall be
recognised as valid for driving the relevant vehicles in the
Republic of Latvia.
[20 June 2002]
Section 12. Movement of Vehicles of
the Foreign Armed Forces in the Territory of Latvia
(1) Vehicles and their trailers shall be registered in the
relevant foreign country. These vehicles shall bear registration
number plates of the relevant foreign country, which conform to
the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, and the
identification sign of the relevant country or also a temporary
identification sign issued by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate
of the Republic of Latvia.
(2) The recording and registration of vehicles and their
trailers brought in the territory of Latvia from abroad for a
time period up to one month shall be performed by the Ministry of
Defence of the Republic of Latvia.
(3) The persons contained in the foreign armed forces shall
abide by the road traffic provisions.
(4) In cases where dangerous goods are transported, for which
a special permit is necessary, the Ministry of Defence of the
Republic of Latvia shall be responsible for the receipt of such
permit in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Latvia and
other regulatory enactments.
Section 12.1 Military
Training or Manoeuvres
Military training and manoeuvres shall take place in training
centres, training areas and other territories of the Latvian
National Armed Forces. If training takes place outside the
training centres and training areas of the Latvian National Armed
Forces, they shall be co-ordinated with the owner of the
territory.
[14 July 2011]
Section 13. Settlement of Disputes
and Claims
Disputes and claims between the Republic of Latvia and the
relevant foreign country, units of the armed forces of which are
located in the territory of the Republic of Latvia, shall be
solved through negotiation.
[20 June 2002]
Section 14. Exemption from Taxes
Upon being located in the territory of Latvia, foreign armed
forces and the persons contained therein shall be exempted
from:
1) customs duty, value added tax and excise duty for the
armament and material and technical provision brought in the
Republic of Latvia;
2) any income taxes specified in the Republic of Latvia in
relation to income obtained from fulfilling service duties.
Income obtained from other activities in the Republic of Latvia
shall not be exempted by this Law from the taxes provided for in
laws of the Republic of Latvia.
[20 June 2002]
Section 15. Health Protection
The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia shall take
measures in order to ensure the necessary sanitary hygienic
conditions at the locations of units of the foreign armed
forces.
Section 16. Environmental
Protection
Units of the foreign armed forces shall take measures so that
they would not allow environmental pollution when they are in the
territory of Latvia, but in cases when harmful impact had been
unavoidable and damaging of the topsoil, soil transformation,
pollution, damaging of the flora etc. has occurred, the
environment shall be restored. If restoration is not possible in
accordance with the Environmental Protection Law of the Republic
of Latvia, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia and
the foreign armed forces shall reach an agreement regarding
compensation for the harm caused to the environment.
Section 17. Right to Wear the
Uniform
The military personnel of the foreign armed forces have the
right to wear the uniform during their residence in the Republic
of Latvia.
[11 May 2006]
Section 18. International
Agreements
If international agreements entered into by the Republic of
Latvia and approved by the Saeima provide for different
provisions than this Law, the provisions of the international
agreement shall be applied.
This Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 6 February
1997.
Acting for the President,
Chairperson of the Saeima A. Čepānis
Rīga, 21 February 1997
1 The Parliament of the Republic of
Latvia
Translation © 2017 Valsts valodas centrs (State
Language Centre)
