The referral of the amendments to the Saeima’s Committee on National Economy, Agrarian, Environmental and Regional Policy was supported by 73 MEPs, with 15 abstentions.
The initiator of the amendments, the political association New Unity” explained that the aim of the amendments was to both reduce the risks of possible human rights violations of Latvian citizens and to prevent them from being recruited by Russia or Belarus.
The draft law will apply to all tourism service providers registered in Latvia.
The ban on the provision of tourism services in Russia and Belarus would be implemented as part of the international sanctions already imposed against these countries and would prevent political and economic relations that could lead to aggression or human rights violations, the New Unity party explained.
“Traveling to Russia and Belarus is currently a security issue which causes problems for tourists and our services. We cannot allow tour operators to continue to organize pleasure trips and our citizens to be taken in busloads to countries that are not shy about expressing their desire to occupy Latvia. Last year, more than 30 Latvian nationals were arrested in Russia and Belarus, but in these countries, the ability of our institutions to help is very limited.
“Nor can we tolerate the recruitment of citizens. The state must do everything necessary not only to ensure the security of its citizens but also to prevent possible threats and harm,” explained Gatis Liepiņš, a member of the New Unity faction of the Saeima.
The State Security Service (VDD) report for 2024 indicates that despite repeated calls by the VDD and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not to travel to Russia, the number of travelers doubled in 2024 compared to 2023, with an average of 2,000 Latvian citizens traveling to Russia every month.
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