June 13, Pozirk. The Latvian Saeima on June 12 passed a bill to ban Belarusians and Russians from ownership, employment, top executive and management jobs at critical infrastructure facilities and the provision of services to such facilities, Delfi reported, citing Latvia’s LETA.
Critical infrastructure includes Latvia-based facilities or any of their components essential for the fulfilment of important public functions, as well as for the protection of health, safety, economic or social well-being of the people.
The amendments also ban Belarusians and Russians from European critical infrastructure facilities if access to information or technological equipment is required for the facility’s operation. Employment there would be possible only with special authorization from the national security authority.
Latvia strengthened controls at its eastern border after Russia launched a full-scale war on Ukraine in February 2022 with support from authorities in Minsk.
Latvia’s president has yet to approve the law.
