Since its independence, Latvia has been known as one of the Baltic States, it’s located in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. Latvia established independence on November 18, 1918, after previous rule under Russian, Swedish, and Polish rule. The country declared its independence from Russia following WWI. Independence was short-lived, as the country was retaken under Soviet rule, which lasted for another 50 years following the second World War.

The Singing Revolution in 1987 called for Latvian independence and emancipation from Soviet rule. May 4, 1990, was the date the  Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia was signed, marking the end of Soviet rule. Today, Latvia is a member of the United Nations, EU, WTO, Council of Europe, NIB, NE8, and other foreign relations organizations.

Latvia is a unitary state, comprised of 110 one-level municipalities and 9 republic cities. The country has  historical and cultural regions that are recognized by the Latvian Constitution. A direct popular election votes in the 100-seat unicameral Latvian parliament, and the Presidential elections are also held every four years in the country. The President appoints a Prime Minister which makes up the cabinet.

The legal system is civil, as opposed to common law. The legal system in Latvia mirrors the  German and French systems. The Constitutional framework is governed by the  Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia. Since 2004, the  European Union law has played an integral role in Latvian legal decisions as well. The Supreme Court is the highest in a three-tiered court system. The court hears criminal, civil, and administrative cases. The first level of courts in Latvia are city courts, the next level are regional courts, and these are superseded by the Supreme Court.

The National Law Review covers the latest legal news regarding Latvia and its international relations in the European Union and worldwide. Banking and financial news sectors, human rights issues, GDPR and data protection news stories, are among the types of content visitors can read online. The National Law Review continually updates the latest stories and legal news, providing visitors the most up-to-date content available.