Latvia: 1 cases

Overview

The first Latvian prosecution of alleged terrorists for core international crimes occurred in December 2016. The case concerned a Latvian returnee from Syria who received a first instance verdict in April 2017 finding him guilty of the war crime of illegal participation in armed conflict. This verdict was also the first verdict of Latvian courts in a case concerning an alleged terrorist facing core international crimes and domestic charges. Although Latvia was one of the first countries to prosecute core international crimes in the context of the conflict in Syria and Iraq, there have been no new publicly known cumulative prosecutions of alleged terrorists since 2018.
 

In 2009, Latvia criminalised genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in sections 71, 712, and 74 of the Latvian Criminal Code (LCC) respectively. Additionally, Chapter IX1 of the Latvian Criminal Code contains provisions criminalising various terrorism related conduct. Article 369 of the Latvian Criminal Procedure Law (LCPL) states that victims, injured parties, and NGOs can file complaints in order to initiate proceedings, at which point the investigative authority examines it and decides whether to initiate or refuse criminal proceedings, in accordance with the process laid down in Article 29 LCPL. Section 4(4) LCC allows Latvian authorities to prosecute core international crimes committed outside its territory on the basis of universal jurisdiction.
 

Latvia does not have a specialised unit for the investigation or prosecution of core international crimes. Criminal cases, including those relating to core international crimes or terrorism charges are tried before District (City) Courts on first instance. The Regional Courts act as appellate courts, with the Supreme Court providing the final possibility of appeal on third instance.
 

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Last update: 2 May 2025