SHARIAsource

Country Background

Latvia is located in Eastern Europe and borders the Baltic Sea to the west, Russia and Belarus to the east, Estonia to the north, and Lithuania to the south. The capital of Latvia is Riga. The official language is Latvian. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 2 million. Latvia is a predominantly Christian country (mostly Lutheran and Orthodox).

Constitution & Legal Structure

Latvia is referred to as a parliamentary republic, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Historically, Latvian territory has been ruled by various foreign powers, including German, Swedish, Danish, Polish, and Russian. The independent Republic of Latvia was founded in 1918 when Latvia declared its sovereignty and started to develop its legal order, belonging to the continental (Romano-Germanic) law system. Development of Latvian law was significantly influenced by German (and consequently, Roman) law, especially in the areas of civil and constitutional law. The Constitution (“Satversme”) was drafted using the Weimar Constitution, constitutions of German states, and the Constitution of France as primary models. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The Constitution was officially adopted in 1922.

However, in the aftermath of World War II, Latvia was invaded by the USSR and fell under the Soviet law system for the next decades. In 1990, Latvia re-established the name of the Republic of Latvia, thus beginning the restoration of full sovereignty and return to the continental law system. During the transition period, Latvia re-established the Constitution of 1922 and the Civil Law of 1938, gradually replaced the Soviet laws with new legislative acts, and reformed the state administration. The Constitution was most recently amended in 2014, following the country's full membership into the Eurozone, replacing Latvian lats with euros. 

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in Latvia.

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Latvia.

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Latvia has no official school of Islamic law. 

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Legislative
  
  • Saeima [Parliament]
  • Latvijas Vēstnesis [Latvian Messenger] (official gazette)
• Executive
  • President 
  • Cabinet of Ministers  
• Judicial
  • Supreme Court
  • Constitutional Court

 Unofficial Databases

• FAOLEX: Latvia (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources.
• NATLEX: Latvia (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: Latvia (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: Latvia (World Intellectual Property Organization)

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].