The Latvian Saeima has passed amendments to the law in the third reading, which introduce a ban on campaigning in Russian. Now, during the election campaign, paid campaign materials can only be placed in the state language.

According to the national Latvian broadcaster LSM, this applies to campaigning in the media, the Internet, public platforms, ballots, books, newspapers, magazines and other printed media. 53 MPs voted in favour of the amendments, while 10 voted against.

The state language, which the law allows for election campaigning, includes the Latvian script as well as the Livonian language (of the national minority, the ancient inhabitants of the Gulf of Riga coast).

At the same time, party candidates and deputies will be able to speak to their voters in other languages.

And before the European Parliament elections and municipal elections, campaign materials may contain translations into official EU languages. In this case, the use of the state language in both visual and audio materials cannot be less than the other languages.

The Centre for the State Language will monitor the implementation of the law.

It is noteworthy that the day before, the Latvian capital Riga hosted a conference "Europe's Language Bridge - Special Status for the Ukrainian Language in the EU", which adopted the first version of the resolution.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL:

- Latvia handed over 66 cars confiscated from drunk drivers to Ukraine. By law, vehicles can be transferred to the Ukrainian government free of charge.

- Latvia has decided to transfer its entire fleet of combat helicopters to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš called on the West to increase military support for Ukraine.

- Earlier, Riga handed over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces all the Stinger man-portable air defence systems that were in service with the Latvian army.

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