Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation

Assistant to Chairman of the Constitutional Court, Lina Kovalevska informed LETA that the decision was made due to the fact that the claim does not comply with the Constitutional Court Law, namely, the claim is not legally justified.

According to the claim, the new rule does not conform with the Constitutional standards, as well as the European Convention on Human Rights.

The new rule stipulates criminal liability for gross derogation, justification or glorification of crimes perpetrated by Soviet Union or Nazi Germany, however, Harmony Center's deputies believe that "it is a fight against freethinking following Medieval traditions and a step towards authoritarianism." It is against the 1st Article of the Constitution of Latvia, which stipulates that Latvia is an independent and democratic republic, the party's members previously emphasized.

The claim was signed by 20 Harmony Center's deputies.

As reported, on June 15, Saeima passed amendments to the Criminal Law in the final reading, stipulating criminal liability for gross derogation, justification or glorification of crimes perpetrated by Soviet Union or Nazi Germany.