News from the Ombudsman’s Office: May and June 2025
News and events of the Ombudsman’s Office in May and June 2025 (information in links mostly available in Latvian).
Study reveals fragmentation of discrimination criteria and lack of common approach in laws
Fragmentation of discrimination criteria and lack of a common approach to types of discrimination in Latvian legislation may lead to problems in their application – such main shortcomings are revealed by the study on the situation of discrimination in Latvia by the Ombudsman’s Office. Another trend is that people sometimes confuse discrimination with what it is not, such as subjective injustice.
Young people who have voluntarily completed the National Defence Service should be provided with a study place without additional admission rules
According to the law, young people who have voluntarily completed National Defence Services should be provided with a study place without additional admission rules. However, the Ombudsman’s Office has received signals that practices tend to differ. Namely, in certain state universities or colleges, a young person must pass an entrance exam, which educational institutions call additional conditions to admission requirements, and not as part of a admission competition, in which soldiers do not have to participate.
The Ombudsman’s Office continues its work under the leadership of Deputy Ombudsman Ineta Piļāne
On 14 June 2025, the Ombudsman Juris Jansons submitted a notice to the Presidium of the Saeima (Parliament) on leaving the position as the Ombudsman on his own initiative. On June 19, the Saeima voted to dismiss Juris Jansons from the position of Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia. The Ombudsman’s Office will continue to perform all the functions and tasks laid down in the Ombudsman Law under the leadership of Deputy Ombudsman Ineta Piļāne until Saeima appoints a new Ombudsman.
Legal framework for assessing the impact of wind farms on human health is still missing
In the verification procedure on deficiencies in lifting the regulation of safety protection zones around wind power plants (also called wind farms), the Ombudsman’s Office has found inappropriate action for good governance and calls on the Cabinet of Ministers (CM) to draw up a regulation regulating the assessment of the impact of noise, flicker and low-frequency sound on human health by 1 January 2025. This was the government’s commitment three years ago, but it has still not been done. It is also necessary to make amendments to Cabinet Regulations that would be consistent with the Protection Zone Law.
Constitutional Court will assess the regulation of entertainment noise based on the application of the Ombudsman
A case has been initiated before the Constitutional Court concerning the regulation of the assessment and management of entertainment noise based on the application of the Ombudsman. Previously, the Ombudsman repeatedly drew the attention of the responsible authorities to the need to arrange the field of entertainment noise to reconcile the right of residents to night rest with the right of entrepreneurs to earn money.
Ombudsman has requested Prosecutor General’s Office to evaluate the illegal practice of Mārupe and Salaspils municipalities in applying the increased 3% real estate tax rate
Two Latvian municipalities – Mārupe and Salaspils – continue to apply the increased real estate tax rate of 3% unlawfully and unjustifiably for constructions that have not been commissioned, but which still have a valid building permit. The Ombudsman has asked the Prosecutor General’s Office to assess the legality and validity of the actions and decisions taken by the municipalities of Mārupe and Salaspils.
Ombudsman replies: May employers indicate ‘desirable knowledge of foreign languages’ in job advertisements?
The Ombudsman regularly receives signals from residents about unsubstantiated foreign language requirements in job advertisements. Particularly confusing are the demands for ‘desirable knowledge of foreign languages’. Can such requirements appear and how are they regulated by law? The short answer is: employers may require foreign languages for the performance of work duties, but they must be objectively justified and not desirable. Recommendations for employers to create an advertisement
Ombudsman replies: Who should control the behaviour of children on school buses?
Who should control the behaviour and accompany children on buses that take them to and from school (and is organised by the municipality)? The short answer is that municipality should deal with this issue. The upcoming summer is a good time to sort out the issue before the next school year.
Ombudsman replies: Can residents forbid representatives of the State Fire and Rescue Service to enter their property?
What to do in a situation when neighbours do not allow representatives of the State Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to enter their apartment, although there are legitimate concerns about the worn-out and unsafe wood heating system of this premises? The Ombudsman draws attention to the fact that the law imposes an obligation on the owner to take care of fire safety, which at the same time includes an obligation to admit the SFRS inspector to the property in order to verify it. This also applies to those cases where a potential threat has been reported by a neighbour.
Documents prepared by the Ombudsman’s Office:
- Looking for an employee? Tips for employers to create job advertisements
- Opinion in the case on execution of a court judgment in a case on termination of joint property, dividing real estate into apartment properties
- On planned changes in the conditions of payment for palliative care
- Opinion in the case concerning discrimination on grounds of disability