News from the Ombudsman’s Office: August 2025
News and events of the Ombudsman’s Office in August 2025 (information in links mostly available in Latvian).
People entitled to fare reductions on regional buses currently face unequal treatment
People eligible for fare reductions cannot be entirely certain that they will be able to obtain a ticket on a regional commercial bus and, consequently, to travel to the planned destination. The investigation has shown that such passengers, including people with disabilities, have been disembarked from a regional commercial bus for the benefit of another passenger who pays the full fare.
Ombudsman replies: May educational institution fail to provide information to parents if in doubt?
If staff of the educational institution (school, pre-school) have any doubts in cases of parent relationship matters (divorce, etc.), may the school limit providing information to the parent, for example, limit access to student’s online evaluation system. No, in case of any uncertainty, schools should act responsibly and find out if there is legal basis for not providing or limiting information to parents or relatives. Thus, ignoring a parent’s request is not permissible.
Ombudsman’s Office insists on a complex review of the immovable property encumbrance and compensation system and reverts to the government
The Ombudsman’s Office has repeatedly called on the government to undertake a comprehensive review of the immovable property encumbrance and indemnification framework, pointing to the shortcomings of the existing system and the need for a complex approach in this area. The deadline for reporting on the progress is 1st October.
The law does not currently provide for the responsibility of the owner for disturbing noises and odours caused by pets
For barking, howling and odours caused by a domestic (pet) animal, which are not related to non-compliance with animal welbeing requirements, but are disturbing for neighbours, for a year now, no administrative responsibility has been assigned to animal owners, at the same time, no other effective way of remedying the disorder has been created instead. The Ombudsman’s Office has called on the Ministry of Agriculture to remedy this shortcoming by 1 November.
Due to inaction of the local government, children with mental health disorders are forced to study in another municipality’s school and stay in boarding facilities
Several children of Rezekne municipality staying in the social services centre Vecružina are forced to travel more than 80 km to Daugavpils Stropi Primary School and stay in the boarding facilities. Instead of a clear solution, Rezekne municipality only promises to ‘discuss the opportunity’ so that children can study in one of the schools in the municipality.