Latvia

Previous reports: 2023/24

Principal EBCO concerns

See “Recent developments”, below.

Developments

In a submission to the UN Committee on Human Rights,² the European Council of Jehovahs' Witnesses report that the supposed Alternative Civilian Service introduced with the reinstatement of conscription with effect from 1st January 2024 is in fact entirely military in nature, with all placements being in institutions subordinate to the Ministry of Defence, namely: (1) the National Defence Military Facilities and Procurement Centre; (2) the National Defence Logistics and Procurement Centre; (3) the Latvian Geospatial Information Agency; and (4) the Latvian War Museum.

The information below, except where other sources are credited, was provided by the Latvian Ministry of Defence in reply to the EBCO questionnaire.

Conscription provisions and procedures

On April 5th 2023, the Latvian parliament (Saeima) approved the National Service Law (NDS), thereby reintroducing conscription in Latvia. The first call-up, primarily targeting volunteers, was announced on 1st July, 2023. Military service became compulsory on 1st January 2024.

Conscription is primarily regulated by the National Service Law (available in English translation) and other Cabinet regulations.

Citizens can apply or be randomly selected for NDS after reaching 18 years of age.

There are three types of NDS available for volunteers, differing in length and acquired skills:

Service in the National Armed Forces (duration 11 months)

Service in the National Guard (5 years, with 28-day annual trainings)

Reserve Officer programme for University and College students (5 years; total 160 days

training).

The first two rounds of recruitment for NDS took place in July 2023 (253 recruits selected from 488 volunteers) and January 2024 (125 recruits from 224 volunteers); in these rounds no one was compulsorily recruited; most of those not selected were rejected on grounds of physical fitness.³)

consisted of 253 (July 2023) and 125 persons (January 2024). Also in January 2024, twenty volunteers took the option of signing up for the National Guard.⁴ On 1st December 2023, the application period for the July 2024 (third) NDS ended with 515 Latvian citizens volunteering. The shortfall was filled by a random selection of 300 citizens, which took place on 23rd January 2024. The third recruitment began their service in July 2024, consisting of around 378 volunteers and 64 conscripts, a total of 442. [EBCO Note: this implies that some 90% of volunteers but only 20% of those selected by ballot were eventually recruited. We do not have figures for recruitment in January 2025, but it is reported that by the closing date of 20th November 2024 782 volunteers had come forward for the July 2025 intake – total recruitment is expected to be 830. The random selection of potential conscripts took place on 26th November, and was broadcast live on “Facebook” and “You Tube”.⁵]

After NDS, recruits are discharged and become part of the reserve force. They are required to be ready to undergo up to seven day-long trainings at any time in the five years following the discharge. After this five year period, recruits who have completed NDS and are discharged into the army reserve are registered for additional training according to general procedures for the reserve forces.

According to the NDS Law, failure to attend for the health examination specified for a recruit at the time and place indicated in the summons from the Ministry of Defence without a justifying reason results in a warning of the imposition of a fine of up to 70 “units”. The conscript is given at least three months' notice of the time and place at which he is to report for service. “Arrival at the place of service, if the conscript fails to do so, shall be ensured by the Military Police in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law.” [EBCO Note: we would normally describe this as forced recruitment, which in the case of a conscientious objector constitutes arbitrary detention.]

Conscientious objection provisions and procedures

The law also provides the right for conscientious objectors to replace military service by serving (likewise for 11 months) in the national defence civil service (alternative service).

“If a conscript's beliefs, convictions or religion are incompatible with conscription service and he cannot therefore join the military service to defend Latvia, he may apply to the National Defence Service Recruitment Control Commission to perform alternative service. Applications must describe the reasons for choosing alternative service and contain supporting documentation.” Information about alternative civilian website can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Defence, but the possibility is not drawn to conscripts' attention at the time when they receive call-up papers.

All recruits, including those who have applied for alternative service, are required to respond to NDS draft notification by completing an online form at www.klustikaravirs.lv (or by sending by e-mail a digitally-signed copy of the completed form), and to attend for medical examination at the appointed date.

All decisions concerning alternative service are made by the National Defence Service Recruitment Control Commission, who are to be released on full pay from their normal employment for the purpose of performing their functions. At least half of the members of the Commission their number is not specified] must be persons not employed by the armed forces, the Ministry of Defence, or institutions subordinate thereto.

“There were a small number of applications received in recent years, but only one met the conditions set out in National Defence Service law and binding Cabinet regulations”. ( Latvia's reply to the same question posed by the UN Human Rights Committee was more specific, and slightly more encouraging: “As of now, the Conscription Control Commission has received two applications for the replacement of national defence service by alternative service. One application was approved, and in the other case, since the person was declared not valid for national defence service due to health reasons and the review was terminated.”)⁶

Appeals may be made to the Commission itself or before a court “in accordance with the procedures laid out in the Administrative Procedures Law.”

Alternative service is subject to the same regulations regarding reporting for duty as military service and the Military Police perform the same role in the event of non-compliance. [It is not specified in either case what charges and punishments would result from persistence in refusal.]

“The alternative service shall be performed for 18 months in the civilian institutions subordinate to the Ministry of Defence [this confirming the complaint of the Jehovah's Witnesses reported under “EBCO concerns”.] “When determining the location for the performance of the alternative service the control commission shall take into account the personal traits, education, and declared place of residence of the performer of alternative service. [Who it seems therefore does not have any personal say in the matter]

Those performing alternative service may continue to live at their normal address. They receive NDS pay in the amount of €400 [presumably per month], but are not entitled to free meals. By contrast volunteers performing military service receive €600 and “those selected on a mandatory basis” €300 [in both cases presumably in addition to “free meals” - it will be noted that there is thus a strong incentive to volunteer rather than waiting to be selected for obligatory call-up].

Serving personnel of the armed forces

There are currently no provisions allowing conscripts to apply to transfer to alternative service after commencing military service, nor for “professional” members of the armed forces or who wish to be released on grounds of conscience. There have however been no cases in recent years, nor have any forces personnel been prosecuted for desertion.

On October 2024, however, an amendment to the National Defence Service Law came into force permitting reservists to make applications based on conscience.

Militarisation of education

From 1st September 2024, “State Defence Subject”, which could be seen as a preparation for military service, became an obligatory part of the secondary school curriculum. During this course, partly taught by military personnel, students have the opportunity to (voluntarily) participate in the two week SDS summer camp. The purpose is to promote “civic awareness and patriotism, as well as to provide an opportunity to learn basic military skills and abilities, providing citizens who are civically responsible. The Summer Camps “give students an opportunity to participate in practical outdoor activities that focus on survival skills.”

There is also an opportunity for youth from the 4th to the 9th grade to join the free voluntary Cadet Force, with sessions once a week after school. “According to SDS law”, instructors in the Cadet Force are professional service soldiers, national guard members, or military reservists.

Students who wish to can study at the Colonel Oskars Kalpaks Military High School, which focusses on military education, in order to obtain the “junior instructors qualification”. All (?) instructors at this institution are professional military personnel.

Military recruiters do not enjoy privileged access to schools, or to students details.

No information is given regarding the process for recruitment of “professional” military personnel.

1. Population and armed forces figures are derived from The Military Balance 2025, published by the international Institute for Strategic Studies; military expenditure figures are estimates published by SIPRI (The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) in April 2025. ⤴
2. INT_CCPR_ICS_58312_E, 3rd May, 2024.⤴
3. LSM+ (Latvian Public Media) “120 volunteers start compulsory military service in Latvia”, 17th January 2024. (https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defense/17.01.2024-120-volunteers-start-compulsory-military-service-in- latvia.a539215/)⤴
4. Andzans, M. “The first year of conscripton in Latvia”, Foreign Policy Research Institute, Baltic Bulletin, 20th May, 2024, (https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/05/the-first-year-of-conscription-in-latvia/)⤴
5. Website of the Latvian Ministry of Defence, https://www.mod.gov.lv/en/national-defence-service, consulted on 20th May 2025.⤴
6. Replies to the List of Issues on Latvia's Fourth Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ( CCPR/C/LVA/RQ/4), 24th March 2025, para 65⤴