Latvia

Latvia regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Latvia's criminal code contains a general penalty enhancement. Data reported to ODIHR also include offences of incitement to hatred. Data are collected by the Ministry of Interior, law enforcement agencies, the Department of Analysis and Management of the Prosecutor General's Office, the Courts Administration unit of the Ministry of Justice and the Security Police of the Republic of Latvia. Data are not made publicly available.

SELECT YEAR

OFFICIAL DATA

Year	Hate crimes recorded by police	Prosecuted	Sentenced
2020	Not available	Not available	Not available
2019	Not available	Not available	Not available
2018	Not available	Not available	Not available
2017	Not available	Not available	Not available
2016	11	7	0
2015	11	1	5
2014	13	7	9
2013	22	0	Not available
2012	18	2	2
2011	12	1	2
2010	7	4	5
2009	6	7	8

About 2013 Data

Police data include incitement to hatred offences. Only prosecution data relating to incitement to hatred were received.

By bias motivation
By type of crime

Download official data

National developments

Between 2012 and 2013, the Ministry of Culture of Latvia took part in the Council of Europe project "Combating Discrimination on the Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity". Over 20 activities were implemented as part of the project, including a review of Latvia’s legal framework on discrimination, hate crimes and legal gender recognition, as well as training for law enforcement officers on tackling hate crimes.

Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See

Reports

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Mozaika reported four physical assaults, including three carried out by groups and one involving the assault resulting in serious injury of a gay man who required hospital treatment as a result of the attack, as well as one case of damage to property and three instances of threats.

Disability hate crime

Mozaika reported a series of physical assaults against a gay man with disabilities by groups, including incidents in which stones were thrown at the victim.

Anti-Semitic hate crime

World Without Nazism reported one incident of the desecration of a plaque commemorating the Holocaust and one incident of damage to a Jewish community centre.

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Anti-Semitic hate crime

The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson‑in‑Office on combating anti-Semitism conducted a country visit to Latvia. Following the visit, the Personal Representative presented his recommendations, which included enhancing teaching about anti-Semitism in schools and training for judges and prosecutors on hate crimes.

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) published findings from a survey on experiences and perceptions of anti-Semitism conducted in Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The survey showed that many respondents have been victims of anti-Semitic violence and harassment, and feared becoming hate crime victims in the future. The survey also mapped the extent of unreported anti-Semitic hate crime. FRA recommended that EU Member States consider taking a number of steps to improve the reporting, recording, investigating and prosecuting of hate crimes.