On 22 November President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs holds a meeting of the National Security Council. The meeting assessed progress in the development of the border security infrastructure and of the penal policy in line with the threat situation.
The meeting heard reports from the SJSC ‘State Real Estate’, the SJSC ‘Latvian State Radio and Television Centre’ and the Ministry of the Interior on the progress of the border security infrastructure. The Council heard a report on the actions initiated to ensure the further development of the border protection infrastructure along the entire border with Russia and Belarus in the coming year, including the construction of a surveillance technology (sensors and communications) infrastructure.
The participants were briefed by the State Border Guard on the current situation at the eastern border. At a separate meeting, the Council will consider a report by the Ministry of Defence on the development and provision of military border defence.
The meeting also heard an assessment by the President of the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General and the Minister of Justice on the measures implemented and envisaged for the future to improve the penal policy in order to ensure that the penalties imposed for crimes against national security, security of persons, hate crimes and illegal border crossing achieve their objectives.
The Council discussed the legislative initiative of the President of Latvia proposing to oblige the chairperson and the executive director of local government councils to obtain special permits for access to state secrets. Comprehensive national defence requires the united commitment and participation of all levels of administration and institutions in addressing threats to the country. Municipalities play a key role in their territories to continue their day-to-day functions in the face of a threat, while being able to provide security and support to national defence measures.