L-istħarriġ kostituzzjonali jsir mill-Qorti Kostituzzjonali. Il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali għandha l-kompetenza li tistħarreġ il-konformità tal-liġijiet, tal-ftehimiet internazzjonali li ssir parti għalihom il-Latvja, kif ukoll tad-deċiżjonijiet regolatorji l-oħra mal-Kostituzzjoni. Jekk persuna temmen li liġi, ftehim internazzjonali jew liġi regolatorja oħra jiksru d-drittijiet fundamentali speċifikati fil-Kostituzzjoni, il-persuna jkollha d-dritt li tippreżenta rikors jew “ilment kostituzzjonali” quddiem il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali. Il-Qorti Kostituzzjonali tagħti bidu għal kawża sakemm ir-rikors jikkonforma mar-rekwiżiti ġenerali u speċjali speċifikati mil-liġi.

Fir-rigward tal-pandemija tal-COVID-19, il-Latvja ddikjarat stat ta’ emerġenza. Fit-12 ta’ Marzu 2020, il-Gvern Latvjan adotta d-Dikjarazzjoni ta’ Sitwazzjoni ta’ Emerġenza. Id-dikjarazzjoni kien fiha miżuri li jindirizzaw il-pandemija tal-COVID-19, u ġiet emendata diversi drabi. Il-Parlament, li kompla jaħdem mill-bogħod matul is-sitwazzjoni ta’ emerġenza bl-appoġġ tal-pjattaforma e-Seima, approva l-miżuri Governattivi f’sessjoni straordinarja. Fis-16 ta’ Marzu 2020, huwa informa lill-Kunsill tal-Ewropa skont il-klawżola ta’ deroga li tinsab fl-Artikolu 15 tal-Konvenzjoni Ewropea dwar id-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem (il-Konvenzjoni) li r-restrizzjonijiet adottati minħabba l-istat ta’ emerġenza jistgħu potenzjalment jaqbżu l-limiti previsti mill-Konvenzjoni sabiex jiġi żgurat l-għan leġittimu tas-“saħħa pubblika”. L-Ombudsman ipprovda spjegazzjoni lill-pubbliku u lill-politiċi li l-limitazzjonijiet permessi mill-klawżola ta’ deroga li tinsab fl-Artikolu 15 tal-Konvenzjoni għandhom jiġu interpretati b’mod ristrett, li jippermetti devjazzjoni mill-obbligi biss sal-punt li n-natura straordinarja tas-sitwazzjoni tkun teħtieġ b’mod inevitabbli. Skont l-Ombudsman, dan ifisser li l-Gvern Latvjan, billi juża l-istat ta’ emerġenza ddikjarat, ma jistax jirrestrinġi b’mod sproporzjonat id-drittijiet tal-popolazzjoni f’oqsma u b’modi li ma jkunux strettament meħtieġa sabiex jiżgura s-saħħa pubblika u sabiex jikkontrolla l-pandemija tal-COVID-19. L-emerġenza ntemmet fl-10 ta’ Ġunju 2020 (id-deroga skont l-Artikolu 15 tal-Konvenzjoni tneħħiet dakinhar).

L-Uffiċċju tal-Ombudsman, li huwa wkoll korp tal-ugwaljanza, huwa inkarigat mill-protezzjoni tad-drittijiet tal-abitanti. L-Ombudsman huwa uffiċjal elett mill-Parlament, li jiżgura li d-drittijiet tal-bniedem jiġu osservati fil-Latvja u li l-amministrazzjoni statali u l-gvernijiet lokali josservaw il-prinċipju ta’ governanza tajba. L-Ombudsman huwa indipendenti fl-attivitajiet tiegħu, huwa rregolat esklużivament bil-liġi, u ħadd ma għandu d-dritt li jeżerċita influwenza fuq it-twettiq tal-funzjonijiet u tal-kompiti tiegħu. L-Uffiċċju tal-Ombudsman ġie akkreditat mill-korp ta’ akkreditazzjoni tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti bi status A f’Marzu 2015. Matul il-valutazzjoni tiegħu, il-korp tan-NU ħeġġeġ lill-Uffiċċju tal-Ombudsman sabiex jippromwovi garanziji ulterjuri bl-għan li jiżgura ż-żamma fil-kariga tal-membri tal-korp deċiżjonali, il-protezzjoni tal-Ombudsman minn interferenza mhux dovuta mill-parlament, u finanzjament suffiċjenti sabiex jeżegwixxi s-setgħat dejjem akbar tiegħu.





Anness I: Lista ta’ sorsi f’ordni alfabetiku*

* Il-lista tal-kontributi riċevuti fil-kuntest tal-konsultazzjoni għar-rapport tal-2020 dwar l-Istat tad-Dritt tinsab fuq (is-sit web COM).

Center for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom, (2019) Decriminalisation of Defamation. https://cmpf.eui.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/decriminalisation-of-defamation_Infographic.pdf .

Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (2020), 2020 Media pluralism monitor. https://cmpf.eui.eu/media-pluralism-monitor/mpm-2020 .

CIVICUS, Monitor tracking civic space: Latvia. https://monitor.civicus.org/country/latvia .

Commission staff working document country report Latvia 2020 accompanying the document communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Central Bank and the Eurogroup 2020 European Semester: Assessment of progress on structural reforms, prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances, and results of in-depth reviews under Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 SWD/2020/513 final.

Council for the Judiciary of Latvia (2019), The Council for the Judiciary does not support the establishment of a specialized economic court in Latvia. http://at.gov.lv/en/jaunumi/par-tieslietu-padomi/the-council-for-the-judiciary-does-not-support-the-establishment-of-a-specialized-economic-court-in-latvia-9632?year=2019& .

Council for the Judiciary of Latvia (2019), The Council for the Judiciary repeatedly rejects the establishment of the Economic Court. http://at.gov.lv/en/jaunumi/par-tieslietu-padomi/the-council-for-the-judiciary-repeatedly-rejects-the-establishment-of-the-economic-court-9848?year=2019 .

Council for the Judiciary of Latvia (2020), The administrative immunity of judges is waived. http://at.gov.lv/en/jaunumi/par-tieslietu-padomi/the-administrative-immunity-of-judges-is-waived-10088?year=2020&month=6& .

Council for the Judiciary of Latvia (2020), The Judicial Council will evaluate the candidates for the position of Prosecutor General. http://at.gov.lv/en/jaunumi/par-tieslietu-padomi/the-judicial-council-will-evaluate-the-candidates-for-the-position-of-prosecutor-general-10077?year=2020& .

Council for the Judiciary of Latvia (2020), The new procedure for selection of judges is approved. http://at.gov.lv/en/jaunumi/par-tieslietu-padomi/the-new-procedure-for-selection-of-judges-is-approved-10018?year=2020& .

Council for the Judiciary of Latvia (2020), The selection of candidates for the position of the Prosecutor General will henceforth be the responsibility of the Judicial Council. http://at.gov.lv/en/jaunumi/par-tieslietu-padomi/the-selection-of-candidates-for-the-position-of-the-prosecutor-general-will-henceforth-be-the-responsibility-of-the-judicial-council-10023?year=2020& .

Il-Kunsill tal-Ewropa: Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism - MONEYVAL (2018), Anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing measures: Latvia fifth round mutual evaluation report.

Il-Kunsill tal-Ewropa Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism - MONEYVAL (2019), Anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing measures: Latvia first enhanced follow-up report.

Il-Kunsill tal-Ewropa Committee of Ministers (2010), Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)12 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on judges: independence, efficiency and responsibilities.

Il-Kunsill tal-Ewropa Committee of Ministers (2016), Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors.