Democratic civil control of National Armed Forces (NAF) is stipulated by legislation of the Republic of Latvia. These legal documents include the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia (Satversme), the National Armed Forces Law, the National Security Law and others.

Latvian legislation sets forth the general principle for democratic civil control of military structures by stipulating that NAF cannot undertake any combat military operations without consent of the state's political leadership.

The civil control of NAF is carried out by:

Parliament (Saeima):

• Adopts the necessary legislation;
• Decides on the National Defence Budget;
• Decides on the participation of NAF units in international peacekeeping and security operations abroad;
• Defines the size of the NAF in peace-time;
• Appoints and dismisses the NAF Commander;
• Carries out parliamentary control of NAF through the Parliamentary Defence and Internal Affairs Committee, and the Parliamentary Budget and Finance Committee;
• Approves the National Security Concept and the National Defence Concept;
• Decides on the declaring of war and the commencing of war;
• Assesses the validity of the declared emergency situation, state of exception and mobilisation;
• Reviews the Prime Minister’s Annual Report on National Security.

Defence and Internal Affairs Committee:

• Reviews and assesses the conformity of the requested budget with the NAF Development Plan, Armament Plan and Latvian international commitments in the fields of defence and military co-operation;
• Possesses legal rights to summon and hear out the NAF Commander on any issue related to the NAF activities;
• Controls the implementation of laws, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations and Defence Reglements.

Budget and Finance Committee:

• Assesses accuracy of budgetary calculations.

Government:

• Organises the implementation of laws and resolutions related to defence issues;
• Produces and implements the National Defence Plan;
• Issues legal documents on defence;
• Upon the recommendation of the Minister of Defence appoints and dismisses the Land Forces Commander, the Naval Forces Commander, the Air Forces Commander, the Special Operation Forces Commander, National Guard Commander, and the National Armed Forces Deputy Commander;
• Approves the list of national security objects;
• Decides the on participation of NAF units in international search and rescue operations, international humanitarian operations, as well as military exercises (manoeuvres) abroad;
• Announces emergency situations, states of exception and mobilisations as defined by law;
• Approves the NAF long-term and medium-term development plans.

State President:

• Is the NAF Commander-in-Chief;
• Appoints the State President’s Military Council;
• Recommends the NAF Commander for approval at the Parliament;
• Heads the National Security Council;
• Commissions and promotes all officers;
• Proposes the issue of the declaration and commencement of war for decision in the parliament;
• Appoints the NAF Commander-in-Chief in wartime.

Minister of Defence:

• By Latvian law is a civilian;
• Is politically responsible to the Parliament and subordinated to the Prime Minister;
• Develops defence plans and implements them in the military field;
• Concludes international agreements on military issues;
• Being a Government member, is responsible for ensuring democratic civil control of the armed forces.

NAF Commander:

• Is directly subordinated to the Minister of Defence;
• Provides continuous command and control of the NAF on the basis of orders from the Minister of Defence.

National Security Council:

• Advisory council consisting of the State President, the Chairman of the Parliament, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Defence and Internal Affairs Committee, the Chairman of the Parliamentary National Security Committee, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of the Interior;
• Assesses the security situation of the state and its residents, and advises on eventual means and methods to prevent and eliminate this threat.

Judicial System:

• The NAF in Latvia are subject to the State Civil Court system. The civil courts administer justice in accordance with the Latvian Law. The Latvian General Prosecutor's Office supervises the administration of the law in the NAF;
• The Inspector General of the MoD ensures control over the implementation of legislation, Cabinet of Ministers Regulations and Defence Reglements within the Ministry of Defence and is responsible towards the Minister of Defence;
• The Military Discipline Reglement approved by the Cabinet of Ministers stipulates disciplinary responsibilities of soldiers and disciplinary relations between commanders and their subordinates;
• Every soldier has the right to justice and the right to plead his or her case in court if civil rights have been violated (except where restrictions apply according to military service legislation);
• Every soldier has the right to make suggestions or to complain to his or her immediate commander or superior commander or chief, including the Minister of Defence, the Prime Minister and the State President;
• Every soldier has thed right to make suggestions or to complain to members of Parliament.

Citizens of the Republic of Latvia:

• Citizens of the Republic of Latvia execute their civil rights and duties by participation in Parliamentary elections, and by serving in in the active military service as professional soldiers after concluding the Military Service Agreement;
• In compliance with procedures stipulated by the Ministry of Defence, citizens of the Republic of Latvia have the right to acquaint themselves with the location of military units, visit deployed units, and acquaint themselves with the living conditions of soldiers, as well as with their maintenance and military training;
• Residents of Latvia receive information on the NAF through the mass media. The law provides that the mass media are guaranteed truthful and transparent information on the NAF, and the right to criticise it.
• The Ministry of Defence informs the public about the national defence and security issues on a regular basis.

The strengthening of the democratic civil control of the armed forces ensures transparency and availability of information, as well as the obligations and accountability of the main state and public administration institutions and officials. Therefore, the Ministry of Defence not only aspires to provide the public with information on state defence, the activities of the NAF and budget expenditure, but also ensures the participation of the main Parliamentary Committee members in fthe orming of the national defence policy.

Last update on January 5, 2007.