Law on Emergency Situation and State of Exception (2013)

The Law determines principles for emergency situation and state of exception in Latvia. Its purpose is to ensure national security in case of threat to national security. This Law prescribes the procedures by which a special legal regime – emergency situation or state of exception – is declared and revoked, as well as the rights of State administrative and local government institutions, natural persons and legal persons, their restrictions, special duties and provision of the rule of law during validity of such legal regimes. According to the document, emergency situation is a special legal regime, during which the Cabinet has the right to restrict the rights and freedoms of State administrative and local government institutions, natural persons and legal persons, as well as to impose additional duties to them. Emergency situation may be declared in case of such threat to national security, which is related to a disaster, danger thereof or threat to the critical infrastructure, if safety of the State, society, environment, economic activity or health and life of human beings is significantly endangered.