Assets Disclosure by Public Officials: Latvia

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Historical Information

Full Name and Date of Effectiveness:

The Law of Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials, April 25, 2002

Was this the first time such a law/rule was passed, or is this rule/law linked with any earlier one?

No: the prevention of corruption Law 1995 - No. 22, 1996 No 3, 15; 1998 No. 23; and 1999 No 8 - repealed

Does the Constitution mandate public officials to disclose their assets?

No

Coverage of Law/Rule

To what categories of civil servants or appointed officials is this law/rule applicable?

This is listed in Section 4 of the law. Appointed officials include civil servants of the general or specialized state civil service. Section 4(2) extends the assets declaration requirement to a wider circle of officials who issue administrative acts, sup

To what categories of elected officials is this law/rule applicable?

Section 4(1) lists elected officials and includes President, member s of the Saeima, heads, deputies, and members if the councils of local government authorities.

If this law/rule is applicable only to appointed officials in top levels, what is the assets declaration requirement of general appointed officials?

Not stated in this law.

Do provincial and local employees follow the same or similar assets declaration law?

The same

Declaration Content

What kind of value of assets must be declared?

This is described in Section 24 and includes immovable property, vehicles, cash and non-cash savings and debts if the amount exceeds twenty months' wages.

Is it necessary to include family members’ assets as well?

Assets of spouse and children not required to be declared.

Filing Frequency & Method

Do civil servants need to file the information during first entry into public service? And, thereafter at what frequency?

Yes within 30 days of entry; each year by April 1; and at termination within 13 months.

Can the declaration be filed electronically?

No

Declaration Processing

Which agency of government receives and processes public officials' assets declaration?

The Prevention of and Combating of Corruption Bureau.

If the officials has failed to submit declaration in time or made inconsistent declaration, does the declaration processing authority issue reminder or ask for clarifications / explanations on the declarations?

This is not stated in the law.

How is the declaration's content verified?

This is described in Sections 27 and 28 of the Law. The Prevention of and Combating of Corruption Bureau verifies every declaration.

How long is the declaration record maintained?

The information is to be published and therefore stays in the public domain.

Punishment for Breach

What is the punishment for not filing the declaration?

According to Section 29 if a public official does not provide the information required by the authority or the public official authorized by law regarding the sources of acquisition of property, including financial resources, or cannot justify the acquisition of income or financial benefit from a legal source, it shall be presumed that the public official has acquired the property prohibited by this Law, including financial resources, and he or she is hiding this fact from the State.

What is the penalty for making inaccurate statements on this declaration?

According to Section 30, any income or assets obtained in irregular way will accrue to the state.

Can an official be prosecuted for violating this law?

Public Access to Declaration

Does the law/rule state that the public can access this information?

Section 26 of the law describes pubic access to declarations.

If the law/rule mentions public access to this information, does it also state how the public can access this information?

Section 26(1) of the law makes it the responsibility of the head of the authority that verifies declarations to ensure public access. The declarations of the President, Prime Minister and other elected officials is published in the government's officials g