Capital punishment in Latvia

Latvia regained independence in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union. Subsequently, the death penalty in civilian cases was reserved for murder and the only method of execution, as during Soviet times, was shooting with a single bullet to the back of the head. The last executions took place in January 1996.[http://www.president.lv/pk/content/?cat_id=10 Apžēlošanas dienests] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012100506/http://www.president.lv/pk/content/?cat_id=10 |date=2007-10-12 }} Latvijas Valsts prezidenta mājas lapa {{in lang|lv}}

In October 1996, President Guntis Ulmanis stated that he would commute any death sentence to a term of imprisonment.[http://www.vestnesis.lv/index.php?menu=doc&id=40772&laidiens_id=1380 Par nāvessoda moratoriju Latvijā] // Latvijas Vēstnesis, 8 October 1996. {{in lang|lv}}

Latvia continued to hand down death sentences until 1998. On April 15, 1999 the death penalty in peacetime was abolished by ratifying Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights. In 2002, Latvia signed Protocol No. 13 to ECHR, concerning the abolition of the death penalty under all circumstances. The law on the ratification of Protocol 13 was adopted on 13 October 2011, and the protocol was ratified on 26 January 2012, entering into force on 1 May 2012.[http://www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=238392 Par 1950.gada 4.novembra Eiropas Cilvēka tiesību un pamatbrīvību aizsardzības konvencijas 13.protokolu par nāves soda pilnīgu atcelšanu]{{in lang|lv}}

Latvia was the last European Union country to retain capital punishment for wartime murder,[https://www.amnesty.org/en/death-penalty/abolitionist-and-retentionist-countries Abolitionist and retentionist countries] - report by Amnesty International[http://www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&tid=59&l=LV&seid=down&itid=13709 Criminal Law of Latvia (as of December, 2007) - see Sections 36, 37 and 118] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070731075911/http://www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&tid=59&l=LV&seid=down&itid=13709 |date=July 31, 2007 }}. See also [http://www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=88966 official text] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026053737/http://www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=88966 |date=2011-10-26 }} {{in lang|lv}} until it abolished it in 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/abolitionist-and-retentionist-countries|title = Abolitionist and Retentionist Countries}} Latvia acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src%3DTREATY%26mtdsg_no%3DIV-12%26chapter%3D4%26lang%3Den |title=UNTC |access-date=2014-01-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104212752/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-12&chapter=4&lang=en |archive-date=2014-01-04 }}

{{Reflist}}

• Status of ratification:
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081219175952/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/ratification/12.htm Second Optional Protocol] to ICCPR;
• [http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/ChercheSig.asp?NT=114&CM=8&DF=1/28/2008&CL=ENG Protocol No. 6] to ECHR
• [http://www.conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/ChercheSig.asp?NT=187&CM=1&DF=&CL=ENG] Protocol No. 13 to ECHR

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Latvia

Category:Human rights abuses in Latvia

Category:Law of Latvia

Category:Death in Latvia

Category:1999 disestablishments in Latvia

Category:1996 disestablishments in Latvia

Category:2012 disestablishments in Latvia

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