Latvia bars Russian and Belarusian citizens from influencing critical infrastructure

Latvia’s parliament has barred Russian and Belarusian citizens from acquiring a significant stake or decisive influence in critical infrastructure, including its Category D processes, public broadcaster LSM reported Thursday.

Category D covers processes essential to continuity of state functions. Their destruction, reduced capacity or interruption of critical services could seriously threaten public and state security during wartime. Examples include food production and retail, heating supply and the circulation of medicines.

Unlike other categories, Category D covers processes rather than specific facilities, making it harder to track whether citizens of Russia or Belarus are involved. Under the amendments, they may not be beneficial owners or hold indirect influence in these processes. A beneficial owner is defined as holding at least 10% of a company’s share capital or voting shares.

The relevant sector ministry will take the restrictions into account when identifying entities that could be included in Category D and will monitor whether those already covered comply. By December 1, 2026, the Defence Ministry, working with the relevant sector ministry, must identify any Category D entities where Russian or Belarusian persons have a significant stake or decisive influence, or are beneficial owners, and submit proposals to the Interior Ministry to remove those entities from the category.