The media reported a ban on the publication of photos of top officials of Latvia, there is no confirmation

Latvia introduced recommendations for publishing photos and videos of officials

Recommendations on the publication of photos and videos with the participation of government officials have come into force in Latvia. According to the publication Baltic News Network with reference to the Office of the Ombudsman, filming and dissemination of materials about officials is possible only if there is an “objective reason.”

Publishing such materials on the Internet without a valid reason may result in an administrative fine, and in some cases, criminal liability. At the same time, it is allowed to show officials online if there is a clear violation of the law and the public must be informed about it.

Ombudsman Karina Palkova emphasizes that filming an official just because he holds a position is not a sufficient reason. “Such actions significantly interfere with privacy and are only permissible if there is a clear violation of the law,” she says. In most cases, it is recommended to report violations directly to management rather than posting material online.

The recommendations apply not only to state and municipal employees, but also to employees of other institutions interacting with clients. The Ombudsman’s office notes that the need for such rules has increased due to the increasing number of cases of filming without an objective reason, often for the sake of provocation or attracting attention on social networks.

Some media outlets disseminated information about an allegedly strict ban on publishing photos of President Edgars Rinkevics and Prime Minister Evika Silini, but no official confirmation of such restrictions could be found.

Let us remind youearlier the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova spoke ironically about Riga’s plans to dismantle the railway tracks leading to Russia: “Apparently, they need sleepers for heating.”