Latvia bans import of books, clothing, and toys made in Russia and Belarus
Latvia’s parliament, the Saeima, has passed amendments to the law on supporting Ukraine’s civilian population that ban the import of a range of goods produced in Russia and Belarus, the news outlet Delfi reported. Lawmakers approved the amendments in their final reading on July 23.
The government still has to approve the full list of restricted goods, but it may include books and periodicals in Russian, video games, sporting goods, toys, clothing, and footwear.
The ban will cover not just direct imports but also goods routed through third countries. Latvia will still allow the transit of Russian- and Belarusian-made goods across its territory to other EU countries.
Latvia’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said Russia uses books and periodicals for propaganda. The government has acknowledged that the ban could raise prices in some sectors but says the affected goods can be replaced with products from other countries.
Since 2022, Latvia’s imports from Russia and Belarus have dropped by 91%, according to an explanatory note attached to the bill. In 2025, they totaled 193 million euros — less than one percent of the country’s total goods imports. Products covered by the planned ban accounted for about 12.5 million euros of that total.
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