On 16 October 2026, the Constitutional Court adopted a judgment in case No. 2025-22-03 by which it recognised that the prohibition on organising gambling in Daugavpils in the vicinity of certain localities is in conformity with the first three sentences of Article 105 of the Constitution. The case was initiated on the basis of constitutional complaints submitted by commercial companies, organisers of gambling. The applicants considered that the contested provisions prohibited the organisation of gambling in the entire territory of Daugavpils. The Constitutional Court concluded that a municipality is entitled to determine the places where the organisation of gambling is prohibited, but such a prohibition must be justified by the characteristics of the specific places or territories. The Court found that the prohibition of the establishment of gaming halls within 150 metres of buildings with a high daily flow of people was justified. The Court emphasized that the availability of gaming halls is one of the factors that contribute to gambling addiction. Limiting the location of gaming halls near residential areas and buildings frequently visited on a daily basis reduces the possibility of entering them unplanned. The Court also took into account that gambling may still be organised in places that are not densely populated, as well as in certain hotels and public buildings. The contested provisions serve a broader and long-term purpose: the protection of the interests of the entire society; in addition, the legal framework does not provide for a complete ban on the organisation of gambling. A fair balance is thus ensured between the protection of the public interest and the right to property of economic operators.
On 13 October 2026, the Constitutional Court adopted a decision on the procedure for deciding on challenges at the stage of examining an application. In the future, a challenge to a judge of the Constitutional Court at this stage will be decided by the panel or the preparatory hearing to which the application in question has been assigned. The hearing shall hear the judge against whom the challenge is made, but the decision shall be adopted by the remaining members of the panel by a majority vote. If the vote is even, the judge shall be disqualified.
In October, the Constitutional Court initiated the examination of four cases in written proceedings:
No. 2025-36-01 on the possibility for religious organisations to apply for equal rights already granted to other religious organisations;
No. 2024-01-01 on the publication of personal data of shareholders;
No. 2025-39-01 on the right to access classified information justifying the entry ban and expulsion of a foreigner from Latvia;
No. 2025-32-03 on restrictions on the organisation of gambling in Riga.
The Constitutional Court was preparing 12 cases. In addition to the four cases, the type and date of the proceedings of which had already been determined, the Constitutional Court determined it for one more case.
In October, 29 applications were submitted to the Constitutional Court. Two applications were submitted by courts hearing administrative cases, one application was submitted by a court hearing a criminal case, and 26 applications – by individuals.
The Constitutional Court initiated three cases:
No. 2026-17-03 on the restriction to receive state aid for the purchase of a solar power plant from an economic operator upon application of a natural person;
No. 2026-18-01 on the rights of detained persons to a long-term meeting, following an application by the Administrative District Court;
No. 2026-19-0103 on the determination of the maximum purchase price of thermal energy, following an application by the Administrative District Court.
Also, 27 decisions were taken to refuse to initiate proceedings in response to the following applications:
Application No. 148/2026 on the regulation of the Law on Service Pensions of Employees with Special Service Ranks Working in the System of the Ministry of the Interior, which does not provide for the right to a service pension for employees of the Financial Police Department of the State Revenue Service. Decision on the application.
Application No. 149/2026 on the regulation of the Criminal Procedure Law that determines the procedure for appealing issues related to the enforcement of a judgment, as well as the review of court decisions that have entered into force. Decision on the application.
Application No. 156/2026 regarding Paragraph 115 of the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of 19 December 2023 (Minutes No. 62) and Paragraph 53 of the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of 25 June 2024 (Minutes No. 26), by which the Cabinet of Ministers, as the highest decision-making body of the state capital company “Latvijas valsts meži”, has set tasks for the Ministry of Agriculture. Decision on the application.
Application No. 159/2026 on the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law that do not provide for the right to appeal a decision to request non-disclosable information from credit institutions. Decision on the application.
Application No. 168/2026 on the provisions of the Criminal Law that establish criminal liability for the possession of an unauthorised means of communication in a place of imprisonment. Decision on the application.
Application No. 169/2026 on the provisions of Regulation No. 85 “Regulations on the Supply and Use of Natural Gas” adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 9 February 2016, which determined the calculation of the amount of natural gas consumed in the event of violations of the rules for the use of natural gas. Decision on the application.
Application No. 170/2026 on the regulation of the Criminal Procedure Law regarding the rights of the relatives of a deceased accused to request the continuation of criminal proceedings for the judicial rehabilitation of the deceased. Decision on the application.
Application No. 171/2026 on the regulation of the Criminal Law, the Sentence Execution Code of Latvia and the Criminal Procedure Law for the execution of the sentence imposed by the judgment and the release of the convicted person from further serving of the sentence. Decision on the application.
Application No. 172/2026 on the provisions of Regulation No. 309 “Regulations on the Felling of Trees Outside Forests” adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 2 May 2012, which do not provide for the right of the owner to fell trees in a detached house building area without the permission of the local government. Decision on the application.
Application No. 173/2026 on the provisions of Regulation No 317 “Procedure for the Establishment, Supplementation, and Keeping of the Register of Medical Practitioners and Medical Support Persons” adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 24 May 2016, which provided for the Health Inspectorate’s obligation to make entries in the register if a medical practitioner was subject to a restriction on professional activity in criminal proceedings, and the provisions of Regulation No. 309 “Regulation of the Health Inspectorate” adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 9 July 2019, which defined the functions of the Health Inspectorate. Decision on the application.
Application No. 174/2026 on the provisions of the Civil Procedure Law, according to which the refusal to initiate appellate proceedings in a simplified procedure case is drawn up in the form of a resolution and is not subject to appeal. Decision on the application.
Application No. 175/2026 on the provisions of the Criminal Law, according to which early release from punishment is not applied if it is imposed on an adult for committing certain types of particularly serious crimes. Decision on the application.
Application No. 176/2026 on the provisions of the Law on Administrative Liability that determine the procedure and time limit for filing a prosecutor's protest. Decision on the application.
Application No. 177/2026 on the Sports Law, insofar as it did not provide for effective protection of the rights of the person in the procedure for the imposition of a sports penalty. Decision on the application.
Application No. 179/2026 on the regulation of the Criminal Procedure Law insofar as it does not provide for a new examination of a court decision due to a material or procedural violation of the law in the process regarding criminally acquired property. Decision on the application.
Application No. 180/2026 on the regulation of the Criminal Procedure Law insofar as it does not provide the victim with the right to be heard and to appeal a decision in a procedure in which a decision is made on the reduction of the sentence of a convicted person. Decision on the application.
Application No. 181/2026 on the provisions of the Law on Scientific Activity and the Law on Higher Education Institutions that regulated the status of academic positions in scientific institutions and the procedure for election to these positions. Decision on the application.
Application No. 182/2026 on the regulation of the Law on Compensation for Damage Caused in Criminal Proceedings and Administrative Offence Proceedings, insofar as it does not provide for the right of a third party to compensation for losses caused by a lawful search. Decision on the application.
Application No. 183/2026 on the cases provided for in the Insolvency Law where the debt discharge procedure may not be applied or terminated. Decision on the application.
Application No. 184/2026 on the provisions of the Civil Law that regulate the form and validity of a contract of assignment. Decision on the application.
Application No. 186/2026 on the provisions of Regulation No 444 “Amendments to Regulation No 555 “Procedures for the Organisation of and Payment for Health Care Services” adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 28 August 2018” adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 28 July 2026, which regulate the organising and payment of inpatient health care services. Decision on the application.
Application No. 188/2026 on the regulation of the Criminal Procedure Law regarding the provision of information to persons related to property, their procedural rights and the court proceedings on property acquired through criminal means. Decision on the application.
Application No. 189/2026 on the binding regulations No. 10 of the Limbaži Municipality Council of 26 March 2026 “Local plan for the amendment of the territorial plan for the second part of the wind park “Aloja” in the Braslava Parish, Limbaži Municipality”, which set out requirements for the use and development of the territory. Decision on the application.
Application No. 194/2026 on the regulation of the concept of criminally acquired property, the handling of such property, and the court proceedings on criminally acquired property in the Criminal Procedure Law and the Criminal Law. Decision on the application.
Application No. 196/2026 on the regulation of the Administrative Procedure Law regarding the extension of procedural time limits and the restoration of a missed time limit. Decision on the application.
Application No. 200/2026 on the obligation of a passport holder to keep the passport under the Personal Identification Documents Law and on the administrative liability for damaging the passport. Decision on the application.
Application No. 203/2026 on the provisions of the Civil Procedure Law that determine the amount of expenses for the payment of legal aid in property-related claims. Decision on the application.
The information is provided to promote the understanding of the work of the Constitutional Court. It shall not be considered as part of the ruling and shall not be binding on the Constitutional Court.