Latvia Has Banned The Import Of Books, Toys, And Clothing And Footwear From Belarus

• 24.07.2026, 10:12

The Sejm has made a decision.

On July 23, the Latvian Parliament adopted amendments to the law “On Support for Civilian Residents of Ukraine,” which provide for a ban on the import of certain goods from Russia and Belarus, reports Delfi.

The document instructs the government to determine the list of goods subject to the ban. It is known that these may include books and periodicals (primarily in Russian), video games, sporting goods, toys, clothing, and footwear.

The amendments were introduced to further reduce Latvia’s economic ties with Russia and Belarus. They provide for a ban on imports both directly and from third countries. At the same time, the transit of such goods through Latvian territory to other EU countries will not be prohibited.

Foreign Minister Baiba Braže emphasized that Russia uses the distribution of books and periodicals for propaganda purposes, which is something neither Latvia nor the European Union needs.

The explanatory memorandum to the bill notes that a national import ban will not be able to completely prevent these goods from entering the Latvian market. If goods of Russian or Belarusian origin have already been released for free circulation in another EU member state, they may continue to enter Latvia in accordance with the principles of the European Union’s single market.

Therefore, the country’s government emphasized that the proposed regulation also serves as a political signal encouraging a reduction in the consumption of goods from aggressor states.