Section 673. Types of International Co-operation
(2) Criminal-legal co-operation with international courts and with courts and tribunals established by international organisations (hereinafter - the international court) shall provide for the transfer of persons to international courts, for procedural assistance for such courts, and for the execution of the rulings of international courts.
Section 847. Procedures for the Fulfilment of the Request of a Foreign Country
(1) The request of a foreign country regarding the provision of assistance in the performance of a procedural action shall be fulfilled in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Law.
Section 851. Performance of an Investigative Action by Using Technical Means
(1) A procedural action may be performed by using technical means upon the request of a foreign country or upon a proposal of the institution fulfilling the request and with the consent of a foreign country. A person who has the right to defence may be examined by using technical means provided that the person agrees to it.
(2) A competent official of the country that submitted a request shall perform, in accordance with the procedures of such country, a procedural action using technical means. If necessary, an interpreter shall participate in the performance of such procedural action in Latvia or a foreign country.
(3) A representative of the institution that fulfils a request shall certify the identity of involved persons and ensure the progress of a procedural action in Latvia and the conformity thereof to the basic principles of Latvian criminal procedure.
(4) If, in performing a procedural action, the basic principles of Latvian criminal procedure are violated, a
representative of the institution fulfilling a request shall immediately take measures in order for such operation to continue in accordance with the referred to principles.
(5) A person who has been summoned to provide testimony has the right to not provide testimony also in a case where such non-provision of testimony arises from the laws of the country that submitted the request.
Section 858. Transfer of an Object to a Foreign Country
An object necessary as material evidence may be transferred to a foreign country upon request of such foreign country. If necessary, the competent authority of Latvia shall request guarantees that the object will be returned.
Section 859. Procedures for the Issuance of Procedural Documents of a Foreign Country
Upon the request of a foreign country, the competent authority shall organise the issuance of the procedural documents of a foreign country to a person in Latvia. A protocol shall be written regarding such issuance in accordance with the requirements of Section 326 of this Law.
Section 902. Assistance to an International Court in the Performance of Procedural Actions
(1) The competent authority shall, upon request of an international court, organise and provide to such court the necessary assistance in the performance of procedural actions in an investigation and criminal prosecution. A request may also provide for co-operation in the execution of protection measures of victims and witnesses and measures for the purpose of confiscation, particularly in the interests of victims.
(4) Officials authorised by an international court have the right to perform the necessary procedural actions in the territory of Latvia independently or in co-operation with a competent international organisation or competent Latvia institution. If procedural actions are not related to the application of a compulsory measure, an official authorised by an international court, after consultations with the competent authority of Latvia, may perform such activities without the presence of a representative of the competent authority.
Chapter 86 Recognition, Execution, and Taking of a European Protection Order
Section 906. European Protection Order
(1) A European protection order is a decision taken by a competent authority of a European Union Member State to take a protection measure in order to ensure the protection of a victim or witness against a criminal act of a suspect, accused, or convicted person which may endanger his or her life, physical or psychological integrity, dignity, personal liberty or sexual integrity, regardless of the location of the victim or witness (hereinafter - the protected person) in the European Union.
(2) Within the meaning of this Chapter a protection measure is such security measure applied to a suspect, accused, or convicted person which is not related to the deprivation of liberty or an alternative sanction or alternative sanction which provides for a prohibition to visit a certain area, place, or territory, a prohibition to contact the protected person, or a prohibition to approach the protected person.
Section 907. Grounds for Executing a European Protection Order
The grounds for executing a European protection order received from another European Union Member State are as follows:
1) a decision of the State Police to recognise and execute a European protection order;
2) the fact that the protected person plans to live or lives in Latvia or plans to stay or stays in Latvia for not less than three months.
Section 908. Reasons for Refusing Execution of a European Protection Order
(1) Execution of a European protection order may be refused if:
1) the European protection order is incomplete and additionally requested necessary information has not been submitted within the laid down term;
2) the security measure laid down in the European protection order is not related to a prohibition to visit a certain area, place, or territory in which the protected person lives or is visited by, or a prohibition to contact the protected person in any way, or a prohibition to approach the protected person under a certain distance;
3) protection is laid down for such offence which is not criminal in accordance with the Criminal Law;
4) the principle of inadmissibility of double jeopardy (ne bis in idem) would be violated in recognising the European protection order;
5) the immunity from criminal proceedings referred to in Chapter 8 of this Law exists;
6) the limitation period has set in for an offence in relation to which the European protection order was taken;
7) an amnesty act has been adopted which prevents the imposition of a punishment for the relevant criminal offence in relation to which the European protection order was taken;
8) the person to whom a protection measures has been applied has not attained the age at which criminal liability sets in;
9) the protection measure is related to such criminal offence which has been completely or partially committed in the territory of Latvia;
10) the grounds for executing the European protection order laid down in Section 907, Clause 2 of this Law do not exist.
(2) If execution of the European protection order has been refused on the basis of Paragraph one, Clause 3 of this Section, the protected person has the right to request the State Police that it informs the competent authority of the European Union Member State which took the European protection order, regarding violations of the measure laid down in the European protection order.
Section 909. Recognition and Execution of a European Protection Order
(1) The State Police, having received a European protection order from another Member State, shall check whether any of the reasons for refusing execution referred to in Section 908 of this Law exist, and, within 15 days from the day of receipt of the European protection order, take one of the following decisions:
1) to recognise and execute the European protection order;
2) to refuse to recognise the European protection order.
(2) The State Police, in taking a decision to recognise and execute a European protection order, shall determine such protection measure which conforms the most to that laid down in the European protection order. The applicable protection measure shall be determined for a time period provided for in the ruling made in the European Union Member State regarding determination of a protection measure.
(3) If a European protection order is incomplete, the State Police may suspend its recognition, informing the relevant European Union Member State regarding the necessity to provide additional information within a laid down time period.
(4) The State Police shall inform, in writing, the protected person and the relevant suspect, accused, or convicted person regarding the recognised European protection order, as well as the competent authority of the European Union Member State which took the European protection order. The suspect, accused, or convicted person shall also be informed regarding the potential legal consequences in case of violating the protection measure determined.
(5) If a decision to refuse to recognise a European protection order has been taken, the State Police shall inform the protected person and the competent authority of the European Union Member State which took the European protection order about it by sending a copy of the decision. The protected person may dispute a decision to refuse to recognise a European protection order by submitting a relevant submission to the Chief of the State Police. The decision taken by the Chief of the State Police shall not be subject to appeal.
(6) The decision to recognise a European protection order shall be sent for execution according to the place of residence of the protected person.
Section 910. Notification Regarding Violation of the Protection Measure Determined in a European
Protection Order
Having established that a suspect, accused, or convicted person has violated the protection measure determined, the State Police shall, without delay, notify the competent authority of the relevant European Union Member State thereof, using a document of a special sample. The State Police shall provide the translation of the information in the official language of the relevant European Union Member State or in the language which has been indicated by the relevant Member State for the receipt of a European protection order to the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.
Section 911. Decisions of a European Union Member State and Latvia in Relation to the Protection Measure Determined in a European Protection Order and Execution Thereof
(1) Decisions of a European Union Member State to amend, revoke, or withdraw such protection measure which was the grounds for taking a European protection order, shall be binding to Latvia.
(2) The State Police, having received a decision of the European Union Member State to amend the protection measure determined in a European protection order, shall take one of the following decisions:
1) to amend the measure determined;
2) to refuse to implement the amendment protection measure, if it is not related to a prohibition to visit a certain area, place, or territory, a prohibition to contact the protected person, or a prohibition to approach the protected persons.
(3) Execution of a European protection order shall be terminated and a decision in relation thereto shall be taken in the form of a resolution, if:
1) information has been received that the protected person does not live or stay in the territory of Latvia anymore;
2) the maximum term for which application of a protection measure is possible, has expired in Latvia;
3) a decision to revoke or withdraw the protection measure applied has been taken in the relevant European Union Member State.
(4) The State Police shall inform the competent authority of the relevant European Union Member State and, if possible, the protected person in writing regarding the decision taken in the cases provided for in Paragraph two and Paragraph three, Clauses 1 and 2 of this Section.
Section 912. Grounds for Taking a European Protection Order
(1) The grounds for taking a European protection order shall be as follows:
1) a written request of the protected person or his or her guardian or trustee to the State police to take a European protection order in which the information at the disposal of the person regarding criminal proceedings is also indicated;
2) a decision taken by the person directing the proceedings regarding application of such security measure not related to deprivation of liberty or alternative sanction which is related to a prohibition to visit a certain area, place, or territory, a prohibition to contact the protected person, or a prohibition to approach the protected persons;
3) the fact that the protected person plans to live or lives or plans to stay or stays in any other European Union Member State for not less than three months.
(2) The protected person or his or her guardian or trustee may also submit a request to take a European protection order to the person directing the proceedings who shall forward it without delay to the State Police together with information regarding criminal proceedings, classification of the criminal offence, and the decision referred to in Paragraph one, Clause 2 of this Section.
(3) If, having received a request of the protected person or his or her guardian or trustee to take a European protection order to the person directing the proceedings, the State Police establishes that a protection measure has been applied in another European Union Member State, it shall forward such application without delay to the competent authority of the relevant Member State in order to decide on the issue of taking a European protection order.
(4) In order to take a European protection order, the State Police shall request the necessary information from the person directing the proceedings or the institution which controls execution of the ruling.
(5) The State Police, having received a request of the protected person or his or her guardian or trustee to take a European protection order, shall examine it within 15 days and take a decision:
1) to take a European protection order, filling in a document of a special sample;
2) to refuse to take a European protection order.
(6) Taking a European protection order may be refused, if the time period for which the protected person is planning to leave the territory of Latvia, is less than three months.
(7) In taking a European protection order, the State Police shall send it to the person directing the proceedings and the competent authority of such European Union Member State in which the protected person is planning to live or lives, or is planning to stay or stays. The State Police shall ensure the translation of the European protection order in the official language of the relevant European Union Member State or the language which has been indicated for the receipt of the European protection order by the Member State to the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.
(8) The protected person may dispute a decision to refuse to take a European protection order by submitting a relevant submission to the Chief of the State Police. The decision taken by the Chief of the State Police shall not be subject to appeal.
(9) A decision to refuse to take a European protection order shall not be an obstacle for repeat submission of a request.
Section 913. Action of the State Police in Case of Violating the Protection Measure Determined in the
European Protection Order
The State Police, having received information from the competent authority of the European Union Member State regarding a violation of the protection measure specified in a European protection order, shall notify the person directing the proceedings or the institution controlling the execution of the ruling thereof without delay.
Section 914. Amending, Revocation, and Withdrawal of a European Protection Order Taken
(1) The person directing the proceedings or the institution controlling the execution of the ruling shall, without delay, inform the State Police of the decision to amend or revoke the protection measure applied.
(2) After information has been received from the person directing the proceedings or the institution controlling the execution of the ruling on amending or revoking the imposed protection measure, the State Police shall take the decision to amend, revoke, or withdraw a European protection order.
(3) The State Police shall inform the competent authority of such European Union Member State in which the protected person lives or stays, regarding any rulings by which such determined protection measure is amended, revoked, or terminated which had been the grounds for taking a European protection order.
(4) If a protection measure has been determined by a ruling which has been transferred for execution in another European Union Member State that is not the same Member State in which the protected person plans to live or is living, or plans to stay or is staying, or which is transferred after a European protection order has been taken, and if the competent authority of the relevant European Union Member State has taken subsequent decisions concerning the duties or orders included in the protection measure, the State Police shall, without delay, withdraw or revoke the European protection order.
(5) The State Police shall take a decision to revoke or withdraw a European protection order, if:
1) information has been received that the protected person does not live or is not planning to live, or does not stay or is not planning to stay in the territory of such European Union Member State to which the European protection order has been sent;
2) the term determined in the law or ruling for which a protection measure was applied, has expired;
3) a decision to revoke the protection measure applied has been taken.
1. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and under procedures of national law, comply with requests by the Court to provide the following assistance in relation to investigations or prosecutions:
(a) The identification and whereabouts of persons or the location of items;
(b) The taking of evidence, including testimony under oath, and the production of evidence, including expert opinions and reports necessary to the Court;
(c) The questioning of any person being investigated or prosecuted;
(d) The service of documents, including judicial documents;
(e) Facilitating the voluntary appearance of persons as witnesses or experts before the Court;
(f) The temporary transfer of persons as provided in paragraph 7;
(g) The examination of places or sites, including the exhumation and examination of grave sites;
(h) The execution of searches and seizures;
(i) The provision of records and documents, including official records and documents;
(j) The protection of victims and witnesses and the preservation of evidence;
(k) The identification, tracing and freezing or seizure of proceeds, property and assets and instrumentalities of crimes for the purpose of eventual forfeiture, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties; and
(l) Any other type of assistance which is not prohibited by the law of the requested State, with a view to facilitating the investigation and prosecution of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.
2. The Court shall have the authority to provide an assurance to a witness or an expert appearing before the Court that he or she will not be prosecuted, detained or subjected to any restriction of personal freedom by the Court in respect of any act or omission that preceded the departure of that person from the requested State.
3. Where execution of a particular measure of assistance detailed in a request presented under paragraph 1, is prohibited in the requested State on the basis of an existing fundamental legal principle of general application, the requested State shall promptly consult with the Court to try to resolve the matter. In the consultations, consideration should be given to whether the assistance can be rendered in another manner or subject to conditions. If after consultations the matter cannot be resolved, the Court shall modify the request as necessary.
4. In accordance with article 72, a State Party may deny a request for assistance, in whole or in part, only if the request concerns the production of any documents or disclosure of evidence which relates to its national security.
5. Before denying a request for assistance under paragraph 1 (l), the requested State shall consider whether the assistance can be provided subject to specified conditions, or whether the assistance can be provided at a later date or in an alternative manner, provided that if the Court or the Prosecutor accepts the assistance subject to conditions, the Court or the Prosecutor shall abide by them.
6. If a request for assistance is denied, the requested State Party shall promptly inform the Court or the Prosecutor of the reasons for such denial.
(a) The Court may request the temporary transfer of a person in custody for purposes of identification or for obtaining testimony or other assistance. The person may be transferred if the following conditions are fulfilled:
(i) The person freely gives his or her informed consent to the transfer; and
(ii) The requested State agrees to the transfer, subject to such conditions as that State and the Court may agree.
(b) The person being transferred shall remain in custody. When the purposes of the transfer have been fulfilled, the Court shall return the person without delay to the requested State.
(a) The Court shall ensure the confidentiality of documents and information, except as required for the investigation and proceedings described in the request.
(b) The requested State may, when necessary, transmit documents or information to the Prosecutor on a confidential basis. The Prosecutor may then use them solely for the purpose of generating new evidence.
(c) The requested State may, on its own motion or at the request of the Prosecutor, subsequently consent to the disclosure of such documents or information. They may then be used as evidence pursuant to the provisions of Parts 5 and 6 and in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
(i) In the event that a State Party receives competing requests, other than for surrender or extradition, from the Court and from another State pursuant to an international obligation, the State Party shall endeavour, in consultation with the Court and the other State, to meet both requests, if necessary by postponing or attaching conditions to one or the other request.
(ii) Failing that, competing requests shall be resolved in accordance with the principles established in article 90.
(b) Where, however, the request from the Court concerns information, property or persons which are subject to the control of a third State or an international organization by virtue of an international agreement, the requested States shall so inform the Court and the Court shall direct its request to the third State or international organization.
(a) The Court may, upon request, cooperate with and provide assistance to a State Party conducting an investigation into or trial in respect of conduct which constitutes a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court or which constitutes a serious crime under the national law of the requesting State.
(b)
(i) The assistance provided under subparagraph (a) shall include, inter alia:
a. The transmission of statements, documents or other types of evidence obtained in the course of an investigation or a trial conducted by the Court; and
b. The questioning of any person detained by order of the Court;
(ii) In the case of assistance under subparagraph (b) (i) a:
a. If the documents or other types of evidence have been obtained with the assistance of a State, such transmission shall require the consent of that State;
b. If the statements, documents or other types of evidence have been provided by a witness or expert, such transmission shall be subject to the provisions of article 68.
(c) The Court may, under the conditions set out in this paragraph, grant a request for assistance under this paragraph from a State which is not a Party to this Statute.
1. A request for other forms of assistance referred to in article 93 shall be made in writing. In urgent cases, a request may be made by any medium capable of delivering a written record, provided that the request shall be confirmed through the channel provided for in article 87, paragraph 1 (a).
2. The request shall, as applicable, contain or be supported by the following:
(a) A concise statement of the purpose of the request and the assistance sought, including the legal basis and the grounds for the request;
(b) As much detailed information as possible about the location or identification of any person or place that must be found or identified in order for the assistance sought to be provided;
(c) A concise statement of the essential facts underlying the request;
(d) The reasons for and details of any procedure or requirement to be followed;
(e) Such information as may be required under the law of the requested State in order to execute the request; and
(f) Any other information relevant in order for the assistance sought to be provided.
3. Upon the request of the Court, a State Party shall consult with the Court, either generally or with respect to a specific matter, regarding any requirements under its national law that may apply under paragraph 2 (e). During the consultations, the State Party shall advise the Court of the specific requirements of its national law.
4. The provisions of this article shall, where applicable, also apply in respect of a request for assistance made to the Court.