To strengthen the protection of journalists, researchers, activists and other defenders of the public interest against abusive litigation, on 28 January 2026 the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee approved at first reading a new draft Law on the Protection of Persons Engaged in Public Participation, along with related amendments to the Civil Procedure Law, the Saeima reports.

The aim of the new law is to strengthen protection against manifestly unfounded or abusive litigation.

The draft law provides for the introduction of mechanisms that shield persons acting in the public interest from strategic lawsuits whose purpose is not legal protection but intimidation and exploitation of the court system. In practice, such litigation is most often directed against journalists, civil society representatives, researchers, activists and others engaged in public participation.

The new framework provides for a clear definition of acting in the public interest and of the hallmarks of an abusive claim, gives the court the possibility to dismiss manifestly unfounded or abusive cases at an early stage, and places an obligation on the claimant to cover the defendant's litigation costs where the claim is found to have been abusive. It also provides for increased penalties for the improper exercise of rights and for stronger protection in cases where such claims are brought abroad.

The draft laws transpose into Latvian law the requirements of Directive 2024/1069 on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded claims or abusive court proceedings, while ensuring that the protection mechanisms apply to both cross-border and national civil cases.

The purpose of the draft laws is to promote freedom of expression, strengthen democratic public debate and reduce the risk of litigation being used as a tool to silence critical voices in society.

The new law is expected to enter into force on 7 May 2026. For the law to take effect, it must be considered by the Saeima in three readings.