Latvia seeks to develop relations with the Russian Federation in accordance with the principles of international law and in line with one of its key foreign policy priorities - the maintenance of good relations with neighbouring countries. Latvia sees its relations with the Russian Federation as taking the form of a constructive dialogue in the context of both bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Bilaterally, cooperation with the Russian Federation is being pursued through:

• political dialogue (meetings of state officials);
• direct contacts between ministries and other state institutions;
• regional and cross-border cooperation.

The legal framework of relations between the two countries is based on about twenty intergovernmental agreements. A number of new agreements have been drafted. Signing of these agreements would boost the current bilateral cooperation and elevate it to a new qualitative level. Among the current priorities in the bilateral relations are signing of Border Treaty and resumption of the work of the intergovernmental committee.

Latvia also promotes its interests with regard to Russia within the framework of the EU-Russia relations, by participating actively in the work of the relevant EU institutions, dealing with specific issues and developing a joint strategy of relations.

History of Diplomatic Relations

On 11 August 1920, the Republic of Latvia and the Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic signed a peace treaty. Article 14 of the Treaty provided for the establishment of diplomatic and consular contacts between the parties upon ratification of the peace treaty.

The Latvian Embassy in Russia

Latvia's first diplomatic representative in Soviet Russia was Ambassador Janis Vesmanis. Mr Vesmanis presented his letter of accreditation on 2 November 1920. The Latvian Embassy was located in Moscow from 1920 to 1940.  

Latvian consular representations in Russia

Latvian consular representations were established during the Civil War period (1919-1920) in Blagoveshchensk and Murmansk. Consular functions were also performed by representatives of the Latvian Interim Government: in Northern Russia by Alfreds Ikners (Archangelsk), in Southern Russia by Kristaps Bahmanis (Kiev) and Rudolfs Liepins (Don and Kuban). From June 1919 to October 1920, Latvia was also represented in Siberia and the Urals by Janis Mazpolis (Vladivostok).  

Following the signing of the peace treaty, the following Latvian consular representations operated in Soviet Russia (as of December 1922 - the USSR):

• Moscow: Consulate-General (1920-1923)
• Petrograd (as of 1924 - Leningrad):
  • Consulate-General (1924-1932, 1937-1938)
  • Consulate (1920-1924, 1932-1937)
• Nizhny Novgorod: Consulate (1920-1921)
• Omsk: Consulate (1921-1923)
• Vitebsk: Consulate (1925-1932)
• Vladivostok: consular agency (1920-1923)

Russian diplomatic and consular representations in Latvia

The first official representative of Soviet Russia in Latvia, Jakov Ganecki, was accredited on 1 October 1920.

The USSR had the following consular representations in Latvia:

• Riga:
  • Consulate-General (1925-1934)
  • Consulate (1938)
• Daugavpils: Consulate (1923-1932)
• Liepaja: Consulate (1923-1932)

On 24 August 1991, the Russian Federation recognised the restored independence of Latvia, and diplomatic relations were renewed on October 4 of the same year.

Diplomatic relations today

Diplomatic and consular representations of the Republic of Latvia in Russia

• Moscow: Embassy
• St Petersburg: Consulate General
• Pskov: Consulate

On 20 April 2005, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia Andris Teikmanis presented his credentials to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

Diplomatic and consular representations of the Russian Federation in Latvia:

• Riga: Embassy
• Daugavpils: Consulate-General
• Liepaja: Consulate-General

The current Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Latvia, Viktor Kalyuzhny, presented his credentials to the President of Latvia, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, on 16 November 2004.

Latvia's economic relations with Russia

Trade (according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia)- 2005

• Exports

1.     Lithuania: USD 508 475 828 or 10.44% of Latvia's total exports;

2.     Estonia: USD 503 341 001 or 10.33%;

3.     United Kingdom: USD 495 507 397 or 10.17%;

4.     Germany: USD 491 767 487 or 10.10%;

5.    Russian Federation: USD 402 303 286 or 8.76%;

• Imports

1.     Germany: USD 1 111 125 953 or 13.58% of Latvia's total imports;

2.     Lithuania: USD 1 102 421 169 or 13.47%;

3.    Russian Federation: USD 735 127 202 or 8.98%;

4.     Estonia: USD 633 062 517 or 7.73%;

5.     Poland: USD 509 018 236 or 6.22%.

Latvia has a negative trade balance with the Russian Federation of USD 332 823 916.

Main export commodities to the Russian Federation by type of commodity in 2005

Type of commodity	USD	Percentage of total exports
Total	402 303 286	100%
Machinery and mechanical appliances; electrical equipment	93 747 508	23.30%
Prepared foodstuffs	80 995 117	20.13%
Products of the chemical and allied industries	56 023 934	13.93%
Textiles and textile articles	36 920 297	9.18%
Base metals and articles of base metals	25 633 580	6.37%
Plastic and plastic articles; indian rubber and rubber articles	22 281 023	5.54%

Main import commodities from the Russian Federation by type of commodity in 2005

Type of commodity	USD	Percentage of total imports
Total	735 127 202	100%
Mineral products	312 515 696	42.51%
Base metals and articles of base metals	125 740 456	17.10%
Wood and articles of wood	110 538 100	15.04%
Products of the chemical and allied industries	45 972 573	6.25%
Machinery and mechanical appliances; electrical equipment	31 307 390	4.26%
Prepared foodstuffs	29 426 613	4%

Trade dynamics between Latvia and the Russian Federation from 1999 –2005, USD

Year	Export	Import
1999	113,409,772	309,444,209
2000	77,857,786	370,436,033
2001	116,928,203	321,948,939
2002	133,744,223	355,462,001
2003	155,814,160	455,445,895
2004	255,175,080	616,527,140
2005	402, 303, 286	735, 127, 202

Investment (according to data from the Bank of Latvia)

At the end of the third quarter of 2005, investment by the Russian Federation in the equity of Latvian enterprises totalled USD 204.5 million.

As of 23 February 2006, there were 2015 Russian-Latvian joint ventures listed in the State Enterprise Register.

The top investors according to Lursoft, based on data from the State Enterprise Register as of 23 February 2006 were as follows: 

	Investor	USD
1	Transnefteprodukt Ao	36,550,700
2	Gazprom	13,566,701
3	Moskovskij Delovoj Mir	5,191,090
4	Moscow Municipal Bank- Bank of Moscow	4,886,250