The Latvian government has taken a significant step towards enabling the extradition of its citizens to the United Kingdom for criminal prosecution, as evidenced by the approval of a relevant draft law by the Cabinet. The Justice Ministry clarified that currently, extradition is only possible for Latvia's citizens to EU countries and a select few others, including the US and Australia, as part of established international agreements. This new legislation marks a departure from previous practices, following the UK’s exit from the EU, which altered the landscape of extradition agreements.

The proposed law addresses the legal framework for extraditing both citizens and non-citizens of Latvia to the UK for prosecution and execution of sentences. Latvian officials noted that prior to Brexit, the country had a different extradition arrangement with the UK as an EU member state. This legislative change is crucial, especially given the growing requests from British authorities for extradition assistance, emphasizing the need for Latvia to align its legal processes with such international demands.

Furthermore, it is important to note that Latvia has laid down a reservation regarding Article 603 of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, asserting that Latvian citizens are not to be extradited to the UK. However, this reservation has not yet been ratified by the Latvian parliament, making the upcoming decision a pivotal moment in shaping how Latvia navigates its post-Brexit extradition policy. This move illustrates Latvia's commitment to cooperation in legal matters concerning international criminal justice and highlights the complexities arising from changing international relations following the UK’s departure from the EU.