Freedom of Expression/History/Country sources/Latvia
What is the oldest written source in this country that mentions this right?
Latvia
The earliest modern legal assertion of freedom of expression in Latvia can be traced to the amendments made in October 1998 to its Constitution (the Satversme), which was originally adopted in 1922 and reinstated on August 21, 1991, following Latvia's independence from Soviet control.
These 1998 amendments formally incorporated human rights protections, including freedom of expression, which were previously safeguarded under an interim Constitutional Law. Article 100 of the 1998 states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to freely receive, keep, produce and disseminate information and to express his or her views. Censorship is prohibited."
References:
Jānis Pleps, "The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia: History and Modern Days," (Riga: University of Latvia, 2016), URL: https://tzpi.lu.lv/files/2016/05/Satversme_Pleps_angliski.pdf
"Constitution of Latvia," Constitute Project, accessed June 11, 2024, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Latvia_2016
"Constitution of the Republic of Latvia." Saeima of the Republic of Latvia. Accessed June 5, 2024. https://www.saeima.lv/LapasEnglish/Constitution_Visa.htm#:~:text=100.,Censorship%20is%20prohibited