Crime, Legislation, Lithuania, Society

According to Spure, there were 87 foreign nationals in Latvian prisons this past January, while at the moment there are 149 foreign nationals in Latvia's prisons. In the meantime, the total number of inmates continues to reduce. A year ago, there were 4,770 inmates in Latvia, while now the total number of prison inmates is 4,325, and Spure expects the number to continue to reduce in the future.

Most foreign nationals in prisons of Latvia – fifty – are citizens of Vietnam detained for illegally crossing into Latvia.

It is often difficult to communicate with foreigners who land in Latvia's prisons as they speak neither Russian nor English, and it is impossible to have an interpreter on hand at all times. Therefore these persons may fail to timely receive help should they have any health problems for instance, as they may be unable to explain what is wrong with them, said Spure.

In addition, foreign nationals who are sent to prison in Latvia often have chronic diseases, including tuberculosis, which may be very dangerous to other inmates.