Latvia - Rape
This resource includes the legal definitions of different types of gender-based violence used in EU Member States, according to their legal terminology and national legislation. It was last updated in 2019 and makes a reference to the United Kingdom as a member state of the European Union.
For a person who commits an act of sexual intercourse by means of violence, threats or taking advantage of the state of helplessness of a victim (rape), the applicable punishment is deprivation of liberty for a term of not less than two and not exceeding ten years, probationary supervision for a term not exceeding three years.
Legal Source
Criminal Code, Section 159
Observations
Special circumstances:
- For a person who commits rape where commission is by a person who has previously committed rape or commission is by a group of persons, or who commits rape of a minor, the applicable punishment is deprivation of liberty for a term of not less than five years and not exceeding fifteen years, with probationary supervision for a term not exceeding three years.
- For a person who commits rape, if serious consequences are caused thereby, or commits rape of an under aged person, the applicable punishment is life imprisonment, or deprivation of liberty for a term of not less than ten years and not exceeding twenty years, probationary supervision for a term not exceeding three years.