Latvia in the Eurovision Choir of the Year going to develop a new show to join the existing Eurovision Family of Events. The event was officially confirmed on 30 November 2016, with Latvia chosen to host the inaugural event scheduled to take place on 22 July 2017. On 14 February 2017, it was confirmed that the inaugural contest would take place at the Arena Riga, located in the Latvian capital. The arena is primarily used for ice hockey, basketball and concerts. Riga Arena holds a maximum of 14,500 and was completed in 2006. It was built to be used as one of the venues for the 2006 IIHF
Capital punishment in Latvia Capital punishment in Latvia Capital punishment in Latvia was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1999 and for crimes committed during wartime in 2012. Latvia is party to several international instruments which ban the capital punishment. Latvia regained independence in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union. Subsequently, the death penalty in civilian cases was reserved for murder and the only method of execution, as during Soviet times, was shooting with a single bullet to the back of the head. The last executions took place in January 1996. In October 1996, President Guntis Ulmanis claimed that he would commute any