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The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia

The people of Latvia, in freely elected Constitutional Assembly, have adopted the fol owing State

Constitution:

The State of Latvia, proclaimed on 18 November 1918, has been established by uniting historical Latvian

lands and on the basis of the unwavering will of the Latvian nation to have its own State and its

inalienable right of self-determination in order to guarantee the existence and development of the Latvian

nation, its language and culture throughout the centuries, to ensure freedom and promote welfare of the

people of Latvia and each individual.

The people of Latvia won their State in the War of Liberation. They consolidated the system of

government and adopted the Constitution in a freely elected Constitutional Assembly.

The people of Latvia did not recognize the occupation regimes, resisted them and regained their freedom

by restoring national independence on 4 May 1990 on the basis of continuity of the State. They honour

their freedom fighters, commemorate victims of foreign powers, condemn the Communist and Nazi

totalitarian regimes and their crimes.

Latvia as democratic, social y responsible and national state is based on the rule of law and on respect

for human dignity and freedom; it recognises and protects fundamental human rights and respects ethnic

minorities. The people of Latvia protect their sovereignty, national independence, territory, territorial

integrity and democratic system of government of the State of Latvia.

Since ancient times, the identity of Latvia in the European cultural space has been shaped by Latvian and

Liv traditions, Latvian folk wisdom, the Latvian language, universal human and Christian values. Loyalty

to Latvia, the Latvian language as the only official language, freedom, equality, solidarity, justice, honesty,

work ethic and family are the foundations of a cohesive society. Each individual takes care of oneself,

one’s relatives and the common good of society by acting responsibly toward other people, future

generations, the environment and nature.

While acknowledging its equal status in the international community, Latvia protects its national interests

and promotes sustainable and democratic development of a united Europe and the world.

God, bless Latvia!

[19 June 2014]


Chapter I

General Provisions

1. Latvia is an independent democratic republic.

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2. The sovereign power of the State of Latvia is vested in the people of Latvia.

3. The territory of the State of Latvia, within the borders established by international agreements, consists

of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme and Zemgale.

4. The Latvian language is the official language in the Republic of Latvia. The national flag of Latvia shal

be red with a band of white.

[15 October 1998]


Chapter II

The Saeima

5. The Saeima shal be composed of one hundred representatives of the people.

6. The Saeima shal be elected in general, equal and direct elections, and by secret bal ot based on

proportional representation.

7. In the division of Latvia into separate electoral districts, provision for the number of members of the

Saeima to be elected from each district shal be proportional to the number of electors in each district.

8. Al citizens of Latvia who enjoy ful rights of citizenship and, who on election day have attained eighteen

years of age shal be entitled to vote.

9. Any citizen of Latvia, who enjoys ful rights of citizenship and, who is more than twenty-one years of

age on the first day of elections may be elected to the Saeima.

10. The Saeima shal be elected for a term of four years.

11. Elections for the Saeima shal be held on the first Saturday in October.

12. The newly elected Saeima shal hold its first sitting on the first Tuesday in November, when the

mandate of the previous Saeima shal expire.

13. Should elections for the Saeima, by reason of the dissolution of the previous Saeima, be held at

another time of the year, the Saeima so elected shal convene not later than one month after its election,

and its mandate shal expire upon the convening of the new Saeima on the first Tuesday in November

fol owing the elapse of three years after such election.

14. Not less than one tenth of electors has the right to initiate a national referendum regarding recal ing of

the Saeima. If the majority of voters and at least two thirds of the number of the voters who participated in

the last elections of the Saeima vote in the national referendum regarding recal ing of the Saeima, then

the Saeima shal be deemed recal ed. The right to initiate a national referendum regarding recal ing of the

Saeima may not be exercised one year after the convening of the Saeima and one year before the end of

the term of office of the Saeima, during the last six months of the term of office of the President, as wel

as earlier than six months after the previous national referendum regarding recal ing of the Saeima.

The electors may not recal any individual member of the Saeima.

15. The Saeima shal hold its sittings in Rīga, and only in extraordinary circumstances may it convene

elsewhere.

16. The Saeima shal elect a Presidium that shal be composed of a Chairperson, two Deputies and

Secretaries. The Presidium shal function continuously during the mandate of the Saeima.

17. The first sitting of the newly elected Saeima shal be opened by the Chairperson of the preceding

Saeima or by another member of the Presidium at the direction of the Presidium.

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18. The Saeima itself shal review the qualifications of its members.

A person elected to the Saeima shal acquire the mandate of a Member of the Saeima if such person

gives the fol owing solemn promise:

“I, upon assuming the duties of a Member of the Saeima, before the people of Latvia, do swear (solemnly

promise) to be loyal to Latvia, to strengthen its sovereignty and the Latvian language as the only official

language, to defend Latvia as an independent and democratic State, and to fulfil my duties honestly and

conscientiously. I undertake to observe the Constitution and laws of Latvia."

19. The Presidium shal convene sessions of the Saeima and schedule regular and extraordinary sittings.

20. The Presidium shal convene sittings of the Saeima if requested by the President, the Prime Minister,

or not less than one third of the members of the Saeima.

21. The Saeima shal establish rules of order to provide for its internal operations and order. The working

language of the Saeima is the Latvian language.

22. Sittings of the Saeima shal be public. The Saeima may decide by a majority vote of not less than two-

thirds of the members present to sit in closed session, if so requested by ten members of the Saeima, or

by the President, the Prime Minister, or a Minister.

23. Sittings of the Saeima may take place if at least half of the members of the Saeima participate therein.

24. The Saeima shal make decisions by an absolute majority of votes of the members present at the

sitting, except in cases specifical y set out in the Constitution.

25. The Saeima shal establish committees and determine the number of members and their duties.

Committees have the right to require of individual Ministers or local government authorities information

and explanations necessary for the work of the committees, and the right to invite to their sittings

responsible representatives from the relevant ministries or local government authorities to furnish

explanations. Committees may also carry on their work between sessions of the Saeima.

26. The Saeima shal appoint parliamentary investigatory committees for specified matters if not less than

one-third of its members request it.

27. The Saeima shal have the right to submit to the Prime Minister or to an individual Minister requests

and questions which either they, or a responsible government official duly authorised by them, must

answer. The Prime Minister or any Minister shal furnish the relevant documents and enactments

requested by the Saeima or by any of its committees.

28. Members of the Saeima may not be cal ed to account by any judicial, administrative or disciplinary

process in connection with their voting or their views as expressed during the execution of their duties.

Court proceedings may be brought against members of the Saeima if they, albeit in the course of

performing parliamentary duties, disseminate:

1) defamatory statements which they know to be false, or

2) defamatory statements about private or family life.

29. Members of the Saeima shal not be arrested, nor shal their premises be searched, nor shal their

personal liberty be restricted in any way without the consent of the Saeima. Members of the Saeima may

be arrested if apprehended in the act of committing a crime. The Presidium shal be notified within twenty-

four hours of the arrest of any member of the Saeima; the Presidium shal raise the matter at the next

sitting of the Saeima for decision as to whether the member shal continue to be held in detention or be

released. When the Saeima is not in session, pending the opening of a session, the Presidium shal

decide whether the member of the Saeima shal remain in detention.

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30. Without the consent of the Saeima, criminal prosecution may not be commenced and administrative

fines may not be levied against its members.

31. Members of the Saeima have the right to refuse to give evidence:

1) concerning persons who have entrusted to them, as representatives of the people, certain facts or

information;

2) concerning persons to whom they, as representatives of the people, have entrusted certain facts or

information; or

3) concerning such facts or information itself.

32. Members of the Saeima may not, either personal y or in the name of another person, receive

government contracts or concessions. The provisions of this Article shal apply to Ministers even if they

are not members of the Saeima.

33. The remuneration of members of the Saeima shal be from state funds.

34. No person may be cal ed to account for reporting the sittings of the Saeima or its committees if such

reports correspond to fact. Information about closed sessions of either the Saeima or its committees may

only be disclosed with the permission of the Presidium of the Saeima or the committee.

[27 January 1994; 4 December 1997; 15 October 1998; 30 April 2002; 8 April 2009]


Chapter III

The President

35. The Saeima shal elect the President for a term of four years.

36. The President shal be elected by secret bal ot with a majority of the votes of not less than fifty-one

members of the Saeima.

37. Any person who enjoys ful rights of citizenship and who has attained the age of forty years may be

elected President. A person with dual citizenship may not be elected President.

38. The office of the President shal not be held concurrently with any other office. If the person elected as

President is a member of the Saeima, he or she shal resign his or her mandate as a member of the

Saeima.

39. The same person shal not hold office as President for more than eight consecutive years.

40. The President, upon taking up the duties of office, at a sitting of the Saeima, shal take the fol owing

solemn oath:

“I swear that al of my work will be dedicated to the welfare of the people of Latvia. I will do everything in

my power to promote the prosperity of the Republic of Latvia and al who live here. I will hold sacred and

wil observe the Constitution of Latvia and the laws of the State. I wil act justly towards al and wil fulfil my

duties conscientiously.”

41. The President shal represent the State in international relations, appoint the diplomatic

representatives of Latvia, and also receive diplomatic representatives of other states. The President shal

implement the decisions of the Saeima concerning the ratification of international agreements.

42. The President shal be the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Latvia. During wartime, the

President shal appoint a Supreme Commander.

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43. The President shal declare war on the basis of a decision of the Saeima.

44. The President has the right to take whatever steps are necessary for the military defence of the State

should another state declare war on Latvia or an enemy invade its borders. Concurrently and without

delay, the President shal convene the Saeima, which shal decide as to the declaration and

commencement of war.

45. The President has the right to grant clemency to criminals against whom judgment of the court has

come into legal effect. The extent of, and procedures for, the utilization of this right shal be set out in a

specific law. The Saeima grants amnesty.

46. The President has the right to convene and to preside over extraordinary meetings of the Cabinet and

to determine the agenda of such meetings.

47. The President has the right to initiate legislation.

48. The President shal be entitled to propose the dissolution of the Saeima. Fol owing this proposal, a

national referendum shal be held. If in the referendum more than half of the votes are cast in favour of

dissolution, the Saeima shal be considered dissolved, new elections cal ed, and such elections held no

later than two months after the date of the dissolution of the Saeima.

49. If the Saeima has been dissolved or recal ed, the mandate of the members of the Saeima shal

continue to be in effect until the convening of the newly elected Saeima, but the former Saeima may only

hold sittings upon the request of the President. The President shal determine the agenda of such sittings

of the Saeima. New elections shal take place not earlier than one month and not later than two months

after recal ing of the Saeima.

50. If in the referendum more than half of the votes are cast against the dissolution of the Saeima, then

the President shal be deemed to be removed from office, and the Saeima shal elect a new President to

serve for the remaining term of office of the President so removed.

51. Upon the proposal of not less than half of al of the members of the Saeima, the Saeima may decide,

in closed session and with a majority vote of not less than two-thirds of al of its members, to remove the

President from office.

52. If the President resigns from office, dies or is removed from office before their term has ended, the

Chairperson of the Saeima shal assume the duties of the President until the Saeima has elected a new

President. Similarly, the Chairperson of the Saeima shal assume the duties of the President if the latter is

away from Latvia or for any other reason unable to fulfil the duties of office.

53. Political responsibility for the fulfilment of presidential duties shal not be borne by the President. Al

orders of the President shal be jointly signed by the Prime Minister or by the appropriate Minister, who

shal thereby assume ful responsibility for such orders except in the cases specified in Articles forty-eight

and fifty-six.

54. The President may be subject to criminal liability if the Saeima consents thereto by a majority vote of

not less than two-thirds.

[4 December 1997; 3 May 2007; 8 April 2009]


Chapter IV

The Cabinet

55. The Cabinet shal be composed of the Prime Minister and the Ministers chosen by the Prime Minister.

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56. The Cabinet shal be formed by the person who has been invited by the President to do so.

57. The number of ministries and the scope of their responsibilities, as wel as the relations between State

institutions, shal be as provided for by law.

58. The administrative institutions of the State shal be under the authority of the Cabinet.

59. In order to fulfil their duties, the Prime Minister and other Ministers must have the confidence of the

Saeima and they shal be accountable to the Saeima for their actions. If the Saeima expresses no

confidence in the Prime Minister, the entire Cabinet shal resign. If there is an expression of no confidence

in an individual Minister, then the Minister shal resign and another person shal be invited to replace them

by the Prime Minister.

60. Meetings of the Cabinet shal be chaired by the Prime Minister, and in the absence of the Prime

Minister, by a Minister authorised to do so by the Prime Minister.

61. The Cabinet shal deliberate draft laws prepared by individual ministries as wel as matters which

pertain to the activities of more than one ministry, and issues of State policy raised by individual members

of Cabinet.

62. If the State is threatened by an external enemy, or if an internal insurrection which endangers the

existing political system arises or threatens to arise in the State or in any part of the State, the Cabinet

has the right to proclaim a state of emergency and shal inform the Presidium within twenty-four hours

and the Presidium shal , without delay, present such decision of the Cabinet to the Saeima.

63. Ministers, even if they are not members of the Saeima, and responsible government officials

authorised by a Minister, have the right to attend sittings of the Saeima and its committees and to submit

additions and amendments to draft laws.


Chapter V

Legislation

64. The Saeima, and also the people, have the right to legislate, in accordance with the procedures, and

to the extent, provided for by this Constitution.

65. Draft laws may be submitted to the Saeima by the President, the Cabinet or committees of the

Saeima, by not less than five members of the Saeima, or, in accordance with the procedures and in the

cases provided for in this Constitution, by one-tenth of the electorate.

66. Annual y, before the commencement of each financial year, the Saeima shal determine the State

Revenues and Expenditures Budget, the draft of which shal be submitted to the Saeima by the Cabinet.

If the Saeima makes a decision that involves expenditures not included in the Budget, then this decision

must also al ocate funds to cover such expenditures.

After the end of the budgetary year, the Cabinet shal submit an accounting of budgetary expenditures for

the approval of the Saeima.

67. The Saeima shal determine the size of the armed forces of the State during peacetime.

68. Al international agreements, which settle matters that may be decided by the legislative process, shal

require ratification by the Saeima.

Upon entering into international agreements, Latvia, with the purpose of strengthening democracy, may

delegate a part of its State institution competencies to international institutions. The Saeima may ratify

international agreements in which a part of State institution competencies are delegated to international

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institutions in sittings in which at least two-thirds of the members of the Saeima participate, and a two-

thirds majority vote of the members present is necessary for ratification.

Membership of Latvia in the European Union shal be decided by a national referendum, which is

proposed by the Saeima.

Substantial changes in the terms regarding the membership of Latvia in the European Union shal be

decided by a national referendum if such referendum is requested by at least one-half of the members of

the Saeima.

69. The President shal proclaim laws passed by the Saeima not earlier than the tenth day and not later

than the twenty-first day after the law has been adopted. A law shal come into force fourteen days after

its proclamation unless a different term has been specified in the law.

70. The President shal proclaim adopted laws in the fol owing manner:

“The Saeima (that is, the People) has adopted and the President has proclaimed the fol owing law: (text

of the law).”

71. Within ten days of the adoption of a law by the Saeima, the President, by means of a written and

reasoned request to the Chairperson of the Saeima, may require that a law be reconsidered. If the

Saeima does not amend the law, the President then may not raise objections a second time.

72. The President has the right to suspend the proclamation of a law for a period of two months. The

President shal suspend the proclamation of a law if so requested by not less than one-third of the

members of the Saeima. This right may be exercised by the President, or by one-third of the members of

the Saeima, within ten days of the adoption of the law by the Saeima. The law thus suspended shal be

put to a national referendum if so requested by not less than one-tenth of the electorate. If no such

request is received during the aforementioned two-month period, the law shal then be proclaimed after

the expiration of such period. A national referendum shal not take place, however, if the Saeima again

votes on the law and not less than three-quarters of al members of the Saeima vote for the adoption of

the law.

73. The Budget and laws concerning loans, taxes, customs duties, railroad tariffs, military conscription,

declaration and commencement of war, peace treaties, declaration of a state of emergency and its

termination, mobilisation and demobilisation, as wel as agreements with other nations may not be

submitted to national referendum.

74. A law adopted by the Saeima and suspended pursuant to the procedures specified in Article seventy-

two shal be repealed by national referendum if the number of voters is at least half of the number of

electors as participated in the previous Saeima election and if the majority has voted for repeal of the law.

75. Should the Saeima, by not less than a two thirds majority vote, determine a law to be urgent, the

President may not request reconsideration of such law, it may not be submitted to national referendum,

and the adopted law shal be proclaimed no later than the third day after the President has received it.

76. The Saeima may amend the Constitution in sittings at which at least two-thirds of the members of the

Saeima participate. The amendments shal be passed in three readings by a majority of not less than two-

thirds of the members present.

77. If the Saeima has amended the first, second, third, fourth, sixth or seventy-seventh Article of the

Constitution, such amendments, in order to come into force as law, shal be submitted to a national

referendum.

78. Electors, in number comprising not less than one tenth of the electorate, have the right to submit a

ful y elaborated draft of an amendment to the Constitution or of a law to the President, who shal present it

to the Saeima. If the Saeima does not adopt it without change as to its content, it shal then be submitted

to national referendum.

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79. An amendment to the Constitution submitted for national referendum shal be deemed adopted if at

least half of the electorate has voted in favour. A draft law, decision regarding membership of Latvia in the

European Union or substantial changes in the terms regarding such membership submitted for national

referendum shal be deemed adopted if the number of voters is at least half of the number of electors as

participated in the previous Saeima election and if the majority has voted in favour of the draft law,

membership of Latvia in the European Union or substantial changes in the terms regarding such

membership.

80. Al citizens of Latvia who have the right to vote in elections of the Saeima may participate in national

referendums.

81. [3 May 2007]

[21 March 1933; 4 December 1997; 15 October 1998; 8 May 2003; 23 September 2004; 3 May 2007]


Chapter VI

Courts

82. In Latvia, court cases shal be heard by district (city) courts, regional courts and the Supreme Court,

but in the event of war or a state of emergency, also by military courts.

83. Judges shal be independent and subject only to the law.

84. Judicial appointments shal be confirmed by the Saeima and they shal be irrevocable. The Saeima

may remove judges from office against their wil only in the cases provided for by law, based upon a

decision of the Judicial Disciplinary Board or a judgment of the Court in a criminal case. The age of

retirement from office for judges may be determined by law.

85.In Latvia, there shal be a Constitutional Court, which, within its jurisdiction as provided for by law, shal

review cases concerning the conformity of laws with the Constitution, as wel as other cases conferred

within the jurisdiction thereof by law. The Constitutional Court is entitled to declare laws or other

enactments or parts thereof invalid. The Saeima shal confirm the appointment of judges to the

Constitutional Court for the term provided for by law, with a majority of the votes of not less than fifty-one

members of the Saeima.

[19 September 2013]

86. Decisions in court proceedings may be made only by bodies upon which jurisdiction regarding such

has been conferred by law, and only in accordance with procedures provided for by law. Military courts

shal act on the basis of a specific law.

[5 June 1996; 4 December 1997; 15 October 1998]


Chapter VII

The State Audit Office

87. The State Audit Office shal be an independent col egial institution.

88. Auditors General shal be appointed to their office and confirmed pursuant to the same procedures as

judges, but only for a fixed period of time, during which they may be removed from office only by a

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judgment of the Court. A specific law shal provide for the organisation and responsibilities of the State

Audit Office.

Chapter VIII

Fundamental Human Rights

89. The State shal recognise and protect fundamental human rights in accordance with this Constitution,

laws and international agreements binding upon Latvia.

90. Everyone has the right to know about his or her rights.

91. Al human beings in Latvia shal be equal before the law and the courts.

Human rights shal be realised without discrimination of any kind.

92. Everyone has the right to defend his or her rights and lawful interests in a fair court. Everyone shal be

presumed innocent until his or her guilt has been established in accordance with law. Everyone, where

his or her rights are violated without basis, has a right to commensurate compensation. Everyone has a

right to the assistance of counsel.

93. The right to life of everyone shal be protected by law.

94. Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one may be deprived of or have their

liberty restricted, otherwise than in accordance with law.

95. The State shal protect human honour and dignity. Torture or other cruel or degrading treatment of

human beings is prohibited. No one shal be subjected to inhuman or degrading punishment.

96. Everyone has the right to inviolability of his or her private life, home and correspondence.

97. Everyone residing lawful y in the territory of Latvia has the right to freely move and to choose his or

her place of residence.

98. Everyone has the right to freely depart from Latvia. Everyone having a Latvian passport shal be

protected by the State when abroad and has the right to freely return to Latvia. A citizen of Latvia may not

be extradited to a foreign country, except in the cases provided for in international agreements ratified by

the Saeima if by the extradition the basic human rights specified in the Constitution are not violated.

99. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The church shal be separate

from the State.

100. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to freely receive, keep and

distribute information and to express his or her views. Censorship is prohibited.

101. Every citizen of Latvia has the right, as provided for by law, to participate in the work of the State and

of local government, and to hold a position in the civil service. Local governments shal be elected by

Latvian citizens and citizens of the European Union who permanently reside in Latvia. Every citizen of the

European Union who permanently resides in Latvia has the right, as provided by law, to participate in the

work of local governments. The working language of local governments is the Latvian language

102. Everyone has the right to form and join associations, political parties and other public organisations.

103. The State shal protect the freedom of previously announced peaceful meetings, street processions,

and pickets.

104. Everyone has the right to address submissions to State or local government institutions and to

receive a material y responsive reply. Everyone has the right to receive a reply in the Latvian language.

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105. Everyone has the right to own property. Property shal not be used contrary to the interests of the

public. Property rights may be restricted only in accordance with law. Expropriation of property for public

purposes shal be al owed only in exceptional cases on the basis of a specific law and in return for fair

compensation.

106. Everyone has the right to freely choose their employment and workplace according to their abilities

and qualifications. Forced labour is prohibited. Participation in the relief of disasters and their effects, and

work pursuant to a court order shal not be deemed forced labour.

107. Every employed person has the right to receive, for work done, commensurate remuneration which

shal not be less than the minimum wage established by the State, and has the right to weekly holidays

and a paid annual vacation.

108. Employed persons have the right to a col ective labour agreement, and the right to strike. The State

shal protect the freedom of trade unions.

109. Everyone has the right to social security in old age, for work disability, for unemployment and in other

cases as provided by law.

110. The State shal protect and support marriage – a union between a man and a woman, the family, the

rights of parents and rights of the child. The State shal provide special support to disabled children,

children left without parental care or who have suffered from violence.

111. The State shal protect human health and guarantee a basic level of medical assistance for

everyone.

112. Everyone has the right to education. The State shal ensure that everyone may acquire primary and

secondary education without charge. Primary education shal be compulsory.

113. The State shal recognise the freedom of scientific research, artistic and other creative activity, and

shal protect copyright and patent rights.

114. Persons belonging to ethnic minorities have the right to preserve and develop their language and

their ethnic and cultural identity.

115. The State shal protect the right of everyone to live in a benevolent environment by providing

information about environmental conditions and by promoting the preservation and improvement of the

environment.

116. The rights of persons set out in Articles ninety-six, ninety-seven, ninety-eight, one hundred, one

hundred and two, one hundred and three, one hundred and six, and one hundred and eight of the

Constitution may be subject to restrictions in circumstances provided for by law in order to protect the

rights of other people, the democratic structure of the State, and public safety, welfare and morals. On the

basis of the conditions set forth in this Article, restrictions may also be imposed on the expression of

religious beliefs.

[15 October 1998; 30 April 2002; 23 September 2004; 15 December 2005]


Adopted by the Constitutional Assembly of Latvia on 15 February 1922


President of the Constitutional Assembly J. Čakste

Secretary of the Constitutional Assembly R. Ivanovs

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