Latvia has initiated the expulsion of Russians who failed to comply with new residency regulations, marking a significant step in enforcing immigration laws. The head of Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP), Maira Roze, announced that exit orders have been issued to six Russian citizens, two of whom have already left the country. Those who haven’t applied for a new residence permit or passed a state language exam face expulsion, with 1,017 Russians reportedly not meeting these requirements.
Roze stated that the non-compliant individuals will receive orders to leave within 30 days, and those refusing to comply will face forced deportation, with information relayed to Latvia’s border guard service. Out of the 1,017 Russians in question, 213 had previously left Latvia through another EU country, according to PMLP data.
Latvia implemented legislation in 2022, requiring Russians to obtain a certificate proving proficiency in the local language for their residence permits to remain valid beyond September 1, 2023. While thousands successfully applied for new temporary Latvian residence permits and passed the language exam, over a thousand failed or didn’t participate.
Roze clarified that the planned deportations are unrelated to the Moscow-Kiev conflict, emphasizing Latvia’s commitment to enforcing its laws. Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, condemned the deportations, characterizing them as “openly criminal.” She warned that Moscow would “not forget and not forgive” those responsible, promising proper living conditions for the expelled individuals in Russia.
Latvia’s treatment of its ethnic Russian minority, constituting around 25% of the population, has been contentious. Despite demographic challenges, including a projected population decline of over 20% by 2050, Latvia has faced criticism for its hostile approach toward ethnic Russians. The country had issued “non-citizen” passports to Russians born during the Soviet era, limiting their voting rights and access to certain jobs.
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