The Baltic nation of Latvia has initiated the enforcement of its revised immigration laws, which have profound implications for Russian passport holders residing in the country. This follows the adoption of new legislation in the autumn of 2022, in response to Russia’s military actions against Ukraine. The stringent requirements and ensuing orders for departure represent a significant shift in Latvia’s policy towards Russian nationals.
According to the Migration Department in Riga, six Russians have recently been notified of the need to leave Latvia, with two already having complied. The remaining individuals are granted a 30-day period to exit the nation. These developments underscore the tightened regulations that compel Russian passport holders to apply for permanent residency and, except in few cases, to demonstrate proficiency in the Latvian language through a qualifying exam.
The head of the Migration Department, Maira Roze, elucidated the gravity of the situation, stating that there are “about 1,000 Russians under deportation threat in Latvia.” Of these, “over a fifth of them have already left Latvia for other EU countries.” The repercussions of non-compliance are clear, as failure to meet the specified conditions within the allotted time frame necessitates departure.
The revised immigration laws particularly affect Russian citizens who previously held the status of citizens of Latvia or “non-citizens.” Their permanent residence permits lapsed in September 2023, necessitating new applications for the status of long-term residents of the European Union. This entails submitting evidence of both language proficiency and sufficient financial resources.
For those who may not immediately meet the language requirements, there is a provision for a two-year temporary residence permit, provided they have made an attempt at the language exam. This offers an opportunity to retake the language test at a later date.
The enforcement of these new regulations is not just a matter of paper processing. The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP), in collaboration with the State Border Guard, will supervise the exit circumstances for those unlawfully residing in Latvia. Maira Roze confirmed the process for those failing to initiate contact with the PMLP: “Yes, we have reported them to the State Border Guard to see if they are in Latvia or not.”
This policy shift has tangible human implications. In one instance, Inessa Novikova, an ethnically Russian resident of 20 years, faced the daunting challenge of learning Latvian to avoid deportation. For her and others like Alyona Egorova, who also fell afoul of the language requirement, the choices are stark: adapt or depart.
Relevant articles:
– Latvia orders first Russians to leave country
– First six Russian citizens issued orders to leave Latvia, ERR News, Fri, 08 Mar 2024 13:59:00 GMT
– First six expulsion orders issued to Russian citizens in Latvia, Eng.Lsm.lv, Mon, 04 Mar 2024 11:03:45 GMT
– Why Latvia is expelling its Russian speakers, The Spectator, Sat, 02 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT