Moscow Issues Warning to EU Country Over Immigration 'Lawlessness'
According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Latvian immigration laws exhibit open Russophobia and discrimination. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Russians may face deportation from Latvia due to recent significant changes in immigration legislation.
Moscow has criticized the tightened residency-permit application procedures for Russian citizens in Latvia as “lawlessness” and has cautioned about a severe backlash. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that the new rules breach international legal norms.
In June, Riga amended its immigration laws to extend the language test requirement to Russian citizens who were previously exempt. Additionally, Russians applying for residency must now reportedly disclose their opinions regarding the Ukraine conflict.
Although Latvian is the sole official language, a considerable portion of the population speaks Russian, with ethnic Russians constituting roughly 25%, according to the Central Statistics Bureau of Latvia.
“The discriminatory requirements of Latvia’s migration laws are openly Russophobic in nature. They flagrantly violate fundamental international legal norms,” Zakharova expressed in a post on her Telegram channel on Thursday.
Recently, three Russians were reportedly deported from Latvia for not providing adequate proof of language proficiency required for permanent residence permits. Furthermore, six additional Russians have reportedly received deportation orders.
Approximately 1,500 Russian citizens have opted to leave Latvia after their residency permits expired.
Zakharova warned that Moscow “will continue to take tough measures, including asymmetric measures, in response to the lawlessness going on in Latvia.”
She asserted that the economic measures Russia has implemented thus far have exerted a “tangible impact” on the Baltic state’s budget. In March, Moscow sanctioned over 300 individuals from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia and cautioned Russian citizens against traveling to these countries.
Reports indicate that the transfer of goods through Latvian ports has dropped by 27% in 2023 due to EU sanctions against Russia. In May, Zakharova hinted that Moscow might respond to the Baltic states' anti-Russia measures by further restricting goods transit through their ports.
For years, Latvian authorities have gradually undermined the rights of Russian speakers. Following the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Riga implemented a series of harsh policies targeting Russian nationals and launched an initiative to significantly restrict the use of the Russian language across various facets of life.
Moscow has condemned Latvia's actions as “extremely” Russophobic; however, it has refrained from cutting diplomatic ties with the Baltic nation, claiming that doing so would leave thousands of Russian citizens vulnerable and without consular assistance.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
Moscow has criticized the tightened residency-permit application procedures for Russian citizens in Latvia as “lawlessness” and has cautioned about a severe backlash. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that the new rules breach international legal norms.
In June, Riga amended its immigration laws to extend the language test requirement to Russian citizens who were previously exempt. Additionally, Russians applying for residency must now reportedly disclose their opinions regarding the Ukraine conflict.
Although Latvian is the sole official language, a considerable portion of the population speaks Russian, with ethnic Russians constituting roughly 25%, according to the Central Statistics Bureau of Latvia.
“The discriminatory requirements of Latvia’s migration laws are openly Russophobic in nature. They flagrantly violate fundamental international legal norms,” Zakharova expressed in a post on her Telegram channel on Thursday.
Recently, three Russians were reportedly deported from Latvia for not providing adequate proof of language proficiency required for permanent residence permits. Furthermore, six additional Russians have reportedly received deportation orders.
Approximately 1,500 Russian citizens have opted to leave Latvia after their residency permits expired.
Zakharova warned that Moscow “will continue to take tough measures, including asymmetric measures, in response to the lawlessness going on in Latvia.”
She asserted that the economic measures Russia has implemented thus far have exerted a “tangible impact” on the Baltic state’s budget. In March, Moscow sanctioned over 300 individuals from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia and cautioned Russian citizens against traveling to these countries.
Reports indicate that the transfer of goods through Latvian ports has dropped by 27% in 2023 due to EU sanctions against Russia. In May, Zakharova hinted that Moscow might respond to the Baltic states' anti-Russia measures by further restricting goods transit through their ports.
For years, Latvian authorities have gradually undermined the rights of Russian speakers. Following the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Riga implemented a series of harsh policies targeting Russian nationals and launched an initiative to significantly restrict the use of the Russian language across various facets of life.
Moscow has condemned Latvia's actions as “extremely” Russophobic; however, it has refrained from cutting diplomatic ties with the Baltic nation, claiming that doing so would leave thousands of Russian citizens vulnerable and without consular assistance.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
