Latvian President Egils Levits said he has canceled residence permits and visas already issued to individuals who support Russian aggression, signaling a shift in the Baltic nation’s approach to people tied to Russia. The president echoed earlier statements by Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, confirming that permanent residents who later obtain Russian citizenship will not be granted new residence rights. Levits stressed that such individuals would have to leave Latvia if they sought to remain.
“The resale of residence permits granted by previous governments, and the unwarranted generosity shown to Russian citizens in obtaining these permits, created security risks that masked the interests of some political businessmen and contributed to bilingualism in the country”, Levits said. He urged a reassessment of the consequences of what he described as a failed and dangerous policy.
The Latvian leader asserted that Russia, regardless of its form at any given moment, remains an imperial power that threatens neighboring states. He cited the ongoing violence in Ukraine, noting that acts of killing, torture, humiliation, deportation, and the deprivation of human dignity have echoes in Latvia as well.
Stop issuing visas
Levits reminded the public that Latvia no longer issues tourist visas to Russians, while some other European Union nations continue this practice. He explained that Russian tourists can still enter Latvia on visas issued by other Schengen states, such as Finland or Italy. In his view, Latvia should join Finland, Estonia, the Czech Republic, and other like-minded countries in pushing for a bloc-wide halt to issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens. He described such measures as an additional sanction against Russia.
He recalled that on August 11 the Latvian Saeima acknowledged Russia as a sponsor of terrorism and called on EU members to suspend visas for Russians and Belarusians. Moscow announced it would retaliate. With the next parliamentary elections approaching in Latvia on October 1, Levits framed the visa discussion within the broader political timeline.
Close Schengen to Russians
Earlier this week, a German government spokesperson indicated that the European Union is debating a proposal to limit Schengen visa issuance to Russians. Germany has acknowledged the issue but has not yet decided on consequences. Since August 18, Russian citizens have faced restrictions on entering Estonia with visas issued by Latvia. Estonia has even contemplated closing its borders to Russian travelers within the Schengen area.
The Latvian leadership notes that such extreme steps carry political and fiscal consequences. Estonia argues that border controls would shift costs to Norwegian, Finnish, and other neighboring states unless a coordinated EU approach is taken. The plan to coordinate at the European Union level was slated for discussion among foreign ministers later in August.
Tourism industry sources on TourDom.ru report that the Estonian authorities advise EU member states to consider limiting visa access for Russians and to seal borders for them, a topic set for debate at the EU’s foreign ministers meeting later in August.
What other countries are doing
In Lithuania, lawmakers introduced a draft amendment to the citizenship law that would allow stripping citizenship from foreign nationals who demonstrably support a state threatening Lithuania or its allies. The measure centers on those who back Russia in the Ukraine conflict, aiming to withdraw citizenship in extreme cases.
Danish officials are weighing a similar approach by reducing the number of tourist visas issued to Russians, with officials citing the Russian military operation in Ukraine as a justification. Danish and Estonian officials have argued that actions should be coordinated across the European Union.
Finnish authorities have signaled possible travel restrictions on Russians and are prepared to meet with EU partners to discuss options. A Finnish official noted that restrictions would target transit tourism rather than broad, indiscriminate limitations. Industry observers suggest that any changes may have a limited impact on Russian tourist flows but could influence travel patterns through the region.
The discussions reflect a broader debate across Europe about how to respond to Russia’s actions in Ukraine while balancing security concerns, economic costs, and the freedom of movement within the Schengen area.
Source notes: The information above reflects reporting from multiple regional outlets on policy discussions within Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Denmark, Finland, and broader EU forums. The assessments are provided for general informational purposes and should be interpreted in the context of ongoing political developments in the region.