Thousands of Russian citizens face looming deportation from Latvia as the country updates its immigration rules. On air, Oleg Zykov, the chargé d’affaires of the Russian Federation to Latvia, described the situation as pressing and deeply concerning. He highlighted that the rights of Russian residents are being tested amid significant regulatory changes, with permanent residence permits coming under sweeping scrutiny.
According to the diplomat, the local migration authorities have begun a broad cancellation of permanent residence permits for Russians who do not meet the new criteria introduced by Latvia’s migration law amendments. He characterized the move as inhumane and discriminatory, arguing that it disproportionately affects a group that has already built lives in Latvia. The consequence, he noted, is several thousand people potentially facing forced relocation or removal from the country (source: Russian Foreign Ministry).
Zykov emphasized that the risk is not theoretical. With the implementation of the amended rules, many Russian residents could lose their legal status, triggering deportation proceedings for those who fail to satisfy the updated requirements. He asserted that the scope of affected individuals could reach into the thousands at any given moment, underscoring the gravity of the measure (source: Russian Foreign Ministry).
Latvia’s parliament approved changes to the immigration framework in September 2023. The amendments introduced a pause on permanent residence permits for Russian citizens and tied the renewal of these documents to the demonstration of state-language proficiency. The shift marks a significant tightening of residency rights and has sparked debate over the balance between national policy and individual rights (source: Latvian Parliament records).
Officials from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously signaled readiness to receive Russians who might be expelled from Latvia, signaling a potential channel for humanitarian support. The dialogue between the two states continues as both sides assess the human and administrative implications of the new policy, including how affected families might navigate the legal and practical challenges ahead (source: Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs).