Russia has transferred 12,995,587 euros to the Latvian state treasury for the payment of pensions and benefits to Russian citizens–pensioners for the first three quarters of 2025, Foreign Minister Baiba Braže (New Unity) announced.
She explained that this happened after significant diplomatic work and pressure on Russia, carried out by Latvian institutions in close cooperation.
As previously reported, Russia had been delaying full pension payments to its pensioners residing in Latvia. Since the 14th of March, 2025, the Ministry of Welfare (MoW), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and the State Social Insurance Agency (SSIA) have been in communication with Russia, including MoFA formally requesting an explanation for the delays.
The Russian side claimed that sanctions were hindering the transfer of funds, but the MoW had previously emphasized that there were no practical obstacles on the Latvian side for receiving the money, and that social payments are not subject to sanctions.
It has already been reported that
SSIA disburses Russian pensions to persons residing in Latvia who have been granted pensions
under the Latvia–Russia agreement on cooperation in the field of social security.
The agreement has been in force since the 19th of January, 2011. In the fourth quarter of last year, Russian pensions amounting to approximately 3.5 million euros were paid to 9,700 persons through SSIA, the agency informed.
Meanwhile, social assistance for Russian pensioners who had not received their pensions was provided by municipalities. For example, Riga may have spent around 30,000 euros per month, according to LETA’s calculations based on information provided by Riga City Council.
According to municipal data, an average of 250 euros per person was paid out in benefits. These pensioners were granted low-income or needy status, receiving guaranteed minimum income support, housing benefits, and in some cases, healthcare support.
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