Latvia has provided both opportunities and fair, achievable requirements for Russian citizens residing in our country to extend their residence permits, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity – JV) said in an interview with TV3.
Asked whether Western partners will understand the potential deportation of around 500 Russian citizens — an issue already being used for propaganda purposes by the Russian regime — Siliņa admitted that some questions have arisen among Latvia’s partners, and that Latvia must work to improve understanding of the situation.
The Prime Minister reminded that stricter requirements for issuing residence permits to Russian citizens were introduced several years ago as a response to Russia’s war, and at that time the number of people affected by the new requirements was around 25,000. Now it has become clear that most have complied with these requirements, which, in Siliņa’s view, shows that the state ensured both opportunities to obtain the permits and reasonable, achievable conditions for doing so.
For those Russian citizens who have not yet met the legal requirements, there still remains a choice — either to complete the necessary formalities or to leave the country, she said.
Earlier this week, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) reported that, after the legally established deadline,
about 500 Russian citizens had not submitted applications for further residence rights in Latvia,
and therefore they will have to leave the country.
Amendments to the Immigration Law, adopted on the 20th of June, 2024, stipulate that Russian citizens who had permanent residence in Latvia before acquiring Russian citizenship and who hold permanent residence permits were required to submit documents to the PMLP requesting EU long-term resident status, including proof of passing the Latvian language proficiency test.
Based on these amendments, 841 Russian citizens saw their permanent residence permits expire because they did not submit the required documents by the 30th of June to apply for EU long-term resident status. Consequently, on the 18th of July, the PMLP sent letters to these individuals, notifying them to leave Latvia by the 13th of October or submit an application for EU long-term resident status or another type of residence permit.
Out of the 841 people who received the information letters,
358 have responded and submitted applications for residence permits,
the PMLP told the LETA news agency. However, submission of an application does not automatically guarantee approval, as each case will undergo detailed checks by the PMLP and the State Security Service (VDD).
As for the 483 individuals who have not submitted applications, their information will be forwarded to the State Border Guard for departure verification. After the checks, those who have not left Latvia will be summoned to the PMLP to receive an official order to depart.
The PMLP noted, however, that some of these 483 individuals may have already left Latvia without notifying the authorities, while others may still submit their applications for residence permits.
As previously reported, in September 2023, the Saeima (Parliament) adopted amendments to the Immigration Law, allowing Russian citizens who had applied but either failed or had a justified reason for not taking the Latvian language test to receive a temporary residence permit for up to two years.
This provision does not apply to Russian citizens who obtained permanent residence permits under the so-called “Aliens Law”, for whom knowledge of the Latvian language has not been required until now.
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