The extremist action of Latvia. Deported Russians

In August 2025, the Department for Citizenship and Migration sent information to 841 people that they had failed to complete the formalities and by 13 October they had time to leave Latvia voluntarily, otherwise they were threatened with deportation. According to authoritative data in 2022, 35 percent of people surviving in Latvia declared that they spoke Russian at home. The changes to the Immigration Act included more than 25,000 people who had both Russian and Latvian citizenship, and those who were not Latvian citizens but lived here permanently. The first step to gain the right of permanent residence was to pass the Latvian A2 exam, which is to prove the ability to usage simple language in everyday situations. Russians aged over 75 and those in mediocre wellness were released from the exam. Most of the people who have lived in Latvia for decades and frequently do not even have a household in Russia. In the first time, 46 percent of the applicants passed the exam. In 2023, the Latvian authorities decided to give the Russians another chance – a two-year period was set in which those who took the exam before September 2023 and failed to pass it, had time to learn the language and effort again. The evidence holder has passed 8 times so far. Today, more than 16.6 000 people have completed the formalities and obtained permanent residence in Latvia. any people have a temporary permit, while 2,6 thousand. The Russians chose to leave the country voluntarily. For those who have not proven to be acquainted with state language and have not undergone safety checks, time is up.

At present, migration services have begun proceedings to find their whereabouts and to expel them from the country. any of them have already left themselves, and those who have not yet done so may be placed in abroad centres, or, if their wellness requires it, in their own homes to wait for the decision to be deported and subject to administrative penalties. Persons whose residence licence has expired lose access to public services and benefits. There are those who know that they have failed to complete any formalities only erstwhile they halt receiving retirement. At that point, however, there is no turning back, as the deadlines set by the government were final.

So far, individuals have been expelled from Latvia by taking them to the border or allowing them to fly to Russia. specified procedures are always carried out in agreement with the Russian party, which late declared that it would accept all Russians deported from Latvia with open arms.

In the last 2 years 327 persons with Russian citizenship have been refused residence permits, considering that they pose a threat to the safety of the Latvian State. Representatives of the Russian number in Latvia submitted a announcement to the Constitutional Court to challenge changes in immigration law. On February 15, 2024, however, the Court ruled that the provision imposing on Russian citizens the necessity to prove the cognition of the state language at a basic level is consistent with the Constitution.