Russians who are permanent residents LatviaMay the obligation to regulate the legal status regarding their stay in the country.
To remain a resident, they must, among other things: pass a language proficiency exam. No positive result means forced departure.
Latvia Expels Russians, Reason: Lack of Language Knowledge
Russians who have not demonstrated knowledge of the language receive in their mailboxes deportation orders. To leave the country have 30 days. Otherwise, they will face expulsion.
The problem concerns primarily former citizens of the USSR who settled in the Republic of Latvia during the Soviet Union. At that time, the country was inhabited by over 900 Russians. Lithuanians alone numbered over two million.
In 1990, after the country regained independence, the Russians they decided to choose their own citizenship. Then Latvia granted them permanent residence permits, However, as the Nastoyashchee Vremya portal pointed out, they did not know Latvian and were not interested in the national culture.
According to statistics, the current population of Latvia is nearly half a million Russians.
Latvia. Russians receive letters
Their situation changed dramatically after the invasion. Russia already Ukraine in 2022. At that time the Latvian parliament adopted an amendment to the migration lawwhich sets a condition for extending a permanent residence permit in the country. Those who apply for it, they have to pass the exam confirming knowledge of the Latvian language at the level A2.
According to the portal's reports more than a thousand Russians failed the testtherefore, the Latvian Migration Office has revoked their residence permit. In turn, a thousand people have not yet taken the exam. Immediate explanations are expected from them.
Since the beginning of the year 632 people left the country on their own, and nine were forced to be deported. In turn, as reported by the migration services, more than 85 proc. Russians covered by the new law have completed their documents and passed the exam or are learning the language, thanks to which they have obtained a temporary residence permit.