Around 3,500 Russian citizens in Latvia will receive letters from the migration authority this week asking them to leave the country. The government body said on September 21 that they were people who hadn't submitted documents to extend a permanent residence permit or hadn't registered for a Latvian language test by September 1. They must leave Latvia by November 30, it said. An amendment passed by parliament in 2022 tightened residency rules for Russian citizens in response to Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. To continue living in Latvia, they must apply for permanent residence status and prove a decent knowledge of the Latvian language.
Thousands Of Russians In Latvia To Be Told To Leave
Russian citizens attend a Latvian language class in Riga. To continue living in the country, many Russian nationals must apply for permanent residence status and prove a decent knowledge of Latvian. (file photo)