Local Latvian media is reporting that Russians who failed to pass the language exam will be obliged to leave the Baltic country in September this year
Deputy Internal Affairs State Secretary Vilnis Vitolinsh explained that Russian citizens who receive the relevant letters will be given three months to leave.
According to LSM, Ingmārs Līdaka, the Chairman of the Seimas Commission on Citizenship, Migration, and Social Cohesion, stated that this concerns those who haven’t even attempted to pass the examination for obtaining the status of a permanent EU resident.
“Roughly 5,000 to 6,000, according to my estimates. These are people who have shown no desire – neither to take the exam nor obtain a temporary residence permit. These are the silent ones. If we look at the law as it currently stands, PMLP must send a notice to leave the country within three months,” said Līdaka.
Latvia’s Ministry of Interior Affairs confirmed the preparation of such letters. The recipients are estimated to be around 6,000 individuals.
“If a person does not have the right to stay in the country, they must leave for a country where they have the right to stay. The time for departure is three months. So the person can leave without haste. If a person continues to stay in Latvia illegally, there may come a moment when state structures find out about it and, accordingly, remind them of the need to leave. Criminal liability is not provided, but administrative liability is. The person may be fined,” said Vilnis Vitolins, the Deputy Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior Affairs.
At the same time, he added that such individuals could still obtain any other permit to stay in Latvia, for example, a visa or a temporary residence permit.
After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Latvia asked Russian citizens to take a mandatory exam in the Latvian language.
This decision received a mixed reaction in the country, where thousands of Russians have lived since the collapse of the USSR without obtaining Latvian citizenship. Critics argue that many of them have not been able to integrate into Latvian society.
Earlier, it was reported that 1164 Belarusians and Russians were recognised as a threat to national security in Lithuania.