Latvia forces 841 Russians to leave: new language obligations!

Latvia forces 841 Russians to leave: new language obligations!

The Latvian migration authority has announced that 841 Russian citizens will have to leave the country by October 13, 2025. This measure was announced by the head of the agency Maira Roze and is part of the tightened residence regulations that were decided in autumn 2022. The changes were introduced in response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Due to these new guidelines, Russians must apply for permanent residence status and demonstrate everyday Latvian knowledge of what is done by a language test. The regulation also provides for a security check.

It was estimated that around 25,000 people were affected by these regulations. So far, around 16,000 of them have achieved an unlimited and 1,000 temporary residence permit. The fact that many of the persons concerned could not meet the necessary legal requirements on time is particularly worrying for the authorities. Therefore, they are now facing the forced expulsion - a measure that has already been used in ten cases. In addition, 2,600 people left Latvia independently.

Forced instructions as a strict means

With these measures, the Latvian government pursues the goal of promoting the integration of foreigners and at the same time ensuring security in the country. According to the [Spiegel] (https://www.spiegel.de/ausland/Lettland-kuendigt-zwangs-von-russen-ohne-language skills-an-a-a--a81e-4a1d-9515-6db81677988b) back. This is a massive challenge for the Russians concerned, which could not develop a new perspective in Latvia.

The tightened residence regulations and the associated consequences are part of a larger trend in Latvia, which is characterized by historical migration flows. According to the BPB, Latvia has experienced several emigration and immigration waves in the past 100 years. The current aggressive migration policy could be due to a variety of factors, including the negative perception of immigrants in society and the restrictive attitudes towards migrants.

Historical migration trends influence today's measures

Historically, Latvia was a destination for both immigrants and emigrants. Especially during the time between the world wars and afterwards to the Second World War there were considerable population losses. Many people fled from Latvia or have been relocated, which had a lasting impact on the demographic composition of the country.

Of the approximately 12.7% of foreign nationals in Latvia, many come from GUS countries. Latvia has only recorded a few refugees in the past. A large part of the immigrants, on the other hand, come for family reasons and not as migrant workers. Despite a necessary adaptation of immigration policies and systems, Latvia continues to be restrictive, which also affects the integration of newcomers.

Overall, the situation for Russian citizens in Latvia remains precarious. The expected forced instructions are a strong signal and reflect the current attitude of the country towards people who do not meet the new legal requirements. In a friend-enemy thinking of migration, Latvia shows a clear line that feeds itself from its eventful and complex history.