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Russians who want to live in Latvia must take a Latvian language test
The Constitutional Court decided the language tests are constitutional.
Darya Tryfanava sur Unsplash
The Latvian Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that language tests for Russians seeking long-term residence in Latvia are constitutional. The court’s verdict highlighted the justification of requiring a demonstration of basic knowledge of the Latvian language to obtain a new permanent residence permit.
Individuals holding Russian passports need to be able to communicate in Latvian
Aldis Lavins, the President of the Court, described this linguistic requirement as “a simple indication of a foreigner’s respect for Latvia’s country, society, and culture,”. Effective from September 1, the new law mandates that individuals holding Russian passports, with some exceptions, must apply for a new residence permit to legally continue living in Latvia. They are required to prove their proficiency in the Latvian language at a satisfactory level for everyday communication.
Russian residents are claiming discrimination
Some Russian residents in Latvia express discontent and are pursuing legal action against the language requirement, claiming discrimination. Aldis Lavins underscored that the Constitutional Court, in its ruling, considered concerns related to Latvia’s national security. Given the current geopolitical situation, only foreigners deemed non-threatening to the state and society are allowed to remain in Latvia, he stated.
The dispute revolves around amendments to Latvian immigration laws made in the autumn of 2022, a response to Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of that year.
Latvia, an EU and NATO member, shares its eastern border with Russia. Approximately a quarter of Latvia’s 1.9 million inhabitants are of Russian ethnic origin, many arriving during the Soviet era or being descendants thereof. A significant number, particularly among the elderly, are not Latvian citizens but hold the “stateless” status, while others retain their Russian passports.
