Latvia: Over 80 Russians denied residency following security review

Latvia’s Office for Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) has denied residency to around 80 Russian citizens following an assessment by the State Security Service (VDD), LSM reports. PMLP has referred over 13,000 residence permit applications to VDD for review. VDD has so far completed its assessment on around 7,000 of the applicants. Under amendments to the law on immigration, Russian citizens must pass a Latvian language test and complete a questionnaire that includes questions related to national security issues.