Along with the termination of a residence permit, and failing the exams, Russian citizens will lose the opportunity to receive many services in Latvia.
Human Rights activists note that people of advanced retirement age who have been living in Latvia since the time of the USSR are mostly at risk of forced eviction.
Human Rights Council of Russia urged the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE to pay attention to the threat of eviction of Russians from Latvia and received over 30 letters of supportfor the initiative.
Sputnik India has reached out Anand Purnima, the president of the BRICS International Forum, India, to discuss the situation in Latvia. Anand Purnima also sent the letter of support to the Russian Human Rights Council.
Sputnik India: The Human Rights Council in Russia said that it had received more than 30 letters of support for this initiative. Why was it important for you to sign this bill?
Anand Purnima: It is very important day that we need to address the United Nations Securities and OSCE High Commissioner because human rights violation is happening in Latvia. This is the essential bill, which needs to be signed by the people, leaders and organizations who are really working in the human rights sector and who really believe, that people should be secured. They should not be discriminate on behalf of language. Latvian Parliament Commission on Citizenship Migrate and social cohesion Mr. Ingmārs Līdaka between 5,000 and 6,000 Russian citizens with residence permits, who have not passed the language test, will receive official notices to leave Latvia. He stated, according to the current legislation, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Officers will demand their departure within three months.
Sputnik India: How do you think Russian emigrants are treated in Latvia? Why are human rights violated so aggressively in Latvia, provided that emigrants are already being evicted?
Anand Purnima: The people who will be affected are senior citizens. They are living there from long time and they contributed to the Latvian nation from the Soviet time. Though their many years of work, they have contributed to the economic foundation of Latvia. That's not right that they should be treated like this. So we requested to Human Rights Commission, and we wish that such actions by the Latvian authorities [were not] in flagrant violation of the United Nations International Convention on Civil and Political Right and the European Convention on Human Rights. We implore to intervene in this situation to prevent the forced eviction of Latvian residents of Russian citizenship who have been officially granted residence permits in the Republic.
Sputnik India: Are there any real reasons to such violations against Russians?
Anand Purnima: As a member of the Commission of International Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights President, Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights under the President of the Russian Federation, we are requesting all the authorities who are working in United Nations or other important organizations who are taking care of human rights should take immediate action. And we request all the agencies to take care Russian citizens, who are living in Latvia. They should be protected and they should get their right to live happy, and peaceful life in Latvia.