Russia has sharply condemned Latvia’s decision to expel hundreds of Russian citizens who failed to legalize their residence status. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin called the move “unforgivable,” accusing the Latvian government of discrimination and likening its actions to those of “Nazi Germany.”

Moscow Reacts Harshly to Latvia’s Deportation Decision

On Friday, Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) confirmed to Politico that 841 Russian nationals living in Latvia had received official orders to leave the country.

The measure follows new migration regulations requiring foreign residents — including long-term Russian citizens — to pass a Latvian language proficiency exam and fulfill other legal conditions to maintain residency.

Volodin: “No One Will Forgive These Decisions”

During a plenary session of the Russian State Duma, lawmakers adopted a formal statement condemning what they described as “unacceptable discrimination” against Russian citizens in Latvia.

The statement was prepared at the request of Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, who delivered an emotional address during the session.

“Anyone involved in this decision should be barred from holding public office in the future and brought to justice. They must be punished,” Volodin said.
“Our position today is not just a declaration — it is a warning: no one will forgive these decisions. Those who made and signed them should know that, sooner or later, they will pay the price,” he added.

Volodin went on to accuse the Latvian authorities of following “in the footsteps of Nazi Germany,” claiming they were “persecuting people for dissent and deporting the elderly.”

Duma to Forward Complaint to International Bodies

After the vote, the State Duma announced that its statement would be sent to several international organizations, including the United Nations, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Parliamentary Assembly, and parliaments around the world.

The decision by Riga marks another escalation in deteriorating relations between Latvia and Russia, following years of growing tension since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Latvian government maintains that the migration rules are a matter of national security and sovereignty, while Moscow continues to portray them as part of a broader campaign of anti-Russian discrimination in the Baltic states.