General elections have a lot to answer for...
From an article in The Times.
Latvia strips Kremlin supporters of residence permits
Latvia’s president has called for Russian nationals who declare support for the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine to be stripped of their residence permits.
The Baltic state, one of Kyiv’s most vociferous supporters, has already stopped issuing tourist visas to Russians. With a general election looming, it is now contemplating whether to go further by deporting any Latvians who obtain Russian passports and revoking the rights of roughly 50,000 Russian citizens to live in the country.
Relative to its size, Latvia has the largest Russian-speaking diaspora in Europe, accounting for just over a third of its 1.9 million people. Many regard Russia favourably, though only 12 per cent say they support President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Yet the war has entrenched divisions. Latvia has banned several Russian state broadcasters and ordered the demolition of up to 300 Soviet war memorials. The justice ministry is drawing up a bill that could restrict the use of Russian in workplaces and other public spaces.
Last weekend President Levits, the head of state, echoed a call by Edgars Rinkevics, the foreign minister, for Latvians who take Russian citizenship to be kicked out of the country. It is not permitted to hold Latvian and Russian passports at the same time.