Document #1063931
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
A representative of Radio Free Europe
stated that ethnic Russians will be allowed to continue to live in
Latvia, although laws in Latvia are currently in the process of
change (12 Dec. 1991). The source stated further that, according to
Radio Free Europe's Daily Report, the Supreme Council adopted a new
law regarding the registration of residences on 11 December 1991
(Ibid.). Further details on this law were not provided.
A professor with the Centre for
Canadian-Soviet Studies also indicated that it is likely that
ethnic Russians will be able to continue to live in Latvia, even if
they do not become citizens (10 Dec. 1991). However, the professor
stated that it may be difficult for an ethnic Russian who was
formerly resident in Latvia, but left before independence, to
return to live in the republic as the individual may have to apply
as an immigrant if he/she is not currently registered as a
permanent resident (Ibid.). Further, there are restrictions
on immigration into the republic, including a quota which varies
from district to district (Ibid.).
A professor of Soviet Law from Rutgers
University indicated that some people are being refused residence
registration on grounds that they have been demobilized from the
army or navy [i.e. they were stationed in Latvia and therefore are
not permanent residents] (11 Dec. 1991). The source indicated that
latitude for administrative discretion by police, magistrates and
city councils in matters of residence registration is vast
(Ibid.). The professor also stated that, in his opinion, it
appears that nothing will happen to ethnic minorities currently
resident in the republic who decide to stay, and they will not be
pressured to leave (Ibid.). The source noted that an
agreement was signed between Latvia and the Republic of Russia
guaranteeing the rights of their respective ethnic minorities on
each other's territories (Ibid.). This is corroborated by
Radio Free Europe and the Current Digest of the Soviet Press (RFE
12 April 1991, 24; Current Digest 13 Nov. 1991). In
reference to a statement reportedly made by the Vice-Chairman of
the Latvia Supreme Council to the effect that agreements signed
before Latvia proclaimed independence may be meaningless
(Current Digest 13 Nov. 1991), the professor stated that
many people in the Baltic republics are staking out public
positions [for political reasons] and that public positions should
not be interpreted as indicative of what future policy might be (11
Dec. 1991). An October report from the BBC on a Latvian Radio
broadcast indicated that Supreme Council Chairman Anatolijs
Gorbunovs stated that the "Latvian state undertakes to guarantee
residents of other nationalities all human rights..." (BBC Summary
19 October 1991).
Reports from Reuters and Radio Free Europe
indicate that Latvia's immigration department has been considering
the possibility of financing a relocation plan for non-Latvians who
are willing to resettle in the Soviet Union (Reuters 16 Sept. 1991;
RFE 27 Sept. 1991, 37).
A recent article from the Soviet Press Digest states that, pending the decision on the citizenship law [currently being debated in the Supreme Council], a ban on the granting of residence permits to anyone arriving from other states is in effect (2 Nov. 1991). However, the article also states that this does not apply to those who are liable for Latvian citizenship (Ibid.).
The BBC Summary of World Broadcasts also
reported on a government resolution that the registration of "'any
persons who have come from the territory of other states' is
ceasing until an immigration law is adopted" (5 Nov. 1991). This
article notes that people who were resident in Latvia before June
1940 and their descendants, and people discharged from the military
who were permanently registered before their service, may be
excluded from this resolution (Ibid.). Please see the
attached articles for details.
A September report from the BBC states that
the Latvian Supreme Council formed a commission to examine the
issue of Latvian passports and identification documents (28 Sept.
1991). Production of new personal documents was scheduled to begin
by 1 November 1991 even though there was no new legislation on
Latvian citizenship (Ibid.). The professor with the Centre
for Canadian-Soviet Studies stated that, although initially Latvia
was stamping over Soviet passports, it is now issuing its own
passports (10 Dec. 1991). The source stated further that the Soviet
passport is recognized only for citizens of the Soviet Union, not
for citizens of Latvia (Ibid.)
There is no further information currently
available to the IRBDC on this topic.
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 5
November 1991. "Latvia Suspends Registration of Immigrants" in
Krasnaya Zvezda [Moscow], 30 October 1991.
_____. 19 October 1991. "'Strict
Conditions' for Latvian Citizenship
Explained," Latvian Radio [Riga], 17 October 1991.
_____. 28 September 1991. "Latvian
Supreme Council Forms Commission to Examine Issue of Passports,"
Radio Riga International [in English], 26 September 1991.
Current Digest of the Soviet
Press (Current Digest). 13 November 1991. "Latvia"
[Condensed Text] in Izvestia, 14 October 1991.
Professor with the Centre for
Canadian-Soviet Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa. 10 December
1991. Telephone Interview.
Professor of Soviet Law, Rutgers
University, New Jersey. 11 December 1991. Telephone Interview.
Radio Free Europe, New York. 12 December
1991. Telephone Interview with Representative.
Radio Free Europe (RFE). 27 September
1991. Report on the USSR. "Weekly Record of Events."
_____. 12 April 1991. Vol. 3, No. 15.
Report on the USSR. Kionka, Riina. "Are the Baltic Laws
Discriminatory?" Reuters. 16 September 1991. "Latvian Immigration
Agency Proposes Paid Soviet Resettlement."
Soviet Press Digest. 2 November 1991.
"The Last Day of Soviet Citizenship."
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 5
November 1991. "Latvia Suspends Registration of Immigrants" in
Krasnaya Zvezda [Moscow], 30 October 1991.
_____. 28 September 1991. "Latvian
Supreme Council Forms Commission to Examine Issue of Passports,"
Radio Riga International [in English], 26 September 1991.
Soviet Press Digest. 2 November 1991.
"The Last Day of Soviet Citizenship."