The Latvian parliament voted Thursday to bar Russian and Belarusian citizens from buying real estate in the country.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Latvia — along with other Baltic and Nordic countries bordering Russia — has feared it could be the Kremlin’s next target. Moscow has also intensified hybrid warfare tactics against EU countries, including acts of sabotage targeting critical infrastructure.
In light of Russia’s belligerence, Europe’s frontier countries argue that the presence of nationals from adversarial nations poses national security risks and have steadily tightened restrictions on Russian citizens.
The newly passed law forbids Russian and Belarusian citizens, as well as companies that are at least 25 percent owned by them, from acquiring property in Latvia — but provides exceptions for EU and Latvian permanent residence holders from Russia and Belarus, Belarusian refugees and repatriates.
“This is a step to limit the influence and presence in Latvia of persons and companies that are adverse to the country,” said Agnese Krasta, a lawmaker who coauthored the bill.
On Thursday, Latvia also joined a coalition of seven Nordic and Baltic countries that want a Schengen ban on Russian citizens who fought in the war against Ukraine from entering the Schengen Area.
Last week, Latvian lawmakers required citizens of Russia and Belarus to get a security clearance to work on critical infrastructure, such as energy facilities and hospitals, and barred Latvian officials from traveling to Russia.
In Finland, a ban on Russians buying real estate was imposed in April, and Lithuanian lawmakers passed a similar measure in 2023.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin wages war on Ukraine, the Baltic nations are preparing for a possible future Russian invasion, readying their hospitals and drafting mass evacuation plans.
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