Latvia: Update to Response to Information Request LVA23813.E of 17 May 1996 on the compliance of Latvian officials with the laws governing registration of residents, and on the requirements for citizenship acquisition placed upon ethnic Russians in Latvia, and on whether the citizenship law is being applied fairly or in an arbitrary manner
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LVA26938.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Latvia: Update to Response to Information Request LVA23813.E of 17 May 1996 on the compliance of Latvian officials with the laws governing registration of residents, and on the requirements for citizenship acquisition placed upon ethnic Russians in Latvia, and on whether the citizenship law is being applied fairly or in an arbitrary manner, 1 June 1997, LVA26938.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abfe78.html [accessed 16 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In telephone interviews on 12 and 16 June 1997, the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies in Riga provided the following information, which represents the organization's viewpoint. The requirements for Latvian citizenship obtention are identical for all applicants, i.e., adequate knowledge of the Latvian language, Latvian history and the Latvian constitution.
The director added that in 1996, 33,000 people were eligible to apply for Latvian citizenship, but only 525 people applied. The success rate of citizenship applicants in the last several years has been approximately 90 per cent. The fear of failing the language examinations, the high cost of the application fee, the requirement to perform military service if granted Latvian citizenship, the timetable for application (only people of a specific age category may apply each year) and indifference to attaining citizenship are some of the reasons accounting for the low application rate.
The director added that there has been a marked improvement in the last 18 months in the compliance of Latvian Citizenship and Immigration Department (CID) officials with the laws governing registration of residents, and he has not heard any recent reports indicating that court decisions pertaining to registration continue to be unimplemented.
The director added that the ethnic groups in Latvia, excluding Latvians, widely perceive the citizenship requirements and law to be unjust, although he has not heard reports emanating from the ethnic groups that the application of the law is arbitrary or favours specific ethnic groups. Ethnic Latvians are given priority in submitting citizenship applications, although all eligible applicants will have had the opportunity to apply by 2003.
The director added that the Naturalization Board is responsible for administering the citizenship examinations. Staff with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Latvia monitor the examinations by occasionally attending them and occasionally speaking afterwards with the applicants. The OSCE mission and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (based in the Hague) have recommended that the fee for the examinations be reduced, elderly people be exempted from the written portion of the language exam and the history examination concentrate more on 20th century history.
For additional information on the ability of ethnic groups to obtain Latvian citizenship and on the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies, please consult the attachments to Response to Information Request LVA26939.E of 16 June 1997. For additional information on the registering of noncitizens, the citizenship law and the acquisition of Latvian citizenship, please consult pages 1011 and 1012 of Country Reports 1996, which is available at Regional Documentation Centres, as well as the attachments.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies, Riga. 16 June 1997. Telephone interview with the director.
_____. 12 June 1997. Telephone interview with the director.
Attachments
The Associated Press (AP). 20 May 1997. "Latvian President Suggests Faster Naturalization for Non-Citizens." (NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse-Agenture. 20 March 1997. BC Cycle. "Latvian Parliament Rejects Amendments to Soften Citizenship Law." (NEXIS)
ETA News Agency [Tallinn, in English]. 8 April 1997. "Parliamentary Official Suggests Easier History Exam for Foreigners." (BBC Summary 10 Apr. 1997/NEXIS)
Latvian Radio [Riga, in Latvian]. 6 February 1997. "Parliament Votes to Extend Eligibility for Citizenship." (BBC Summary 8 Feb. 1997/NEXIS)
Radio Riga Network [Riga, in Latvian]. 4 June 1997. "President Urges Measures to Simplify Naturalization Process." (FBIS-SOV-97-155 4 June 1997:WNC)
