On 14 November 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, took a decision in accordance with Section 61, Paragraph two of the Immigration Law on including 10 citizens of the Russian Federation who have supported war in Ukraine in the list of personae non gratae in the Republic of Latvia:
- Elena RUZYAK
- Denis POSPELOV
- Oleg BELKOV
- Sergey PASTER
- Ivan SADCHIKOV
- Tatyana KRIVENKO
- Valery FOKIN
- Andrei BOLOTOV
- Natalya TIMAKOVA
- Alexander BUDBERG
The ban on entering Latvia is imposed on the said persons for an indefinite period of time.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with competent authorities, including the Latvian State Security Service, evaluates the facts that have come to its knowledge and, in accordance with Section 61, Paragraph two of the Immigration Law, determines whether persons should be included in the list of personae non gratae in the Republic of Latvia and banned from entering Latvia for an indefinite period of time. In separate cases, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs the public about the decision.
Latvia utterly condemns the aggression unleashed by Russia on Ukraine and its territorial integrity in 2014, as well as the unprovoked and unjustified full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, which has been under way for almost 1000 days. Every day, the war claims the lives of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers of the armed forces of Ukraine. Support for atrocities carried out by the Kremlin regime means co-responsibility for the crimes committed; therefore, the entry of such persons into Latvia cannot be permitted.
19 November 2024 marks 1000 days since Russia began its war of aggression against Ukraine.