Last week, a somewhat historic event occurred in the Saeima — for the first time, the parliament discussed the issue of stripping Latvian citizenship, specifically of a particular individual — journalist Andrei Mamykins, who moved to Moscow.
A Hopeless Case?
Yes, a month ago the issue of stripping Latvian citizenship was already on the parliament's agenda, but at that time it was an "impersonal" initiative — let us remind you, a group of activists demanded the adoption of a law allowing the stripping of citizenship from the Republic of Latvia and the expulsion of disloyal individuals from the country. The names of those subject to such punishment were, of course, not mentioned.
This time, the Saeima did not immediately consider the draft statement on the deprivation of Latvian citizenship from Mamykins, but referred the document for further discussion to the Saeima's Commission on Citizenship, Migration, and Social Cohesion. We dare to assume that the chairperson of the commission will not allow this draft to proceed and it will remain forever in the commission's archives...
The reason: neither the Saeima nor the government can strip a person of citizenship — this is not within their competence. There are courts and the Office of Citizenship and Migration for that. Meanwhile, a question arose: is it even possible to take away a person's Latvian citizenship? And if so, for what "sins"? Let's figure it out.
Five Reasons for Stripping Citizenship
The procedure for losing (stripping) Latvian citizenship is defined by the Citizenship Law. In what cases can a person be stripped of their Latvian passport?
- Firstly, if a citizen of the Republic of Latvia has acquired citizenship of another country (and the law does not allow dual citizenship with that country) and the holder of dual citizenship has not requested the appropriate permission to have a second citizenship.
For example, if it becomes known that a Latvian citizen has become a citizen of the Russian Federation and has not submitted an application for renunciation of Latvian citizenship.
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Secondly, one can lose Latvian citizenship if a person "without the permission of the Cabinet of Ministers voluntarily serves in the armed forces or military organization of any other state, except in cases where the person serves in the state armed forces or military organization of a member state of the European Union, a member state of the European Free Trade Association, a member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Federative Republic of Brazil, New Zealand, Ukraine, or in the armed forces or military organization of a state with which the Republic of Latvia has concluded an agreement on the recognition of dual citizenship."
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Another ground for stripping a Latvian passport is if a person, when confirming their affiliation to Latvian citizenship or during naturalization, intentionally provided false information or concealed facts related to the conditions for obtaining or restoring Latvian citizenship.
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The law also provides for the possibility of stripping Latvian citizenship if a citizen of the Republic of Latvia "has engaged in activities aimed at the violent overthrow of the state power of the Republic of Latvia, publicly called for the violent overthrow of the state power established by the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia or the violent change of the state system, publicly called for the implementation of organizational actions aimed at eliminating the state independence of the Republic of Latvia. And this is confirmed by a court ruling."
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Finally, the fifth reason. A couple of months after the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, that is, in 2022, the previous Saeima provided for another reason for the deprivation of citizenship of the Republic of Latvia: "a person has provided significant financial, material, propaganda, technological, or other support to states or individuals carrying out actions, including genocide, crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, war crimes undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of democratic states or the constitutional order, or if the person themselves participated in the implementation of such actions and in the case of deprivation of Latvian citizenship, this person does not become stateless. Information that the relevant person has committed any of the mentioned actions is provided by state security institutions. Challenging and appealing the decision does not suspend its effect."
If There Is No Second Passport, the First One Will Not Be Taken Away
So, there are at least 5 grounds for stripping a person of Latvian citizenship. But with one significant caveat — Latvian citizenship can only be stripped if the person does not become... stateless (a stateless person).
This means that, for example, Mamykins cannot be stripped of Latvian citizenship until he obtains a second passport — for example, that of a citizen of the Russian Federation. In any case, the relevant decision of the Office of Citizenship and Migration can be appealed in an administrative court.
It should be noted that the prohibition on stripping a person of their sole citizenship stems from international law — the relevant convention prohibits "creating" stateless persons. Notably, even a former non-citizen who has undergone naturalization cannot be stripped of Latvian citizenship, for example, for providing false information, if they do not have another citizenship.
In other words, one cannot become a non-citizen again. Although in Latvia, a non-citizen is status-wise different from a stateless person, that is, a foreigner who has the status of a stateless person.
It is precisely because of the prohibition on stripping a person of their sole citizenship that the Saeima's Commission on Defense and Internal Affairs recently rejected the aforementioned public initiative regarding the deprivation of citizenship and the expulsion of disloyal individuals.
How Many People Have Lost Their Citizenship?
As for holders of dual citizenship, many of them have lost their Latvian citizenship in recent years for various violations provided for by the Citizenship Law. Moreover, in 2025, a record was set for the number of decisions made regarding the stripping of Latvian citizenship!
Thus, in 2015, 63 people were stripped of Latvian citizenship, while in 2017, the Latvian passport was taken from 208 people. In the pandemic year of 2020, only 55 people lost their citizenship, while last year, relevant decisions were made regarding 275 people!
Thus, over 10 years, 1,346 people have been stripped of Latvian citizenship.
It should be noted that these figures do not include applications for voluntary renunciation of Latvian citizenship.
