If a Latvian from Argentina, who has obtained two citizenships before the age of 25 according to current legislation, wishes to choose one later, it will definitely not be the citizenship of Latvia. Because they simply cannot renounce their Argentine citizenship — such are the local regulations.
Thus, regarding such cases, our parliamentarians intend to soften their own laws so that citizens of Latvia are not deprived of their citizenship.
"From a political and legal point of view, it looks quite ugly"
This is how the chairman of the Saeima Commission on Citizenship, Migration, and Community Cohesion, Gunar Kuttis (Union of Greens and Farmers), characterized the practice when "a loyal citizen of Latvia is deprived of this citizenship" due to inaction or deliberate action by a foreign state.
– We want to express this legal norm precisely so that a person has a solution, – said the former chairman of the Constitutional Court. According to the new proposal, if a person can prove that after reaching the age of 25, they started the process of renouncing their second citizenship within 1 year, then Latvia will not deprive them of their citizenship.
Deputy Ingmars Lidaka (United List) noted that Russia requires "impossible documents" from its young citizens living in Latvia with two passports in order to renounce Russian citizenship.
The "indefinite time" for renouncing citizenship was also noted by the Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, Vilis Vitolins. However, in the practice of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office, there are no examples where those wishing to renounce Russian or Ukrainian citizenship have not been provided with such an option. He also noted that a person in Latvia cannot be deprived of their only citizenship — otherwise, they would become stateless (our state has ratified the convention to reduce their number).
Mr. Vitolins believes that the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office does not violate human rights, and the age of 25 in the law should be retained.
– Life is life, and such situations happen, – G. Kuttis philosophically stated. For example, one young man who grew up in an orphanage only remembered at 25 that he had two citizenships...
"There will be problems with interpretation and application"
Ina Vorpa, Deputy Head of the Legal Department of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office, reflected on cases where a person wishes to renounce "historically" acquired second citizenship but cannot do so for some subjective reasons.
– What will happen to them? Will they retain this dual citizenship?
Most "second" citizenships pertain to states — former republics of the USSR, primarily the Russian Federation and Belarus, believes I. Vorpa.
"Is the fear of traveling to the Russian Federation an objective or subjective reason?" she asked. If the Saeima recognizes this attitude as a real justification, then no one will renounce Russian citizenship! Thus, "states that have not waged aggressive wars" will find themselves in an unfavorable situation.
Currently, the further advancement of amendments to the Citizenship Law is a political will of the legislators, believes I. Vorpa. For his part, the experienced lawyer G. Kuttis said that there is no need to "serve the laws of another state."
– In normal Western countries, up to 10 citizenships are allowed, – said G. Kuttis.
V. Vitolins reminded that the root cause of all problems is the initial division of "dual" citizenship into those for whom it is prohibited and those for whom it is allowed (EU and NATO states, Australia, Brazil, or New Zealand).
By the way, in this regard, there is quite noticeable discrimination against Israel... Exceptions are made only in cases where a person has received special permission from the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia for special merits to the state.
– Each case is considered individually, – noted the Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior. Law enforcement officials also take into account the person's concerns about traveling to the state of their second citizenship when resolving renunciation issues.
"Nothing changes regarding the age of 25"
In the vision of Gunar Kuttis, the new version of the Citizenship Law should not abandon the age limit regarding the decision on second citizenship; however, it should be approached flexibly — for example, a young citizen of Syria who simply cannot travel to the country to rectify documents without risking their life. Or the same citizens of Latvia who received our passport with the wording "for special merits."
Deputy Jurģis Klotiņš (National Alliance) was particularly interested in the fates of dual citizens of Latvia and Russia. "Do you see a risk that the motivation to renounce citizenship of aggressor states will disappear?" he addressed the representative of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office. Ina Vorpa replied:
– Unfortunately, yes. We have noted many individuals who, during the administrative process, are interested in how they can retain both. For example, a person lives in Kaliningrad, although they are employed by a Latvian company.
J. Klotiņš was clearly satisfied with this answer, and he emphasized once again that Russia poses a threat to Latvia's national security.
Andrei Yudin (New Unity) expressed the position of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office: "There is a problem, but we are good." As a result, a person whose fate is being decided is constantly under stress.
– They open their mailbox or email every day, checking if a summons has arrived, saying that it’s time to pack their things and go to another country? We have talked a lot about this; we need to act!
A. Yudin proposed a "balanced approach" to citizens of Latvia and Russia who have "positioned themselves."
Inese Vorpa explained that initially, "dual citizenship with Russia cannot be formed." And therefore, attempts to prescribe separate exceptions are questionable.
– Russia, of course, is an extreme example. But there are also Latin American countries with their legal traditions.
The Legal Bureau of the Saeima believes that a person can be considered to have started the process of renouncing their second citizenship if they have approached the relevant state. However, it is impossible to predict the timelines for advancing this procedure in advance.
Currently, the state is searching for dual citizens who have reached the age of 25 but have not renounced their second passport, both via email in the Latvija.lv system and through registered postal addresses. However, there are also those who do not receive warning letters...
Additionally, in recent years, the number of citizens of Latvia who simultaneously hold a Russian passport has increased fourfold. All of them are under 25 years old.
