Latvia bans Russians, Belarusians from buying real estate

European Pravda reported the information, citing LSM.

According to reports, the initiative was supported by 69 Latvian deputies.

The ban will apply to legal entities registered in Russia or Belarus and will also cover transactions made after the law comes into effect.

At the same time, the bill includes exceptions, such as if the property is inherited by relatives or recognized as owned by a court verdict.

A separate amendment that would have eased restrictions for Belarusian citizens granted refugee status in Latvia was rejected before the third reading in the parliamentary committee.

The ban does not apply if the property is the buyer’s only residence and the buyer has a permanent residence permit issued before the law took effect or already has or obtains EU permanent resident status in Latvia after the law comes into force.

The authors of the law note that alongside the military actions in Ukraine, Russia is waging a hybrid war against other democratic and sovereign states that do not support or condemn Russia’s aggression or support Ukraine in its struggle. Latvia is among these countries.

One tool of non-military influence and an element of hybrid warfare is the indirect purchase of real estate in other countries.

Russia has also used the presence of its citizens abroad as a pretext to start wars, justifying its military actions as necessary for protection.

The law still needs to be signed by the president to come into effect.