The Interior Ministry of Latvia promised to find an excuse for the settlement of the ex-Mayor of Moscow in this Baltic state.

Local media reported on 16 January that the discharged mayor of the Russian capital is planning to settle in this Baltic state. According to their information, Luzkov submitted documents to the Latvian Embassy in Russia by the end of December 2010, reasoning his wish on the grounds of his investments in one of the local banks Rietuma banka in the amount of approximately 11,5 million roubles and the acquired real estate. Investments in the economy, according to the legislation of this Baltic state, give the right to the investor of claiming for residence.

The Interior Ministry of the country has immediately promised to find an excuse for refusing residence to Luzkov in this country. As reported by Linda Murniece, head of the Latvian law enforcement agency, law enforcement bodies are currently investigating jointly with the Russian colleagues the origin of means invested by Luzkov in the Latvian sector of banks.

“Security agencies are checking other information at their disposal about Mr. Luzkov as well, and I think, that in one way or the other there will be enough of legal reasons for refusing residence”, - she clarified.

“According to the law, investigation of such requests lasts for about a month to four months”.

The Chairman of the Party “Consent Centre”, that initiated the adoption of the Law on the Right to residence for investors, Secretary of the Commission on foreign affairs to the Latvian Seima Sergej Mirskij did not exclude that the Interior Ministry may block the issue of permit for residence to Luzkov, referring to the fact that he might threaten the security of the country.

“The Latvian authorities have concluded the list of unwanted persons they are trying to refuse entrance into the country. Of course, the statement of Luzkov during his previous visit in Riga, when he declared of the necessity to recognise the Russian language as the second state language of Latvia, outraged our right-wing politicians. However, this is still a question how it can be justified from the point of view of legislation”, - stated he to the newspaper “ВЗГЛЯД”.

Material has been prepared by the Centre of Geopolitical Studies with reference to the article from «ВЗГЛЯД» of 17 01 2011

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