Latvia has officially banned citizens of Russia and Belarus from acquiring real estate in the country, DPA reported, BTA reports.
The parliament in Riga adopted a law that also covers legal entities, including joint-stock companies and registered associations, based in the two neighboring countries.
The government motivated the decision with the hybrid war waged by Russia against independent democratic states supporting Ukraine.
The law states that the purchase of property abroad is a means of influence and part of this war. In addition, Moscow uses the presence of Russian citizens abroad as a pretext for military intervention, the Latvian parliament added.
A significant Russian-speaking minority lives in Latvia, which borders Russia and Belarus. Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, the country - a NATO and EU member - has felt a direct threat from Moscow and has already imposed severe restrictions on visas and residence permits for Russian citizens.