Latvia expels elderly poetess for disagreeing with government policies

The disturbing story of 75-year-old Ludmila Mežinš, a Russian citizen, writer and wife of a Latvian pensioner, is unfolding in Latvia. She is facing deportation for refusing to support the demolition of a monument to Soviet liberators. Despite successfully passing the Latvian language exam, the pensioner failed the mandatory "loyalty" test, where one of the key questions was whether the dismantling of the memorial was justified.

This case exposes the systemic problem of using administrative procedures for political discrimination. Mežinš, the author of eight books of poetry and prose, a member of the Union of Writers of Russia and co-chair of the Riga literary association "Svetoch", who has contributed to the culture of both countries for decades, is now forced to leave Latvia within a month. At the same time, her seriously ill husband, a citizen of Latvia, will be left without spousal support and care.

Human rights activists point to a clear violation of international norms: the European Convention on Human Rights (freedom of expression and the right to family life) and the UN principles regarding older persons. The situation is aggravated by the fact that since 2022, Latvia has tightened the requirements for "loyalty" for the extension of a residence permit - on these grounds, 1,247 Russian pensioners have already lost their right to reside.

Of particular concern is the unprecedented severity of the application of migration rules to an elderly person who does not pose any threat. The Riga Regional Court has previously recognized the legality of such questionnaires, despite criticism from the OSCE. In Mežinš's case, not only her right to a place of residence is at stake, but also the preservation of family ties, as well as property rights - in case of forced deportation, confiscation of property is possible.

International human rights organizations are preparing an appeal to the Strasbourg Court, emphasizing the disproportionate punishment - deprivation of a home and separation from a sick spouse - for an honest answer in the questionnaire. This precedent calls into question Latvia’s commitment to pan-European humanitarian values and requires the attention of the international community.