Between September of last year and August 3 of this year, Riga Municipal Police registered 1,765 violations committed by foreign nationals in the Latvian capital, according to data released by the Riga City Council and shared by Edvards Ratnieks, the city’s vice-mayor in charge of security.
Immigration Checks and Violation Breakdown in Riga
The security push began in September of last year, when Vice-Mayor Ratnieks ordered Riga Municipal Police to carry out preventive checks on immigrants following a rapid increase in their numbers over recent years. Out of all offenses recorded by the police during the reporting period, 621 violations—or 36%—involved traffic infractions. According to Riga Municipal Police data, citizens of India committed the highest number of traffic violations with 226 infractions, followed by citizens of Uzbekistan with 78, Russia with 40, Sri Lanka with 34, and Pakistan with 32.
“Pieaugot trešo valstu iedzīvotāju īpatsvaram Rīgā, tas arī atspoguļojas Rīgas pašvaldības policijas datos,” stated Edvards Ratnieks regarding the statistics. He added that since last September, immigration checks have become a daily routine for the Riga Municipal Police to maintain order and enforce local laws.
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Traffic infractions make up more than a third of all recorded offenses by foreign nationals in Riga, with Indian and Uzbek nationals leading the municipal police statistics for road rule violations.
Nationality Breakdown of Total Recorded Offenses
Overall figures from the Riga City Council show that citizens of India accounted for the most total violations at 241. They were followed by nationals from Uzbekistan with 84 offenses, Russia with 58, Sri Lanka with 38, and Pakistan with 32.
In terms of active checks, the municipal police screened 3,152 foreign nationals up to the beginning of August. The most frequently checked individuals came from India, Russia, Uzbekistans, Lithuania, Sri Lanka, Belarus, and Estonia. When municipal authorities encountered individuals lacking proper legal status, they coordinated handoffs with state authorities. This year, Riga Municipal Police transferred 82 individuals to the State Police. The largest groups handed over included 18 citizens from India, 9 from Uzbekistan, and 5 from Tajikistan.
Enforcement and Transfers to the State Border Guard
Legislative amendments enacted last year granted municipal police the legal authority to detain third-country nationals who lack valid residence permits. Following these regulatory changes, the Riga Municipal Police transferred 67 individuals to the State Border Guard, including 17 individuals handed over during the current year, according to municipal figures. Similar verification sweeps are also conducted independently by the State Police and the State Border Guard.
“Esam panākuši, ka Rīga nav nelegālo imigrantu un to pārvadātāju galamērķis,” remarked Edvards Ratnieks, emphasizing that regular checks will continue to monitor the situation. He noted that the initial upward trend in unauthorized arrivals observed last summer leveled off after the municipal police initiated targeted raids in September.
Among the individuals detained by authorities, 32 had crossed the Latvian border illegally, three were listed on international wanted registries, and another three were detained following direct requests from the State Border Guard. The remaining detainees either lacked valid legal status or residence permits, while 12 individuals were registered as asylum seekers. Municipal data indicates that citizens from African and Asian countries predominantly feature in illegal border-crossing cases, whereas Central Asian nationals more frequently commit document or legal status violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Riga Municipal Police start conducting immigrant checks?
Preventive immigration checks were initiated in September of last year by order of Riga Vice-Mayor Edvards Ratnieks to maintain public order and address the rapid growth of third-country nationals residing in the capital.
Which nationalities have accumulated the most violations in Riga?
According to Riga City Council data, citizens of India have recorded the highest number of infractions at 241, followed by nationals from Uzbekistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
What happens to foreign nationals caught without valid residence permits?
Under amendments passed last year, municipal police have the authority to detain individuals without valid documentation and transfer them to the State Border Guard for further processing.
Do other agencies participate in these security checks?
Yes. While Riga Municipal Police lead the local sweeps, similar inspections and enforcement actions are regularly conducted by the State Police and the State Border Guard.
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