European Values : It has been reported that medical institutions in Latvia are now required to check the residency status of potential patients before appointments can be scheduled to seek medical assistance.
This order disproportionately effects the Russian population within Latvia, many of whom are elderly and still without a renewed permit. If their permit is invalid, or has been canceled, they must either stop seeking appointments with health professionals, or pay a fine of 50 euros (the cost of a week's groceries in places like Riga).
Although the Latvian government has stated that in the events where urgent medical attention is necessary, they will offer assistance regardless, this is another step in a very wrong direction for Russo-Latvian relations and does not even account for those who are mentally and physically terminally ill.
"In the photo - a memo for the registry staff. So far, apparently, a closed instruction." - Aleksey Stefanov
