Ukraine will decide what to do with the richest citizen of Latvia

Last year, the Seimas adopted amendments to the citizenship law, providing for the possibility of depriving Latvian citizenship of persons who provide significant support for Russia’s war against Ukraine. BZS expects that Ukraine will be able to provide Latvia with information about whether Aven actively supported the war.

As Zviedris explained, Ukraine is currently investigating a criminal case regarding Aven’s financial assets, and the court’s decision on it may become the basis for further actions.

According to the director of the BZS, the decision to deprive Aven of citizenship should be carefully considered, taking into account the fact that it will be appealed to the EU Court of Justice. “We don’t want to be in a situation where, for whatever reason, the decision we made could be reversed,” Zviedris said.

He added that Aven is currently the only person for whom the issue of deprivation of Latvian citizenship is being considered on the basis of amendments adopted last year.

The “Nothing Personal” program on TV3 recently reported that Aven’s Alfa Group continues to finance Russia’s war in Ukraine, and his companies provide financial services, insurance and food to the Russian army.

Aven and his business partner Mikhail Fridman are under sanctions from the US, UK, EU and other countries that consider them close to Vladimir Putin.