The pool of newly naturalized residents of Latvia included 75% ethnic Russians and 8% of Ukrainian descent. Also, 8% of the naturalized citizens listed themselves as Belarussian, while other individuals belong to the Lithuanian, Polish and other minority communities.
Of the residents granted citizenship in this round, 26% have basic education and 39% have a high-school diploma. 32% are listed as having completed their higher education.
The Interior Ministry informed LETA that all naturalized citizens are vetted first by an array of state agencies, including the Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB), the Center for the Documentation of Totalitarian Crimes, the Security Police (DP), and other sub-agencies of the Foreign and Justice Ministries.
Since 1995 altogether 142,160 persons have obtained Latvian citizenship through the naturalization process.
Last year 1,732 persons received citizenship, while so far this year a total of 542 have been welcomed fully into civil society.
