I read that a law recently came into force prohibiting Russian citizens from purchasing real estate in Latvia. I hold Russian citizenship, but recently I also received an Israeli passport. Will this ban apply to me if I purchase an apartment as an Israeli citizen, not a Russian citizen?

The Law on Restricting Transactions Threatening National Security does not explicitly state that persons holding a dual citizenship, one of whom is Russian citizenship, are prohibited from purchasing real estate in Latvia. However, this allows Latvian notaries to interpret the law at their own discretion. Current practice is that the notary with whom you, as an Israeli citizen, would want to sign a petition to register your property rights in the Land Register is required to check with the Latvian Register of Individuals to determine whether you are also a Russian citizen. If the notary finds that you also hold Russian citizenship, you will be denied the petition, and therefore the transaction will not take place.