Russian Foreign Ministry condemns Latvia's decision to expel hundreds of Russians

MOSCOW. Oct 14 (Interfax) - Moscow has condemned Latvian authorities' decision to expel several hundred Russians, noting that it is too soon to talk about their immediate deportation, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

"Russia's Foreign Ministry is closely following the situation unfolding around Latvian authorities' inhumane decision to expel our fellow citizens, who have not proved their proficiency in Latvian, from the country," Zakharova told journalists on Tuesday.

"We emphasize that talking about a threat of immediate deportation of the Russians is premature. They can use various administrative and legal mechanisms to defend their rights," Zakharova said, noting that, "the Russian Embassy in Riga aims to provide maximum assistance to our fellow citizens."

"We condemn this inhumane, anti-humane barbarism towards the elderly and often ailing people. Pure Nazism," Zakharova said.