Latvian authorities may ban Russians, Belarusians from possessing firearms in Latvia

RIGA. Aug 18 (Interfax/BNS) - The Latvian Interior Ministry is preparing amendments to existing laws to ban Russian and Belarusian nationals from carrying or possessing firearms in the country, Chairman of the Saeima Defense, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee Juris Rancans told the BNS news agency.

The commission is set to promptly consider the amendments and send them to the Saeima, the Latvian parliament, for further consideration, Rancans said.

He went on to recall earlier statements of the Latvian State Security Service about risks supposedly associated with the issuance of permits to Russian and Belarusian citizens allowing them to carry firearms in Latvia.

A total of 193 Belarusian and Russian citizens have permits to carry firearms in Latvia, according to police.