The Latvian migration ministry said on Monday it has sent Moscow ex-mayor Yuri Luzhkov an official response to his request for a residence permit, without disclosing the content.
In January the Latvian authorities placed Luzhkov on a blacklist of people whose presence in the country is 'undesirable.'
"We considered documents filled by Yuri Luzhkov and send him an official response based on that," Latvian Interior Minister Linda Murniece said. "We have no right to comment on its content."
Murniece said the former mayor, who was sacked in summer 2010 after an extensive smear campaign, did not deserve the permit due to his criticism of Latvia's policies towards its extensive Russian-speaking population.
A number of media sources reported last week that Luzhkov was also seeking to resettle in Britain. The British Embassy has neither confirmed nor denied the rumor.
RIGA, February 7 (RIA Novosti)
