Interior Minister Janis Dombrava, speaking before politically repressed individuals, talked about what he encountered upon becoming the head of the Ministry of the Interior: "It was normal for two police officers in uniform to speak to each other in Russian, for those who underwent naturalization to come for a Latvian citizen passport at the UGM and speak in Russian... I changed this order on the very first day I took office as minister." The minister also stated that he feels no sympathy for Russian citizens living in Latvia on the basis of a residence permit.