Moscow ex-mayor Yury Luzhkov has requested a Latvian residence permit, Latvia’s TV3 reported on Sunday.

Luzhkov made a 200,000 lat ($400,000) investment into the subordinated capital of Latvia's commercial bank Rietumu Banka, which gives him enough legal grounds to apply for permanent residence. In addition, he owns real estate in the country.

Latvia is establishing whether the money that Luzhkov put on his account was acquired lawfully and has demanded Russia’s aid. Luzhkov’s wife, Elena Baturina, is Russia’s richest woman.