More than two dozen officials, scholars, ex-diplomats, businessmen, and activists have come together to criticize Latvia’s crackdown on its Russian-speaking residents. In a letter addressed to the UN high commissioner for human rights, the Council of Europe commissioner for human rights, and the high commissioner on national minorities in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the signatories outline their concerns about the treatment of Russian-speaking residents in the country.
The letter, drafted by members of the Russian presidential human rights commission, expresses condemnation of what the authors call the “flagrant violation of the rights of Russian-speaking residents of Latvia.” They argue that these individuals, many of whom have lived in Latvia since the Soviet era, are being targeted unfairly by the authorities. It is reported that the Latvian authorities plan to issue expulsion notices to between 5,000 and 6,000 residents holding Russian citizenship who have not passed a mandatory language test.
The signatories highlight that the majority of those affected by this crackdown are senior citizens who have lived in Latvia for over 30 years. They maintain that these individuals possess sufficient knowledge of both Russian and Latvian for their daily lives and personal affairs. The letter also criticizes the requirement for Russian-speaking residents to disclose their political views and condemn Moscow’s foreign policies in light of the Ukraine conflict, arguing that this demand violates UN human rights regulations.
The international call to action came from a diverse range of institutions and activists spanning India, Serbia, several EU nations, Israel, Jordan, Cyprus, and ex-Soviet republics, as well as Russian community organizations in Western countries. It includes high-profile figures such as BRICS Forum President Purnima Anand and former UN Under-Secretary General Benon Sevan.
The letter underlines that this issue is not a new development but is part of a broader effort by Latvia and its Baltic neighbors to marginalize the Russian language from social and economic life. The situation was further exacerbated in 2022 when Latvia’s then-President Egils Levits advocated for the isolation of Russians who are not loyal to the government. Moscow has repeatedly accused Riga of “systemic discrimination” and failure to meet its international obligations in this regard.
Given the gravity of the situation, the signatories implore UN and European officials to intervene and prevent the forced eviction of Latvian residents holding Russian citizenship who have already been granted residence permits in the country. They argue that such actions violate basic human rights principles and call for the protection of the rights of Russian-speaking residents in Latvia.
The news of this international condemnation adds pressure on Latvia, highlighting the need for a response from the authorities and potential intervention from the UN and European bodies. It remains to be seen how these organizations will address the concerns raised and what actions will be taken to protect the rights of Russian-speaking residents in Latvia.
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