The Council of Europe has criticized Latvia’s naturalization procedures for non-citizens, suggesting these measures could exacerbate negative sentiment towards Russian speakers in the country. The report highlights an increase in hate speech targeting Russian speakers, attributing it to strict language tests and other policies implemented by Latvia since the Ukraine conflict began in 2022.
Latvia gained independence in 1991, leading to the issuance of non-citizen passports to many residents of Soviet origin, including Russians, which barred them from voting and certain jobs. These divisions were further intensified by the Ukraine conflict, prompting Latvia to implement travel restrictions and mandatory language tests for long-term residents, resulting in thousands of deportations. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) noted a spike in hate speech on Latvian internet sites since February 2022, urging Latvia to consider individual circumstances when conducting language tests.
As of June 2024, only 54% of applicants passed language proficiency tests, raising concerns about forced deportations. The ECRI also cited complaints from the Russian-speaking community about the phased-out use of their native language in school curriculums by 2025. The largest ethnic minority in Latvia, Russians, now face growing marginalization, with a Latvian lawmaker of Russian ethnicity recently reprimanded for speaking in his mother tongue during a parliamentary session.
Moscow has criticized Riga’s measures targeting Russian speakers as “blatant discrimination,” with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warning that Moscow could file a complaint against Latvia at the International Court of Justice. Meanwhile, Latvia’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braze called on EU member states to stop issuing Schengen tourist visas to Russian citizens, citing an alleged threat to the bloc’s security.
Latvia’s actions have drawn significant European scrutiny, with the Council of Europe’s report highlighting the potential long-term social and political ramifications of its policies. The debate over national identity and integration has sparked tensions not only within Latvia but also in the broader European context as the region grapples with the fallout from the Ukraine conflict.