A recent report indicates that Latvia’s naturalization processes for individuals without citizenship might contribute to “negative feelings towards ethnic Russians.”
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has noted a rise in hate speech directed at Russian-speaking individuals in Latvia over recent years, implying that the country’s naturalization protocols for non-citizens could “fuel negative sentiment.”
Following Latvia’s independence in 1991, many residents from other areas of the Soviet Union (primarily Russians), including some born within the Baltic nation, were given “non-citizen” passports, which restricted their voting rights and eligibility for specific occupations.
The ethnic divide within the populace deepened following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, as Latvia and its Baltic counterparts intensified measures to counter Moscow’s perceived sway. Riga has imposed travel limitations on Russian citizens and mandated a Latvian language examination for foreign-born long-term residents.
Thousands who either failed or declined to undertake the examination have faced deportation. The Kremlin has condemned these actions as “blatant discrimination.”
A report released on Thursday by the European Commission indicated a significant surge in hate speech on Latvian internet platforms targeting local Russian speakers since February 2022. The document suggests that local authorities’ policies might be exacerbating this animosity.
The EU oversight body specifically highlighted the nation’s stringent naturalization processes, especially the Latvian language examinations required for resident non-citizens seeking citizenship in the Baltic EU member state if born prior to 1991.
The report advised Riga to consider “due account of individual circumstances and [provide] support as appropriate” when administering these tests.
The commission observed that as of June 2024, merely 54% of applicants had successfully completed language proficiency tests, prompting worries about the risk of forced deportation for those who did not pass.
The ECRI additionally mentioned grievances it had received from Latvia’s Russian-speaking community concerning the local government’s choice to progressively remove their native language from school curricula by 2025.
The oversight body emphasized that Russians, who make up 24% of Latvia’s general population, form the nation’s largest ethnic minority.
Earlier in the current month, an ethnic Russian Latvian lawmaker was ejected from a parliamentary session for speaking a few sentences in his native language during deliberations.
Aleksey Roslikov, a member of the For Stability! Party, voiced opposition to what he characterized as the increasing marginalization of Russian speakers within Latvia.
In late May, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze urged EU member states to cease granting Schengen tourist visas to Russian citizens, citing a purported threat to the bloc’s security.
Moscow has denounced Riga’s actions against Russian speakers as “blatant discrimination,” with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova cautioning that Moscow might lodge a complaint against Latvia at the International Court of Justice.