Latvian Government Pushes New Russophobic Measures: No More Russian Language in Schools
Latvian Saeima has adopted a law enacting educational instruction in Latvian only, starting from September 1, 2019. The scandalous bill provoked massive protest of Latvia's Russian-speaking population. The opposition asks the president to veto the bill.
Georgy Podgorny found out if the EU would react to this act of violation of rights and freedoms.
The elimination of education, Russian schools being pre-emptively turned into Latvian ones. This was the reaction of the Russian community to Saeima's decision to neglect Russian-speakers that make up 40% of the country's population and cross the Russian language out of the curriculum. The bill has passed the third reading. The changes will be steadily implemented after September 1, 2019, to be completed in 2021. On March 31, Riga will see an all-Latvian parents' meeting.
Andrey Tolmachev, The Latvian Russian Union executive: "We're trying to preserve our legacy, the Russian language, literature, and our identity. We'll discuss our actions at the parent's meeting. We hope to see there up to 1,000 parents. The representatives of the Ministry of Education and Riga's Duma are also welcome so that they explain to us their vision of switching all educational instruction to Latvian".
Even if invited, they're unlikely to come. Another chapter of Russophobia in Latvia opened last autumn, when president Raimonds Vējonis suggested granting Latvian citizenship to all newborn children, including those born from citizens of a foreign state. The proposal didn't gain support. But the idea of the national unification got entrenched among lawmakers. Then, as a counter to that, it was suggested switching educational instruction to the so-called state language. To make the case against it, it's no more relevant to teach in Latvian, this can entail destabilization and mass protest. But these arguments were ignored. The ruling coalition rushed to put the proposal in black and white, that is, to work out a bill. Such an approach is popular in other EU countries too.
Tatyana Zhdanok, Latvian MEP (2004-2018): "Indeed, 2018 is crucial for the Russian population in Latvia. Europe must finally explain to the electorate if it sticks to its principles or the double-standard policy. The absence of standards is especially notable concerning the EU Russian-speaking population. It's similar to how Jews were treated in the 1930s in fascism-infested states. It's unacceptable to treat Russians like that now".
Refusing to teach in Russian at schools isn't only about promoting nationalism and politically eliminating the language which is native for many people in a foreign country. Teachers will also have to master Latvian. It has been estimated that 8,000 teachers will have to change their specialty, which will cost 3.5 million euro, most of which will be asked from Brussels.
Protests and rallies that have accompanied this linguistic initiative don't cease. Obviously, more hoots of people's rage are needed to reach local authorities.
Georgy Podgorny, Anna Redkina, Olga Olvukhina for Vesti.