Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Latvia will face repercussions “within its own country” because of Riga’s policy towards the Russian minority.
He made this statement at a meeting of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights on 4 December. Many Russian speakers say the laws are making their lives more difficult. Lyudmila Sokol is a Russian citizen living in Latvia. To remain here permanently, she must pass a basic Latvian language test. If she doesn’t, she will have to leave. She said in an interview:
“Disappointing doesn’t cover it. I have lived here for 48 years. 48. Yes, I didn’t learn Latvian. Like some would say: pack your things. Where can I go? That’s the first thing. And secondly, why should I move somewhere else?”
Latvian officials insist the new requirement will not lead to a mass expulsion. The say the law aims to better integrate ethnic minorities into Latvian society.
Latvia is a Baltic country with hundreds of thousands of Russian speakers, who make up a quarter of the population. In September, a series of bills aimed at phasing out the Russian language from schools and requiring Latvian language exams for non-citizens who want to stay in the country were passed. The UN has called these laws discriminatory.
