In Latvia, they announced work on a law on the restriction of the Russian language

The Latvian Ministry of Justice is currently working on a law that would restrict the use of the Russian language at work and in public places. About this portal Delfi informed Minister of Justice of the Republic Janis Bordans.

The minister recalled the language referendum held in 2012, according to which 74.8% of respondents voted against Russian as the second state language. However, according to Bordans, “in practice, the long-term consequences of Russification are such that the practice of simultaneous use of Latvian and Russian in everyday communication, places of service and workplaces has become entrenched.”

It so happened that the citizens of Latvia “should know Russian in a variety of situations,” the minister said. “This should not be allowed, except in certain cases, which will be listed in the law. But society needs to know that the Latvian language should be used for business relations, as well as for communication in the workplace,” Bordans said.

The head of the Ministry of Justice did not rule out that it would be forbidden to use the Russian language in telephone and bank messages. In addition, the law may affect job postings that require knowledge of the Russian language.

“For example, in cases where an employer employs at least 50 employees and requires that at least five employees know or use a language that is not an official language of the European Union, or considers that knowledge of this language will give the candidate an advantage, this will be necessary substantiate,” Bordans said.

On August 11, the Saeima of Latvia recognized Russia as a “sponsor of terrorism.” In response to this decision, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that “naming ideologists [этого предложения] need nothing but neo-Nazis.”

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said that residents of Latvia who have received Russian citizenship will have to leave the country, as they will no longer be able to obtain a residence permit. President of the Republic Egil Levits urged stop issuing visas to Russians at the EU level.

Latvia has stopped issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens since February 24, the first day of the special military operation in Ukraine, which was launched by the Russian Federation. In May, the Latvian parliament approved in the first reading a bill that obliges municipal authorities to demolish Soviet monuments, including the monument to the Liberators of Riga, by November 15.