On Friday, Russia qualified as “discriminatory” the initiative of the Latvian authorities, which involves limiting the use of the Russian language in this Baltic country, said the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, the agencies report. EFE and Agerpres.
“These absurd and discriminatory initiatives, which affect the interests of almost half of Latvia’s population and contradict numerous recommendations of international structures, have long become a shameful practice,” Zakharova said in a statement.
According to Moscow, the initiative to ban the use of the Russian language in the public and private sectors will lead to “greater division and tension in Latvian society.”
Zakharova complained that European “democratic structures” maintain “silence” regarding the Latvian initiative.
What does the draft law in Latvia on restricting the use of the Russian language provide for?
The government of Latvia plans to pass a law in the near future to restrict the use of the Russian language in various fields against the background of growing antagonism towards Russia and the Russian language after the military campaign in Ukraine.
- Read: Latvia is preparing a bill to limit the use of the Russian language
According to the Latvian government, this bill is aimed at “mitigating the long-term effects of Russification and eradicating the everyday practice of using both Latvian and Russian languages in everyday communication at work and in services.”
The de facto ban on the use of the Russian language will extend not only to government agencies, but also, among other things, to communication with customers of businesses such as banks and telecommunications companies, public transport, infrastructures such as airports and train stations and even garbage collection services .
On the contrary, the law does not prohibit the use of the Russian language in individual conversations in commerce or the use of translators for interaction with the state administration. In addition, an exception will be made for emergency or risky situations.
The new rules are expected to enter into force on July 1, 2023, and those who violate them will be subject to administrative sanctions that have not yet been determined, EFE reports.
Read also:
- Maria Zakharova accused Latvia of “zooxenophobia”
- Latvia recognized Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism
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Source: Hot News RU
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