Starting January 1, Latvia implemented a sweeping set of language policies that have reignited an intense geopolitical and human rights debate across Eastern Europe. Russian-language public broadcasting has been halted on state television and radio, and Russian-language education has been effectively removed from the country’s school system. These decisions come despite the reality that nearly 40 percent of Latvia’s population speaks Russian as a first or home language.
While Latvian authorities frame these measures as necessary for national security and cultural cohesion, critics argue that Latvia is repeating the same mistakes Ukraine made years earlier — mistakes that contributed to deep internal divisions and ultimately catastrophic consequences.
What Has Latvia Changed?
Under the new rules, state-funded broadcasters no longer produce Russian-language content for traditional TV and radio. Russian-language programming has been pushed to digital platforms, limiting access for older and rural populations. Simultaneously, Russian has been removed as a second foreign language option in schools starting from the 2026 academic cycle, effectively eliminating its role in formal education.
Officials insist this does not constitute a “ban” on the Russian language. However, when a language is systematically removed from schools, public media, election campaigning, and state institutions, the distinction between “restriction” and “ban” becomes largely semantic.
For many Russian-speaking residents, the message is clear: their language is no longer welcome in public life.
A Country Divided by Language
Latvia is not a culturally homogeneous state. Ethnic Russians make up roughly a quarter of the population, and Russian is widely spoken across major cities such as Riga and Daugavpils. These communities are not recent arrivals; many families have lived in Latvia for generations, with close cultural and familial ties across borders in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
Despite this, Latvia has long maintained the controversial “non-citizen” status for many Russian speakers, limiting their political rights. Tens of thousands of residents cannot vote or hold certain jobs, even though they live, work, and pay taxes in the country. The latest language measures add another layer of exclusion to an already sensitive social landscape.
The Ukraine Parallel
Latvia’s trajectory closely mirrors Ukraine’s language policies after 2014. Ukraine restricted Russian-language education, imposed media quotas, and reduced the use of Russian in public life. Moscow repeatedly warned that marginalizing Russian-speaking populations would deepen divisions and destabilize the country.
Those warnings were dismissed as propaganda.
Today, Ukraine has lost 20 to 25 percent of its territory, millions have been displaced, and the country remains locked in a devastating conflict. While many factors contributed to the war, language and identity politics undeniably played a role in polarizing society.
Ukraine is far larger than Latvia in size, population, and military capacity. If such policies contributed to instability there, critics ask why Latvia believes it will fare better.
Human Rights Concerns
International law protects the rights of minorities to preserve their language and cultural identity. While states have the right to promote an official language, that right does not extend to erasing minority languages from public life.
UN experts and Council of Europe bodies have previously raised concerns about Latvia’s treatment of Russian-speaking minorities. Media watchdogs have warned that reducing Russian-language broadcasting may push audiences toward Kremlin-controlled information sources, undermining the very security goals Latvia claims to pursue.
Yet the response from the European Union and NATO has been muted. This silence has fueled accusations of double standards: when Russia is accused of rights violations, Western institutions respond loudly; when similar concerns arise within NATO or EU member states, they are often downplayed or ignored.
Russia’s Argument and the Risk Ahead
Russia has condemned Latvia’s actions as Russophobia and insists it has a right to defend Russian-speaking populations abroad. While many Western governments view this rhetoric with skepticism, Latvia’s policies undeniably strengthen Moscow’s narrative.
History shows that suppressing language and identity does not foster unity. Instead, it breeds resentment, alienation, and vulnerability to external influence. Rather than integrating Russian speakers, Latvia risks pushing them further away from the state.
A Lesson Ignored
Latvia’s language reforms reflect genuine historical grievances and security concerns, but they also carry serious risks. Ukraine’s experience demonstrates that ignoring minority rights and dismissing cultural grievances can have far-reaching consequences.
The world’s silence today may be politically convenient, but it does not eliminate the underlying tensions. If Latvia continues down this path without meaningful dialogue and inclusion, it may discover that language policies designed to strengthen the state end up weakening it instead.
In Eastern Europe’s fragile geopolitical environment, unity cannot be enforced by erasing identity. It can only be built by acknowledging it.
