♪ Listen 0:00 Approximately 50 activists gathered outside the Saeima building in Riga on September 7th to protest against what they described as the “destruction of the Russian language” in Latvian schools, according to RUS TVNET. The protest, organized by the Russian Union of Latvia, began at 7:00 pm and involved participants carrying flags of the Russian Union of Latvia and utilizing loudspeakers. Among the audio played was a Russian version of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall.” Protesters asserted the Russian Union of Latvia’s role in “defending the Russian language in Latvia,” stating that only the organization maintained consistent principles and protected the language. They argued that the Russian community was not prepared to transition to Latvian instruction and therefore needed representation within the Saeima to advocate for their interests. Speakers criticized current Latvian politicians, alleging they disregarded the Russian community and minorities. Some participants indicated a shift in their political views, citing actions by Riga’s mayor Martynas Staikus and the Minister of Education and Science as catalysts. Concerns were also raised regarding the recent separation of the Latvian Orthodox Church from Moscow. The protest remained largely peaceful, with police officers monitoring the event. The government had previously supported a gradual shift to instruction solely in the Latvian state language at the general and pre-school levels, beginning in June of this year. The Russian Union of Latvia continues to express concerns about the impact of these policies on the Russian-speaking population of Latvia. Topics: #russian #rus #protest Post navigation EXTRACTION ⟩ The sunny “Cucumber Rag” feels like a warm bowl of soup The European Central Bank may hit a record interest rate hike today
This is a concerning development that highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding language education in Latvia. Reply