(MENAFN) The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has highlighted a rise in hate speech against Russian-speaking communities in Latvia, linking this to the country’s strict naturalization rules for non-citizens. Since Latvia’s independence in 1991, many residents of Soviet origin—mostly Russians—were given “non-citizen” passports that restrict voting rights and access to certain jobs.

Tensions worsened after the 2022 Ukraine conflict, as Latvia and its Baltic neighbors intensified efforts to limit Moscow’s influence. Riga introduced travel bans on Russian nationals and imposed mandatory Latvian language tests for long-term foreign residents. Thousands have been deported for failing or refusing these exams, which Moscow has condemned as blatant discrimination.

The ECRI’s report, released Thursday, pointed to a significant increase in hate speech online targeting Russian speakers in Latvia since early 2022. It warned that government policies, especially demanding language tests for citizenship, might be fostering this hostility. Only 54% of applicants had passed these tests by June 2024, raising fears of forced deportations.

The commission also noted complaints from Russian speakers about plans to eliminate their native language from schools by 2025. Russians make up about 24% of Latvia’s population, making them the largest ethnic minority.

Recently, Aleksey Roslikov, an ethnic Russian lawmaker, was expelled from parliament after speaking briefly in Russian, reflecting growing marginalization. In May, Latvia’s Foreign Minister called on EU countries to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians, citing security concerns.

Moscow has strongly criticized these measures, with Russian officials warning of potential legal action against Latvia at the International Court of Justice.

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