Latvia Removes Russian Language from School Curriculum Despite Being Second Most Spoken

The Latvian government has approved amendments that will remove Russian as a mandatory second language in schools starting in 2026, even though Russian is currently the second most popular language in the country. Under the new rules, students entering 5th grade in September 2026 will be required to study an official language of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or a foreign language approved by intergovernmental agreements, instead of Russian.

This change comes after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with the Latvian government noting that the "mandatory study of Russian as a second language is unacceptable for a significant part of Latvian society" following the "bloodiest war unleashed by Russia this century and genocide of Ukrainian people." Russian is spoken by 37.7% of Latvia's population as their mother tongue, making it the second most common language after Latvian.

The language ban is part of a series of measures aimed at "de-russifying" Latvia in response to the war in Ukraine. In 2022, the Latvian parliament unanimously adopted a statement expressing solidarity with Ukraine and acknowledging that Russia is committing genocide against the Ukrainian people. Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins called for further EU sanctions on all Russian banks and energy resources at the time.

Why this matters: The removal of Russian language from Latvia's school curriculum, despite its prevalence, reflects the growing tensions and backlash against Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. This move highlights the significant geopolitical and cultural shifts occurring in the region as a result of the ongoing conflict.

Hundreds of people from Latvia's Russian-speaking community, which makes up around 25% of the country's population, have protested against Russia's war in Ukraine. The demonstrations showed that many ethnic Russians in Latvia do not identify with Putin's government and respect the sovereignty of other countries. Along with Estonia and Lithuania, the Baltic states have taken a hard line against Russia's actions in Ukraine.

Key Takeaways

• Latvia to remove Russian as mandatory 2nd language in schools by 2026.
• Change due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, seen as "unacceptable" by Latvians.
• Part of "de-russifying" measures in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.
• Reflects growing tensions and backlash against Russia in the Baltic region.
• Many ethnic Russians in Latvia oppose Russia's war and support Ukraine's sovereignty.