Russian-speaking community in Latvia have proposed to attract experts from Venice Commission to evaluate the educational reform in the country. Russian Community of Latvia has sent an open letter addressed to the President of Latvia, TASS informs.
According to the public organization, transition of Russian-language schools into Latvian language limits rights of national minorities significantly and contradicts the Constitution, which states to respect representatives of other nations. Besides, new norms contradict the international obligations undertaken by Latvia. Authors of the letter have underlined that the amendments have not been discussed with society, teachers or schoolchildren parents.
Russian Community of Latvia notes that the discussion on the topic can hardly be productive due to sensibility of ethnic questions. That is the reason why Russian-speaking community has offered to attract foreign experts.
Deputy of the European Parliament Andrey Mamykin has made a similar proposition before.
It should be noted that Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia intends to transit education at schools to the Latvian language starting 2020\2021. The initiative was welcomed by Parliament members and President of Latvia who called for thorough preparation for the transition. Russian-speaking population especially parents of schoolchildren have sharply criticized the initiative stating that it would end up with social split and decrease of educational level in the country.
Several riots against transition of Russian-language schools to Latvian language were held in Riga. Campaigns supporting Russian community of Latvia were organized in Brussels, Tallinn, Vilnius and Lugansk.
Russkiy Mir
