April 3 (UPI) -- Russian members of Parliament on Tuesday threatened possible sanctions against Latvia for a decision to teach older students in only the Latvian language, not Russian.

Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis signed laws Monday calling for schools to phase in full Latvian-language instruction for 10th- through 12th-year students by the year 2021, with the exception of some Russian language and literature courses.

Half of Latvia's early education courses will remain in Russian along with 20 percent of classes for seventh- through ninth-year students.

Vejonis said the change will "form a more cohesive society and a stronger state."

While Latvian is the country's official language, a quarter of its population are ethnic Russians and nearly 100 state-funded schools offer Russian or bilingual teaching.

The Russian parliament's lower house, the state Duma, condemned the language reform as "forced assimilation" and Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin called on Russia to take a "more active position" on Latvia's supposed rights violation.

"The state Duma notes that the actions of the Latvian authorities violating the rights and freedoms of our compatriots in Latvia should be followed by the adoption of special economic measures," the Duma said. </s> Image copyright AFP Image caption In 2004 ethnic Russians opposed an earlier Latvian language reform in schools

Russian MPs have urged their government to impose economic sanctions on Latvia, where the Latvian language will be made compulsory in all secondary schools.

The language reform is being phased in; by September 2021 all 16 to 18-year-olds will be taught only in Latvian.

More than a quarter of Latvia's 2.2m people are ethnic Russians, most of whom are taught in Russian. However, the only official language is Latvian.

Russia has long accused EU member Latvia of undermining minority rights.

Tensions have been simmering for years, partly because Latvia and its Baltic neighbours Estonia and Lithuania are Nato members. During the Cold War they were under communist rule from Moscow.

The drive to make Latvian the only language in secondary education will begin next year.

Bilingual or Russian-only teaching will continue for younger children whose mother tongue is Russian.

Read more on this topic:

According to 2016 data from the Latvian government, 811 Latvian schools are state-funded, including 94 schools where the teaching is in Russian or bilingual.

Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis said the language reform would improve equal opportunities for all citizens. "It will make society more cohesive and the state stronger," he said.

In response, the Russian Duma (lower house) resolution called it a violation of internationally recognised rights.

The MPs, overwhelmingly supporters of President Vladimir Putin, said sanctions on Latvia could include restrictions on trade and financial operations, a boycott of some goods and measures targeting individual Latvian politicians.

Russia has already banned food and drink imports from EU countries because of Western sanctions triggered by Russia's intervention in Ukraine.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption A 2015 Nato exercise in Latvia: Russia sees it as hostile activity

Last month the Russian foreign ministry called the Latvian reform "odious" and "part of the discriminatory policy of the forceful assimilation of Russian-speaking people that has been conducted for the past 25 years".

The Latvian government says ethnic minorities will still be able to study their own cultures and learn in their mother tongue in primary school. The Russian minority is much larger than Latvia's other minorities, such as the Poles.

Around 300,000 Russian-speakers, or 13% of Latvia's population, are so-called "non-citizens". Fluency in Latvian is among the requirements for Latvian citizenship.

In Ukraine in 2014 Russian-speakers' fears that their language rights were at risk fuelled the ethnic conflict, in which Russia annexed Crimea and helped insurgents in the Donbass region. </s> The Russian lower house has passed a statement decrying as “inadmissible” the Latvian ban on teaching in minorities’ languages in schools. The statement also warns Riga of potential reciprocal economic sanctions.

The statement approved by the State Duma on Tuesday reads that the Latvian authorities’ actions contradicted the mutual respect, understanding and cooperation between all people who live in the country, regardless of their ethnic, cultural or language background. The document also reads that such steps violate the principles of the European Union and the Council of Europe, of which Latvia is a member, as well as the rules established in the majority of civilized nations.

Russian lawmakers now intend to send the address to the United Nations, parliamentary assemblies of the CSTO and OSCE blocs, to the leadership of the European Union, and to the parliaments of all the bloc’s member nations.

In addition, the Duma deputies stated that the freshly signed Latvian law could lead to reciprocal measures from Russian, such as a partial or full ban on financial operations, the increase of import tariffs, restrictions in the sphere of tourism and the suspension of certain bilateral trade agreements.

Earlier this week, Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis signed a bill that excludes lessons in Russian from the curriculum in all of the country’s schools, including schools specifically for ethnic minorities. The only exception is for classes in the subjects of Russian language and literature, or unspecified subjects “connected with culture and history.”

Latvia’s Social Democratic Party ‘Harmony’ protested against the new law, saying that it contradicts both the constitution and the Council of Europe’s framework convention on protection of minorities, which was adopted and ratified by the Latvian parliament in 2005. Harmony called for the reversal of anti-Russian education reforms, but the authorities did not heed the minorities’ opinion.

Despite the fact that Russian speakers make up to 40 percent of Latvia’s 2 million population, the only official language is Latvian and passing a language test is a strict requirement for receiving citizenship. This has resulted in a situation whereby hundreds of thousands of people have to live with a “non-citizen” passport. Most of these non-citizens are ethnic Russians and large numbers of them are Belarusians and Ukrainians, but there are also Poles and Lithuanians. Non-citizens have no voting rights, cannot serve in the Latvian military or police, and are officially banned from working as civil servants, lawyers or pharmacy salespersons. </s> The actions of the Latvian authorities, which violate the rights and freedoms of Russian-speaking citizens in Latvia, should be responded by an introduction of special economic measures against the Baltic state, provided for under Russia’s federal law "On Special Economic Measures," according to the Russian parliament's lower house, the State Duma lawmakers.

The statement stressed that Latvia, being a member of the European Union and the Council of Europe, violated the principles that were observed by most civilized countries.

The lawmakers also proposed to send the statement to the Russian government, the United Nations, the parliamentary assemblies of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, the parliaments of the Council of Europe member states and the Latvian Saeima.

The Latvian population is about two million people, with 40 percent of Russian language speakers. The only state language in the country is Latvian, while all other languages, including Russian, are considered as foreign languages. Russian-speaking citizens have repeatedly protested against the government's plan to force the schools of ethnic minorities to switch to the Latvian language. </s> Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis approved on Monday a reform on transition to education in the state language at ethnic minority schools, TASS reports. “Education in secondary schools in the Latvian language will ensure equal opportunities for all young people to get a good education and make a living in Latvia,” Vejonis said. Latvia’s parliament earlier adopted a reform developed by the Ministry of Education and Science, according to which minority schools will start using the Latvian language for most subjects starting from 2020. Only subjects “The Russian Language,” “Russian Literature” and others “linked to culture and history” will be taught in Russian. The gradual implementation of this reform will be launched on September 1, 2019. The defenders of Russian schools earlier held several mass rallies and marches against this reform. Russian-speaking residents make up about 40 percent of Latvia’s population. </s> Saturday’s parliamentary election in Latvia — a Baltic member of the European Union and NATO — should see a political party catering to the country’s ethnic Russian minority win most votes but it remains unclear if it can find coalition partners to put it into power.

Latvia, a nation of 2 million that borders Russia, has a sizable ethnic-Russian minority of around 25 percent, more if you count other Russian-speakers such as Belarussians and Ukrainians. That is a legacy of nearly 50 years of Soviet occupation that ended in 1991, when the nation once again became independent.

Nearly half of the residents of Riga, the capital, speak Russian even though Latvian is the country’s only official language.

More than 1,400 candidates from 16 parties are vying for seats Saturday in the country’s 100-seat Saeima assembly.

The left-leaning Harmony party is the country’s largest with 24 seats but has been shunned by Latvian parties over suspicions of having a too-friendly approach to Moscow despite its pro-EU stance.

It is unlikely to team up with Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis’ Union of Greens and Farmers, which polls suggest could come in second on Saturday, said Una Bergmane, a teaching fellow in international history at the London School of Economics.

To form a governing coalition, however, a three-party coalition is needed, as the two largest parties likely would fall short of a 51-seat majority, she said.

Since 2016, Kucinskis has led a three-party governing coalition with the national-conservative National Alliance and the liberal Unity parties. His party is particularly popular in rural areas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has a taken strong interest in defending the rights of ethnic Russians in the Baltics, and Latvia has felt Moscow’s attempts to influence the country’s affairs in media, business and politics. The capitals have tense relations after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 from Ukraine and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The Baltic countries — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — have also noted with alarm a substantial increase in Russian military maneuvers in the region.

Harmony’s leader, Nils Usakovs who has been mayor of Riga since 2009, may have the best shot at grabbing power since earlier this year the party broke a cooperation deal with Putin’s United Russia party that had upset other Latvian parties.

The populist KPV party of Artuss Kaimins, an actor-turned-lawmaker, recently polled as Latvia’s third most-popular party but critics say its campaign promises are unrealistic. The New Conservative Party is running on a strong anti-corruption platform but has struggled to gain voter support.

Social issues such a national health reform and a debate over registering same-sex relationships have dominated the campaign along with economic issues and the fight against corruption.

Latvia’ security police say they are probing a possible vote-buying case but claim they have found no direct or systematic attempts by foreign nations to influence Saturday’s election. </s> HELSINKI (AP) — A political party catering to the ethnic Russian minority is expected to win the most votes in Saturday’s parliamentary election in Latvia — a Baltic member of the European Union and NATO — but it remains unclear if it can forge a coalition to take power.

Latvia, a nation of 2 million that borders Russia, has a sizable ethnic-Russian minority of around 25 percent — more if you count other Russian-speakers such as Belarussians and Ukrainians. That is a legacy of nearly 50 years of Soviet occupation that ended in 1991, when the nation regained its independence. Nearly half the residents in Riga, the capital, speak Russian even though Latvian is the country’s only official language.

More than 1,400 candidates from 16 parties are vying for seats in the country’s 100-seat Saeima assembly. The election campaign has largely focused on social policies issues such as health and whether to register same-sex relationships as well as economic issues and the fight against corruption.

The left-leaning Harmony party is the country’s largest with 24 seats but it has been shunned by Latvian parties over suspicions of being too cozy with Moscow despite its pro-EU stance.

Una Bergmane, a teaching fellow in international history at the London School of Economics, said it is unlikely the party will be able to team up with Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis’ Union of Greens and Farmers, which polls suggest could come second.

To form a governing coalition, a three-party coalition is likely needed, as the two largest parties are expected to fall short of a 51-seat majority.

Since 2016, Kucinskis has led a three-party governing coalition with the national-conservative National Alliance and the liberal Unity parties. His party is particularly popular in rural areas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken a strong interest in defending the rights of ethnic Russians in the Baltics, and Latvia has felt Moscow’s attempts to influence the country’s affairs in media, business and politics. Relations have been frayed by Russia’s annexation of the Crimea peninsula in 2014 from Ukraine and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The Baltic countries — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — have also noted with alarm a substantial increase in Russian military maneuvers in the region.

Harmony’s leader, Nils Usakovs who has been mayor of Riga since 2009, may have the best shot at grabbing power following its decision earlier this year to end a cooperation deal with Putin’s United Russia party that had upset other Latvian parties.

Other parties fighting the election include the populist KPV party of Artuss Kaimins, an actor-turned-lawmaker, which opinion polls suggest may come third. And the New Conservative Party is running on a strong anti-corruption platform but has struggled to gain voter support.

Latvia’s security police say they are probing a possible vote-buying case but claim they have found no direct or systematic attempts by foreign nations to influence Saturday’s election.

The Riga-based Baltic Center for Investigative Journalism said it concurred with the assessment after having found “no persuasive evidence of foreign interference.”

The London School of Economics’ Bergmane said Russia may be a little bit distracted at the moment as it’s dealing with several contentious international issues. That, she said, is “good news for Latvia.”

“We’re not the most important thing on Russia’s agenda right now,” said Bergmane, a Latvia native. “They have other problems like Ukraine, Syria and relations with the United States and Britain.” </s> A pro-Russia party has won the most votes in Latvia’s parliamentary election.

Dissatisfied Latvians rejected the right-of-centre ruling coalition in Saturday’s vote, but suspicion of the left-leaning pro-Russia Harmony party makes it likely the next government will be another formation of right-wing ethnic Latvian parties.

European Union and Nato member Latvia is seen as a bulwark against Russia amid an increasingly hostile relationship between the West and its president, Vladimir Putin.

Latvians, fed up with corruption and weak democracy in the Baltic country of 2 million, used the election to punish the ruling three-party coalition, which lost almost half of its votes, mostly to two newcomers.

Those two parties, the populist KPV LV and anti-corruption New Conservatives, won a combined 27.7 per cent of the vote to become the second- and third-biggest parties.

“Our voters want a change from the old post-Soviet politics which has been very powerful up to now,” said Janis Bordans, leader of the New Conservatives. “They want to have a stable Latvia, but one which doesn’t stagnate.”

The New Conservatives, whose leadership features several former officers from the country’s anti-corruption agency, want to beef up law enforcement and get rid of a number of current officials who they say are corrupt.

Mr Bordans said he would like to be the new prime minister.

“If we count out Harmony then it’s logical that we take responsibility. We have to be ready to do it and it is very realistic,” he said.

Harmony, which is supported by ethnic Russians, who make up one-quarter of the population, took 19.9 per cent of the vote but will find it almost impossible to be part of any government.

The ethnic divide is strong in Latvian politics and other parties have always shut Harmony out of government. It has tried to rebrand itself as a western-style social democratic party, but only severed official ties to Mr Putin’s United Russia party last year.

“I don’t think this is a norm-breaking election. It carries on the tradition we have seen in Latvia that a quarter of the seats go to the Russian-speaking party,” said Daunis Auers, professor of comparative politics at the University of Latvia, adding that other parties would have no problem shutting out Harmony.

“They have no reason to form a government with Harmony. They can form a coalition among themselves,” he told Reuters.

Before the election, some Latvians were concerned that a strong result for Harmony and the populist KPV could lead to the two parties forming a government that brought Latvia closer to Russia.

The result will lead to a more fragmented parliament of seven parties, of which six won between 10 and 20 per cent support each. The forming of a government coalition could take months.

Latvia has long been plagued by corruption and moneylaundering. The country’s central bank governor is awaiting trial on charges of accepting a bribe, and one of the biggest banks, ABLV, went into liquidation this year after US authorities accused it of laundering vast amounts of money for people from the former Soviet Union.

Harmony will get 24 seats and remain the biggest bloc in parliament. – Reuters </s> Russia began testing missiles with live munitions in the Baltic Sea on Wednesday, alarming Latvia, a member of NATO, which says the drills have forced it partly to shut down Baltic commercial airspace. The Russian defence ministry said on Monday that its Baltic Fleet, based in its European exclave of Kaliningrad, was preparing for routine training in the Baltic Sea, including live fire drills to practice hitting air and sea targets.

“It is a demonstration of force,” Latvia’s Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis told Reuters. “It is hard to comprehend that it can happen so close to (our) country,” he said. The tests are being carried out in Latvia’s exclusive economic zone, officials said, an area of the sea just beyond Latvia’s territorial waters where Latvia has special economic rights, as well as further west in the Baltic Sea.

Riga has closed some of its airspace for the three days of tests, and Sweden also issued a warning to civilian sea traffic and said there could be delays and disruption to civilian air traffic.

The missile tests and military drills follow Russia’s massive war games last September, which stretched from the Baltics to the Black Sea. The exercises unnerved the West because of their scale, scope and what NATO said was a lack of transparency.

At a time of high East-West tensions, NATO officials worry that any accident involving military weapons and a civilian ship or plane could spark a wider conflict.

In Ottawa, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance would follow the tests closely, while noting that every nation had the right to carry out military exercises.

“We are staying vigilant and we are also increasing the readiness of our forces, especially in the Baltic region,” he told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“PROVOCATIVE ACTION” Latvia said Russian drills have never taken place so near its territory. Kucinskis noted that the decision to test so close to Latvian waters came after the West’s expulsion of Russian diplomats last month, the largest since the Cold War.

The diplomats were expelled after a nerve agent attack on March 4 against a former Russian double agent and his daughter in Salisbury, England. Latvian officials said Russia is not breaking any international rules and has the right to exercise. But the Latvian defence ministry summoned Russia’s military attache to express its concern.

Russia says it is testing its forces after the winter.

“Drills lasting for three days in the region where there is very intensive aviation traffic, and given everything else that is happening in relations between the West and Russia, I think that it is a rather provocative action,” Latvia’s ambassador to Russia, Maris Riekstins, told Latvian Television.
Russian MPs call for sanctions against Latvia in response to plans to make Latvian mandatory for all students in secondary schools in the country, which is a quarter ethnic Russians.