Latvia urged to rethink language policy

Recently, Latvia toughened laws which make Latvian the country’s only official language. In particular, people with poor knowledge of Latvian are not granted jobs.

A report published by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance says that this step of the Latvian government can aggravate relations between various ethnic groups in Latvia. First of all, these laws are aimed against ethnic Russians.

Earlier, the commission has warned the Latvian government against this step.

Now, the commission is calling on Latvia to resume the old practice of free courses of the Latvian language.

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance is an institution recently formed by the Council of Europe.

(IF)