On June 28, 2017, the webpage of “Georgia and World“ published an article titled “Europe’s Rightless Persons” concerning the allegedly discriminated state of Russian-speaking minorities in the Baltic states. The existing situation in Latvia is given as an example and the Russian newspaper Izvestiya is cited as a primary source.
Izvestiya/Geworld.ge: “As of today, approximately 330 thousand so-called non-citizens reside in Latvia, constituting 14% of the entire population of the country. In addition, 79 restrictions for ‘non-residents’ apply here: they cannot vote in the elections, hold state and municipal positions, be judges, prosecutors, serve in the army etc. They are not allowed make deals on real estate selling without an official consent of the government.”
The statistical data and the claims given in the material prepared by Izvestiya and Georgia and World on Latvia are not real, based on the following facts:
Fact #1. According to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia’s 2016 data, the number of the non-citizens in Latvia is 232,143, which comprises 11.79% of the country’s population. The figure given by the Geworld.ge – alleged 330 thousand non-citizens which represent 14% of the population –is incorrect.
- The number of the non-citizens has been decreasing in Latvia annually and the state conducts special measures to this end, including the facilitation of the process of naturalization and legislative changes. According to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, in 2016, the number of the non-citizens in Latvia was 232,143, the 11.79% share of the population. This is smaller than the figure indicated by Geworld.ge by 100 thousand.
Source: Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia
Fact #2. The claim that the children of the non-citizens are not automatically assigned the citizenship of Latvia, is a lie.
The Government of Latvia conducts special measures for the non-citizens, in order for them to enjoy the same privileges as the citizens. According to the Foreign Ministry of Latvia, the citizenship in Latvia is awarded precisely based on the birthplace, also for the children of the non-citizens. Moreover, following the legislative amendments made in 2013, the assigning of the citizenship to the children in Latvia based on the birthplace was also made possible through consent of at least one of the parents.
Fact #3. The claim that the Government of Latvia supports or encourages fascist or neo-nazi rallies, while antisemitism and racism is on the rise among the population, is unfounded.
- The website of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Latvia indicates that the Government of Latvia does not conduct any rally in support of any totalitarian ideology. Nazi uniforms, symbols or slogans are prohibited by law in Latvia. During the World War II, Latvians fought on the side of both Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Various groups, based on their own initiative, were commemorating the deceased brothers in arms, which, as stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, is free from any ideological context. The Government of Latvia does not take responsibility for the gatherings held by particular private groups and does not participate in them. In 2010, the Latvian police prevented an attempt of holding a Nazi jubilee celebrating the 69th anniversary of the intrusion of Hitler’s army to Latvia.
- The representative of the Government of Latvia, together with the Jewish community, commemorate the Jews that fell victim to the genocide. As an illustration, we offer you a statement made by the President of Latvia, Raimonds Vējonis, in 2016:
“Despite the horrible shootings and loss, the Jewish community in Latvia was reborn from the ashes and now I see their communal, religious and cultural development. This makes Latvia stronger.”
Fact #4. The claim that the ethnic Russians allegedly are not allowed to speak their native language in Latvia, is a disinformation.
There are 75 acting bilingual schools in Latvia, in which the study process, apart from Latvian, is held in Russian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Estonian, Lithuanian and Hebrew. In addition, nowadays, five national and 30 regional newspapers are issued in Latvia in Russian, together with 34 private radio channels which also operate in Russian.
The Mayor of the capital of Latvia – Riga – is fluent in Russian, which, as he describes, does not stop him from being a patriot of his country – Latvia.
Source: Minority Rights Group International
It is noteworthy that the latest UN report evaluates Latvia’s integration policy as successful. The opportunities of getting a double citizenship in Latvia have increased, while the naturalization process has been facilitated.
Prepared by Sopho Shubitidze
Myth Detector Lab
