UN human rights experts have criticized Latvia's move to make Latvian the only language used in schools, saying it could amount to discrimination against minority groups in the country, where around a quarter of the population consists of Russian speakers. 

The Baltic country's parliament adopted a law last year that aims to make Latvian the sole language of instruction by September 2025.

But three UN Special Rapporteurs released a statement saying the efforts were "in contradiction with international human rights standards, including the prohibition of discrimination on grounds of language and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child."

"The Government of Latvia has an obligation under international law and regional instruments to protect and uphold the language rights of the country's minority communities, without discrimination," they said.

Latvia's government responded by insisting it was not violating its international agreements, and that the move was part of a 'de-Russification' effort that had long been in the works. 

"Latvia has acted in good faith by increasing the proportion of the Latvian language as the language of instruction in education gradually," Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs wrote.

"It should be emphasised that children and pupils will have the right to study minority language and cultural history (in the minority language) in interest-related education programs funded by the State and local governments," he added.

Consequences of a conflict 

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has prompted efforts by Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins' centre-right coalition government to impose limits on the use of the Russian language in public life.

The government has also dismantled Soviet-era monuments and banned TV broadcasts from Russia. Many ethnic Latvians rallied behind the changes.

But many of Latvia's Russians, who make up about a quarter of the population of 1.9 million, were left feeling they were losing their place in society.

The Russian minority grew significantly, while Latvia was under Soviet rule, fueled by settlers.

Ethnic Latvians largely see the country's incorporation into the Soviet Union in 1940 as an illegal annexation, the Soviet victory in 1945 as a renewal of the brutal occupation, and contemporary Russia as a threat.

Russian-speakers tend to believe Latvia joined Soviet Union willingly, and that Russia - at least before the Ukraine war - is a friendly country, Arnis Kaktins, a sociologist, told the Reuters news agency last September.

Baltic bitterness

Relations between Russia and the three Baltic states have soured considerably since the war.

Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were all once part of the Soviet Union, and are among a group of NATO allies arguing strongly for more weapons to be sent to Ukraine to help it fight Russian forces.

Last month the Russian foreign ministry ordered Latvia's envoy to leave the country within two weeks, following an earlier decision by Riga to expel Moscow's ambassador.

Lithuania and Estonia had also expelled their Russian ambassadors. 

In a statement, the Russian ministry said it saw "solidarity" only in the Baltic states' "total Russophobia and a desire to be the initiator of hostile steps towards Russia, which are encouraged by the U.S. and some other countries that are unfriendly to us."