DISINFO: Ukraine and Latvia clear their educational space from the Russian language
SUMMARY
The educational space of Ukraine and Latvia is being cleared from the Russian language. In the Baltics and a number of Western states, freedom of speech is limited and there is pressure on the Russian media.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about discrimination of Russian language speakers in the Baltic States and Ukraine and western Russophobia.
The claim about the language rights of Russians in Ukraine being violated is false. On April 25 2019, the Verkhovna Rada passed the law 'on ensuring the functioning of the Ukrainian language as a state language' but this law does not discriminate against any other languages. Russian, as well as other languages, can be used in private communication, religious ceremonies, press, book publishing, etc. The law also allows the use of other languages in the healthcare system and law enforcement.
The Constitutional Court of Latvia stated that Amendments to the Education Law that stipulate transition to Latvian as the sole instruction language in schools are in line with the Constitution. In its decision, the Constitutional Court indicated that the convention on the protection of national minorities said that any person has the right to learn their native language. But to what extent this will be done, the convention leaves the countries the right to decide for themselves - which was done in Latvia. Separately, the court decision notes that the right to learn the native language should not interfere with the development of the state language, and it is Latvian in Latvia.
See similar cases claiming that Latvia instigates linguistic genocide against Russian-speaking citizens, or that the Rights of Russian-speaking people are violated in the Baltic States and Ukraine.
As for the claim on the pressure on Russian media in Western countries and limited freedom of speech, read further debunk here.