Articles 4 and 114 of the Constitution of Latvia is the legal basis for making Latvian to be the official state language, while affirming the rights of ethnic minorities to preserve and develop their languages. Latvian, the Latgalian, and the Livonian language are considered indigenous and all other languages, including Russian, as foreign, Russian is the first language for more than one third of the population. The other significant minority foreign languages include Belarusian, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Polish, and Romani (Gypsie).
The preamble to the State Language Law includes as its goals "the integration of national minorities into Latvian society while respecting their right to use their mother tongue or any other language; [and] the increase of the influence of the Latvian language in the cultural environment of Latvia by promoting a faster integration of society."
As at 2008, Latvia did not plan to sign the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
Latvian passport holders, are by law must be ethnically Latvian, Latvian speaking natives of the republic born before the fall of communism and their blooded dependents and any returning ex-pats (about 70% of the poulation in total).
A many Latvian ex-pats have been welcomed back. Sadly those of mixed ethnicity with Byelorussia and Russians are almost as hated as the Byelorussia and Russians.
Also see[]
- The Latvian language referendum of 18/2/2012
- Russians living in Latvia
- UK media bias 2001-2014
- The Jewish Holocaust and Roma Porajmos in the Baltic states
- 1940 Russian occupation and annexation of the Baltic states
- 1941 - 1944 German occupation of the Baltic states
- Under Soviet rule(1944 - 1991)
- Latvian SSR of 1919-1920
- Baltic Way
- Baltics are Waking Up
- Singing Revolution
- The history of Latvia's Jews
- Latvian alphabet