Moscow says Latvian move to ban Russian language 'discriminatory'
August 27, 2022, 11:10 am

Moscow says Latvian move to ban Russian language 'discriminatory'

Maria Zakharova-Official page/Facebook

Russia on Friday (August 26) slammed as "discriminatory" Latvia's initiative to ban the Russian language at workplaces, saying the former member of the Soviet Union turned humiliation of ethnic minorities into a state policy, according to the Anadolu Agency.

In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said a draft law, that is being prepared in this connection, contradicts international rules.

"Such absurd, discriminatory initiatives, affecting the interests of almost half of the population of Latvia and going against numerous recommendations of relevant international structures, have long been a shameful practice," she said.

"In this Baltic country, linguistic genocide and humiliation of ethnic minorities, whose representatives are considered second-class people by Latvian authorities, have been elevated to the rank of state policy."

Zakharova added: "Unfortunately, the European 'democratic' structures are shamefully silent."

Latvia was alternately occupied by Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II. After the war ended, the Baltic state was an unwilling part of the Soviet Union until 1991 - Photo. Pixabay

Russian has a status of a foreign language in the Baltic country, which shares a border with Russia. About 40% of Latvia's 1.9 million people are Russian-speaking.

Latvia is a member of both EU and NATO, and has condemned Russia's war on Ukraine, which began in February.

On Tuesday (August 23), construction workers in Latvia removed several giant bronze statues from the monument, which was surrounded by a protective screen and blocked off by police.

Latvia begins dismantling Soviet victory monument

The monument which was completed in 1985 is seen by most Latvians not as a symbol of victory over Hitler, but of the renewed occupation of their country by the Soviet Union.

Latvia was alternately occupied by Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II. After the war ended, the Baltic state was an unwilling part of the Soviet Union until 1991.

levantnews-aa

UN session to protect oceans ends without agreement Deaths from flooding in monsoon drenched Pakistan near 1,000

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”