Latvian authorities have banned the teaching of Russian as a second foreign language in local schools, local media reports. The restrictions came into effect on January 1, 2026.
On the same day, the broadcasting of Russian-language television and radio programs by state media will be banned. Moreover, the VAT on the sale of Russian-language books will be increased to 21%.
The country's authorities noted that Latvia is creating a unified information space, the entire content of which must be exclusively in Latvian or one of the languages of the European Union.
Riga cited national security as the reason for this measure. However, almost 40% of the country's residents speak Russian.
