The discriminatory situation of the Russian–speaking population of Latvia through the prism of the Council of Europe - past and present

The subject of this study is the discriminatory measures against Russian-speaking population, considered through the prism of the institutions of the Council of Europe in historical retrospect. The object of the study is the socio–political actions of the Latvian government in relation to the Russian-speaking population, correlated with key stages in the development of Latvian society in the post-Soviet period and geopolitical events involving the Russian Federation. Special attention is paid to the socio-political situation of the Russian-speaking population after 2022. The author examines in detail such aspects of the topic as the situation of non-citizens and Russian citizens permanently residing in Latvia, who faced increasing ethnonationalism in Latvian society, pushed by the national government and encouraged by law enforcement agencies. The study analyzes in detail the periods of tightening the policy of discrimination in Latvian society, indicating specific actions that are most aggressive today. The research is based on a historical method that allows us to consider the actions of the Latvian government during the period of Latvia's second independence, which is characterized by a policy of revanchism. Formal legal and institutional methods make it possible to analyze the reporting documents of the Council of Europe, taking into account the norms for the protection of human rights adopted in the European Community. The main conclusions of the study are the provisions that show the interrelationship of Latvia's domestic policy aimed at the Russian-speaking population, consolidating at the legislative and ideological level the attitude towards this group of the population, depending on the geopolitical conditions and foreign policy actions of the Russian Federation. This, in turn, creates favorable conditions for the Latvian political elites, who have created a modern socio-political discourse based on strengthening the position of the titular population and creating conditions for it in which the Latvian nation would feel superior. This practice is carried out within the framework of the general policy of the European Union, despite a number of institutions established to protect human rights. The ongoing geopolitical tensions allow the Latvian political elites to freely and methodically adhere to their own course of developing a policy of discrimination against the Russian-speaking population, which contradicts most norms for the protection of human rights and freedoms.

non-citizens, Russian citizens, Russian Federation, ideology, titular nation, naturalization, ethnic nationalism, language policy, human rights, European Union