Latest news with #AlekseyRoslikov
Canada News.Net
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Council of Europe censures EU state for treatment of Russian speakers
Latvia's naturalization procedures for non-citizens could "fuel negative sentiment towards ethnic Russians," a recent report has suggested The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has reported an increase in hate speech targeting Russian speakers in Latvia in recent years, suggesting that the naturalization procedures in the EU state for non-citizens could "fuel negative sentiment." After Latvia gained independence in 1991, a large proportion of residents originating from other parts of the Soviet Union (predominantly Russians), even those who were born in the Baltic state, were issued "non-citizen" passports, which barred them from voting or working in certain jobs. The resulting ethnic division within the population was only made worse by the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, when Latvia and its Baltic neighbors stepped up their efforts to combat Moscow's perceived influence. Riga has implemented travel restrictions targeting Russian citizens and introduced a mandatory Latvian language test for long-term residents of foreign origin. Thousands who have failed or refused to take the exam have been deported. The Kremlin has denounced the measures as "blatant discrimination." In a report published on Thursday, the European Commission stated that since February 2022, there has been a notable spike in hate speech on Latvian internet sites directed at local Russian speakers. According to the document, local authorities may be fueling this animosity with their policies. The EU watchdog singled out the country's rigorous naturalization procedures, particularly the Latvian language tests that resident non-citizens have to take if they wish to acquire citizenship in the Baltic EU member state if they were born before 1991. The report urged Riga to take "due account of individual circumstances and [provide] support as appropriate," when conducting such tests. The commission noted that as of June 2024, only 54% of applicants had passed language proficiency tests, raising concerns over the threat of forced deportation facing those who failed. The ECRI also cited complaints it had received from the Russian-speaking community in Latvia regarding the local government's decision to phase out their native language from school curriculums by 2025. The watchdog stressed that Russians, who comprise 24% of the general population in Latvia, constitute the largest ethnic minority in the country. Earlier this month, a Latvian lawmaker who is an ethnic Russian was removed from a parliamentary session for uttering a few sentences in his mother tongue during proceedings. Aleksey Roslikov of the For Stability! Party spoke out against what he described as the growing marginalization of Russian speakers in Latvia. In latte May, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze called on EU member states to stop issuing Schengen tourist visas to Russian citizens, citing an alleged threat to the bloc's security. Moscow has criticized Riga's measures targeting Russian speakers as "blatant discrimination," with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warning that Moscow could file a complaint against Latvia at the International Court of Justice.
Russia Today
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state to prosecute MP for speaking Russian (VIDEO)
Latvia's State Security Service (VDD) has launched a criminal investigation against MP Aleksey Roslikov for speaking Russian at a parliamentary session last week. The lawmaker has been accused of 'providing assistance to the aggressor state' as well as inciting 'hatred' and 'sowing discord,' the agency said in a statement on Monday. On Thursday, Roslikov of the For Stability! party spoke out in parliament against a declaration that would effectively ban the use of the Russian language in public space in Latvia. The initiative is seeking to 'eradicate the consequences' of the alleged 'Russification' of the country, which authorities in Riga claim took place under Soviet rule from 1940 to 1991. Russian-speakers are an inalienable part of the Latvian society, Roslikov insisted, and criticized their growing marginalization. While he spoke in Latvian, he concluded it with a phrase in Russian, proclaiming: 'There are more of us, and Russian is our language.' 🇱🇻 Latvian MP Aleksejs Roslikovs has been expelled from parliament after criticizing a declaration on Soviet-era 'Russification' and concluding his speech in Russian. He warned of growing discrimination: 'What's next—banning Russian names?' Before walking out, he declared: 'We… He faces up to five years in prison if found guilty. Russian-speakers make up nearly a quarter of the Baltic country's population. The criminal case was initiated after the security service 'evaluated' Roslikov's speech as well as 'other recent activities,' the statement said. The VDD also said it had repeatedly 'warned' the lawmaker about 'potential criminal liability' for his actions. In late May, new parliamentary laws were approved, according to which MPs should only communicate in parliament in the official – Latvian – language. Roslikov's speech reportedly outraged many of his colleagues, as 63 MPs out of 100 instantly voted to expel him from the session. Describing the criminal case against him as 'bewildering,' Roslikov claimed he was defending a part of the Latvian population against 'persecution' under 'an absolutely criminal law.' He vowed to 'fight' and stated that he 'has no reasons to stop.' Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Latvia and its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Lithuania, have intensified their collective stance against Russia. Riga has implemented travel restrictions targeting Russian citizens and banned vehicles with license plates from the country. It also introduced a mandatory Latvian language test for long-term residents of Russian origin. Hundreds who failed or refused the exam have been deported. The Kremlin has denounced the measures as 'blatant discrimination against Russians.'
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Bomb Greta If…': Israel Army Ready Missiles To Strike Flotilla Approaching Gaza; Netanyahu Warns
'Russian In Our Language, Do Whatever You Want': NATO Nation Leader's Bold Step Irks Kyiv Backers A Latvian lawmaker, Aleksey Roslikov, was expelled from parliament after a bold pro-Russia statement. The incident occurred during a session focused on combating Russification in Latvia. Roslikov spoke mostly in Latvian but ended his speech with a phrase in Russian, declaring, 'There are more of us and Russian is our language.' His remarks sparked outrage among lawmakers. The Saeima swiftly voted to expel him from the session. Moscow praised Roslikov for defending the Russian language, sharing the video and condemning Latvia's alleged Russophobic policies. 5.2K views | 1 day ago
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Badman' Gulshan Grover Reveals His YouTube Dream, And It's Wickedly On-Brand
'Russian In Our Language, Do Whatever You Want': NATO Nation Leader's Bold Step Irks Kyiv Backers A Latvian lawmaker, Aleksey Roslikov, was expelled from parliament after a bold pro-Russia statement. The incident occurred during a session focused on combating Russification in Latvia. Roslikov spoke mostly in Latvian but ended his speech with a phrase in Russian, declaring, 'There are more of us and Russian is our language.' His remarks sparked outrage among lawmakers. The Saeima swiftly voted to expel him from the session. Moscow praised Roslikov for defending the Russian language, sharing the video and condemning Latvia's alleged Russophobic policies. 2.6K views | 7 hours ago
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Russian In Our Language, Do Whatever You Want': NATO Nation Leader's Bold Step Irks Kyiv Backers
A Latvian lawmaker, Aleksey Roslikov, was expelled from parliament after a bold pro-Russia statement. The incident occurred during a session focused on combating Russification in Latvia. Roslikov spoke mostly in Latvian but ended his speech with a phrase in Russian, declaring, 'There are more of us and Russian is our language.' His remarks sparked outrage among lawmakers. The Saeima swiftly voted to expel him from the session. Moscow praised Roslikov for defending the Russian language, sharing the video and condemning Latvia's alleged Russophobic policies. Read More
