Russian Could Become Official EU Language because of Latvia

[poiuytrewq0987]

Latvia is set to vote in a referendum on Saturday on whether to adopt Russian as a second official language in the country, which could also mean a potential official EU status for Russian.

Saturday's referendum in Latvia is deemed likely to reject the change, but the vote nevertheless reveals a deep divide among Latvia's population, DPA reported Friday.

During the Cold War era, the idea of Russian being an official language in a EU country would have sounded like science fiction - but the idea is no longer far-fetched, the German press agency says in an overview.

Around a third of Latvia's 2.3 million residents - and nearly every second inhabitant in the capital Riga - are of Russian origin.

The vote was initiated by a citizens' movement called Mother Tongue. The movement has the backing of Moscow.

"The vote is not only about language," organizer Vladimir Linderman says. "It is about honour," he insists.

Latvian residents of Russian origin do not want to be second-class citizens, Linderman says. "We believe we have equal rights."

Russians are the Albanians of Latvia.

[Waidewut]

http://www.theapricity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41831
I assure you people their referendum is going to be a massive failure. Unless the organizers have paranormal powers in miracle summoning.

[Incal]

Damn Latvians lol.

[poiuytrewq0987]

http://www.theapricity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41831
I assure you people their referendum is going to be a massive failure. Unless the organizers have paranormal powers in miracle summoning.

Be careful, the Russians of Latvia might get angry and start a little insurgency to get special rights.

[Waidewut]

By the way the patron of the referendum is a Russian/Jewish extremist and National Bolshevik.

[Waidewut]

Be careful, the Russians of Latvia might get angry and start a little insurgency to get special rights.

Russkys have special rights here already- education in their native language, ability to receive information as customers in banks, stores, etc.
More Latvians speak Russian than Russians speak Latvian, although they live here.

Anyone saying Latvians are some sort of Nazis is wrong, Russians are in no way viewed as second class citizens. The mayor of Riga, the capital with 1/3 of the population, is a Russian for Gods sake.

[Äike]

The reality is that Russians have more privileges in Latvia than the native Latvians do.

You may have problems in Latvia, getting certain services, if you only speak Latvian and no Russian at all. Like at stores, some government institutions etc. That's at least what I have heard.

[Padre Organtino]

I support thy Noble cause



On a serious note: I don't think that rights of ethnic Russians are somehow seriously violated there.

[Waidewut]

The reality is that Russians have more privileges in Latvia than the native Latvians do.

You may have problems in Latvia, getting certain services, if you only speak Latvian and no Russian at all. Like at stores, some government institutions etc. That's at least what I have heard.

When I went to high-school, I once decided to find a summer-job. The best I could find was a job in a low-price supermarket.
And the thing was- 90% of my co-workers were Russians and my boss demonstratively spoke only Russian with me, although I had problems speaking it at that time.

Basically, you have to know a foreign language even to get the shittiest job you can think of.

But in government institutions and customer service sector everyone must know Latvian.

[Helstein]

I hope the russians fail!