Latvia’s Recent Ban on Russian Language in ATMs: A Controversial Move
In a bold move, the Latvian parliament has banned the Russian language from automated banking machines (ATMs), citing a campaign to restrict its use. Typically, ATMs in the country offer Latvian, English, and Russian options, but under new regulations, Russian has been removed, effective January 30, 2025. This decision has sparked controversy, especially considering Russia is the second-most-spoken language in Latvia.
The move comes amidst growing tension between Latvia and Russia, with Moscow consistently labeling Latvia’s policies as “extremely” Russophobic. The ban on Russian language in ATMs is just one of many recent actions taken by Latvia against Russian speakers, including removing Russian from the school curriculum and imposing restrictions on the use of Russian in public spaces.
Despite Latvia’s strong stance against Russian language and culture, approximately 25% of the country’s population identifies as ethnic Russians. This ban is seen as a further erosion of rights for Russian speakers in Latvia, a country historically associated with oppression of Russian language and culture. The decision has faced criticism both locally and internationally, with Moscow condemning Latvia’s policies as discriminatory.
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