EU state's parliament expels MP for speaking Russian
A Latvian MP has been kicked out of a parliamentary session and could face further punishment for speaking Russian in violation of the legislature's new rules, the head of the assembly has said.
The incident occurred on Thursday during discussions in the Saeima on a declaration to 'eradicate the consequences' of the alleged 'Russification' of Latvia, which authorities in Riga claim took place under Soviet rule from 1940 to 1991.
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Latvia and its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Lithuania, have intensified their efforts against alleged Russian influence. Riga has implemented travel restrictions targeting Russian citizens, banned vehicles with license plates from the country, and introduced a mandatory Latvian language test for long-term residents of Russian origin. Thousands who failed or refused the exam have been deported. The Kremlin has denounced the measures as 'blatant discrimination against Russians.'
Aleksey Roslikov of the For Stability! party spoke out in parliament against the declaration being included on the agenda. The party represents the interests of Russian-speakers in the EU country, who make up 24.5% of its population, according to a 2021 census.
The lawmaker criticized the growing marginalization of Russian speakers in Latvia, saying: 'What is next? A law prohibiting Russian names for children because they sound Russian?'
Roslikov delivered his speech in Latvian, but concluded it with a phrase in Russian, proclaiming: 'There are more of us, and Russian is our language.' The MP then displayed an obscene gesture to the audience.
The MP's behavior outraged many of his colleagues, who instantly voted to expel him from the session of the parliament. The move was supported by 69 out 100 members of the legislature.
The speaker of the Saeima, Daiga Mierina, said that Roslikov had shown 'disrespect' to his fellow lawmakers and could face further punishment, including a ban on attending up to six more parliament sessions and a warning.
In late May, the Saeima voted in new regulations, according to which the MPs should only communicate in the parliament in the official – Latvian – language.
Roslikov later told the media he had no regrets, calling his outburst appropriate when someone is denied the right to speak their own language.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev shared the video from the Saeima on his page on X and praised the Latvian MP for standing up for the Russian language. On the eve of Russian Language Day, which is marked on June 6, 'decent people accessibly explained everything to the die-hard Russophobes in their native, Russian language,' Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chair of Russia's Security Council, wrote.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
EU state's parliament expels MP for speaking Russian
A Latvian MP has been kicked out of a parliamentary session and could face further punishment for speaking Russian in violation of the legislature's new rules, the head of the assembly has said. The incident occurred on Thursday during discussions in the Saeima on a declaration to 'eradicate the consequences' of the alleged 'Russification' of Latvia, which authorities in Riga claim took place under Soviet rule from 1940 to 1991. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Latvia and its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Lithuania, have intensified their efforts against alleged Russian influence. Riga has implemented travel restrictions targeting Russian citizens, banned vehicles with license plates from the country, and introduced a mandatory Latvian language test for long-term residents of Russian origin. Thousands who failed or refused the exam have been deported. The Kremlin has denounced the measures as 'blatant discrimination against Russians.' Aleksey Roslikov of the For Stability! party spoke out in parliament against the declaration being included on the agenda. The party represents the interests of Russian-speakers in the EU country, who make up 24.5% of its population, according to a 2021 census. The lawmaker criticized the growing marginalization of Russian speakers in Latvia, saying: 'What is next? A law prohibiting Russian names for children because they sound Russian?' Roslikov delivered his speech in Latvian, but concluded it with a phrase in Russian, proclaiming: 'There are more of us, and Russian is our language.' The MP then displayed an obscene gesture to the audience. The MP's behavior outraged many of his colleagues, who instantly voted to expel him from the session of the parliament. The move was supported by 69 out 100 members of the legislature. The speaker of the Saeima, Daiga Mierina, said that Roslikov had shown 'disrespect' to his fellow lawmakers and could face further punishment, including a ban on attending up to six more parliament sessions and a warning. In late May, the Saeima voted in new regulations, according to which the MPs should only communicate in the parliament in the official – Latvian – language. Roslikov later told the media he had no regrets, calling his outburst appropriate when someone is denied the right to speak their own language. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev shared the video from the Saeima on his page on X and praised the Latvian MP for standing up for the Russian language. On the eve of Russian Language Day, which is marked on June 6, 'decent people accessibly explained everything to the die-hard Russophobes in their native, Russian language,' Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chair of Russia's Security Council, wrote.
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Russia Today
Russia bans British Council
The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has banned the British Council from operating in the country, accusing it of spreading LGBTQ propaganda and undermining Russia's domestic and foreign policy. An official statement on Thursday accused the council of portraying itself as an independent organization while aligning its activities with UK government priorities, reporting to the British Parliament, and receiving funding from the UK Foreign Office. 'Under the guise of educational and cultural work, including various outreach events and English language teaching, the Council in fact promotes long-term British interests and values in the fields of education, culture, and youth policy,' the Prosecutor General's Office stated. Russian prosecutors also accused the British Council of being involved in promoting and supporting the LGBTQ movement, which is banned in Russia, and implementing projects aimed at 'systematically discrediting Russia's domestic and foreign policy.' According to the Prosecutor General's Office, one of the council's objectives is to 'eradicate Russian identity among the populations of former Soviet republics,' including as part of a consortium with other organizations designated as undesirable. In particular, the British Council is implementing a program of so-called 'cultural engagement' designed to unite the Baltic community around an anti-Russian agenda, officials claimed. Prosecutors were referring to the former Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which have taken a hardline anti-Russian stance since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, showing particular hostility toward the significant Russian minorities living in these countries. The British Council, established in 1934 and registered as a charity in the UK, once operated more than a dozen offices across Russia. In 2007, the Russian Foreign Ministry ordered the council to shut down its offices outside Moscow, accusing it of violating tax regulations. In March 2018, the council was told to cease operations in Russia, citing unresolved issues over its legal status. Last month, Moscow banned the London-based NGO Amnesty International for allegedly preparing global Russophobic projects and supporting the Ukrainian military. In April, Russia also outlawed the US-based NGO Hope Harbor Society, designating it as 'undesirable' over allegations of funding the Ukrainian military and coordinating anti-Russian protests in the US and abroad. The Elton John AIDS Foundation received the same designation, with authorities accusing it of promoting a pro-LGBTQ agenda in Russia. Organizations given the 'undesirable' designation are prohibited from operating in Russia, while individuals or entities found providing financial or other forms of support to them may face legal consequences.
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Russia Today
Putin holds phone call with Pope
Ukraine is deliberately escalating the ongoing conflict by targeting civilian infrastructure within Russian territory, President Vladimir Putin has told Pope Leo XIV. According to the Kremlin, the Russian leader and the Pontiff held 'a constructive' phone conversation on Wednesday, during which they discussed a number of topics, including the Ukraine conflict. Putin pointed out that against a backdrop of resumed direct talks between Moscow and Kiev, the Ukrainian leadership is 'doubling down on escalation [and] conducting acts of sabotage against civilian infrastructure on Russian territory.' He described the recent acts of railway sabotage in Russia's Bryansk and Kursk Regions as terrorism, the Kremlin stated. DETAILS TO FOLLOW
