The Success Story

Latvia is often regarded as a post-Soviet success story. After regaining independence in 1991, it joined NATO and the European Union in 2004, consolidating its position within Western political and security structures. Together with Estonia and Lithuania, Latvia earned itself the label “Baltic Tiger” for its economic transformation. However, elements of the Soviet legacy continue to shape political and societal discourse in the Baltic region. One prominent example is the continued prevalence of the Russian language in Latvia.

Historical Diversity

Over the centuries, Latvia has been ethnically and linguistically diverse. This diversity reflects successive periods of foreign rule under the Teutonic Order (1237–1561), the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1561–1621), the Russian Empire (1795–1917), and, from 1940 to 1991, the Soviet Union. Throughout the Soviet Era, large groups of Russian-speaking Soviet citizens moved to Latvia to meet demand for workers in agricultural, military, and manufacturing industries. As a result, the share of ethnic Latvians in the country declined from 77% in 1935 to 52% in 1989. In the same time span, the proportion of ethnic Russians grew from 8.8% to 34%. This demographic shift contributed to concerns among ethnic Latvians that they would become a minority in their own country. 

De-Russification in Practice

In 1991, after half a century of occupation, Latvia regained its independence from the Soviet Union. Shortly afterwards, the Latvian government declared Latvian the country’s only official language. This decision formed part of a broader effort to reduce the role of Russian as the country’s lingua franca and to strengthen Latvian national identity. While most newly independent states gave all their inhabitants’ citizenship regardless of ethnicity in the newly created post-USSR space, Latvia did not. Instead, Latvian citizenship was only granted to those who could prove their Latvian  descent prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation. In 1995, a process of naturalization was introduced. This procedure allowed residents who had not been granted citizenship automatically to apply if they met specific requirements, including passing a Latvian language exam.

Linguistic Consolidation

In 2026, Latvia continues to have a sizable Russian minority, although not all Russian speakers identify as ethnically Russian.  According to data from the External Migration Survey (2017) 25% of Latvia’s population identifies as ethnically Russian, while 36% report Russian as their first language. Policies attempting to nationalize Latvian Russian speakers, including the Latvian language test for the passport, have been in effect since 1995. Public attitudes toward Russia shifted markedly following Vladimir Putin’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During the years since, the Latvian government has implemented policies to curtail the use of the Russian language in various areas of society. Consuming  Russian and Belarusian state-media has been criminalized in Latvia since 2022, punishable with fines. As of September 2026, the Latvian government is scheduled to eliminate all state funding for Russian-language media. This is intended to increase the use and availability of Latvian-language content.

No More Russian in Schools

Language policy changes also apply to the education system. Since September 2025, Russian has no longer been permitted as a language of instruction in Latvia. Schools that previously used Russian as the primary language of instruction have transitioned to Latvian. Since September 2025, Russian likewise is no longer offered as a second-language option for new students in Latvian schools. Students who began studying Russian prior to this reform may continue their classes. In its place, other official languages of the European Union, such as French and German, are being offered.

A Minority’s National Detachment

Government policies aimed at reducing the use of the Russian language have affected segments of Latvia’s Russian-speaking population. Survey data from SKDS, a Latvian research and polling firm, indicates that some Russian-speaking residents perceive these measures as exclusionary. In 2024, 40% of Latvia’s population agreed that the attitude toward Russian-speaking Latvians has worsened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In fact, since Latvia’s post-USSR independence, Russian-speaking Latvians have been more likely to emigrate from Latvia than their Latvian-speaking counterparts, both for labor and educational purposes.

Differences in Leaving the Country for Higher Education

A 2020 survey presented at the Latvian Society. Integration. Education conference 2021 show that 13.3 percent of Latvian-speaking respondents planned to pursue post-secondary education outside Latvia. In the same dataset, a much higher number of 23.7 percent of Russian-speaking respondents reported similar intentions. Differences are also visible in reported motivations for emigration. 7 percent of Latvian-speaking respondents cited a weakening sense of national belonging, compared with 20 percent among Russian-speaking respondents. These figures suggest measurable differences in self-reported national attachment between Latvia’s two largest linguistic communities.

Political Schism

Public opinion data from the SKDS research center, Riga Stradiņš University, and the Center for Geopolitical Studies Riga also show differences between Latvian-speaking and Russian-speaking groups regarding who is responsible for the war in Ukraine. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, at least 80% of Latvian-speaking Latvians deemed Russia at fault for the war. Among the Russian-speaking respondents, the corresponding figures were only 32%, 39%, and 38% respectively. Since Belarusian and Russian sources often contain pro-Russian viewpoints, previous analysis has suggested that consumption of such media causes Russian-speaking Latvians to turn their political sympathies eastward. This further exacerbates the political schism in Latvia, by polarizing the opinions and world views of the two ethno-linguistic groups. In fact, 14% of all Latvians, constituting more than a third of Latvia’s Russian speakers, admit to consuming Belarusian and Russian broadcasts regardless of its illegalization.

Looking Ahead

Since Latvia’s independence from the Soviet Union, the country has been on a straight path of de-Sovietization, marked by a focus on technology, economic reforms, democracy, and a close alliance with its EU and NATO partners. However, as Latvia continues to redefine itself culturally, its Russian minority remains politically fragmented. Russia is actively using Latvia’s anti-Russian policies to exemplify their disapproval of Europe. Young people in particular are leaving Latvia for other countries, constituting a demographic change. As Russian speakers make up 36% of the country’s population, their status will significantly impact the country’s long-term social cohesion.