Bill on transition to Latvian as instruction language in minorities' high schools did not violate Convention on Human Rights - ECHR

RIGA - Amendments passed in Latvia in 2018 on gradual transition to Latvian as the language of instruction in ethnic minorities' high schools did not violate the European Convention on Human Rights' Article 2, right to education, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) established on Thursday.

The ECHR has issued its judgement in the case of Valiullina and Others versus Latvia, concluding unanimously that the amendments supported five years ago to increase the number of subjects taught through Latvian did not violate the convention.

Saeima on March 22, 2018 by 58 votes to 18 approved amendments to the Education Law and General Education Law, which stipulated gradual transition to Latvian as the language of instruction in all high schools of Latvia from the 2019-20 school year.