Rally to be held over Russian language in schools

On February 4, a rally will be held at the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers building in support of education in the Russian language.

Rally participants will protest against Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma's (Unity) statement that Latvia will switch to state-funded education exclusively in Latvian "sooner or later."

The coalition's agreement stipulates that state-funded minority schools will have to switch to education in Latvian on September 1, 2018.

Rally organizers believe that these efforts do not promote peace and harmony in Latvian society.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov recently announced plans to open specialist Russian schools in the Baltics. Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics branded the plans as 'unacceptable'.

A top Russian official announced that no plans would go ahead without proper permission.