The ban on election campaigning in the Russian language, supported by the Latvian Seimas, does not comply with the Constitution. A statement from the office of the Latvian Human Rights Commissioner, Juris Jansons, notes that this decision poses a significant risk to the pluralism of a democratic society, TASS reports. The office believes that the restriction contradicts the Constitution and, therefore, is incompatible with core democratic values. The ban on conducting election campaigns in Russian in Latvia has become the subject of an appeal to the Constitutional Court. As reported by “Russkiy Mir,” in the summer of 2024, the Latvian parliament approved the ban on conducting election campaigning in Russian. Campaign materials can only be published in the state language in electronic and print media, books, and other printed publications. Political advertisements placed online must also be in Latvian. During the campaign for the European Parliament and municipal elections, campaign materials may include translations into the official languages of European Union member states. Recently, the Ombudsman’s Office stated that schools do not have the right to force Russian children to speak Latvian during breaks. Earlier, it was reported that in some Latvian educational institutions, students are effectively prohibited from communicating in any language other than the state language. At least one school’s “Internal Rules” state that communication in Russian and other languages is prohibited not only during lessons but also during breaks, extracurricular activities, and other events, including outside school grounds. The Ombudsman’s Office pointed out the illegality of such rules, noting that students have the right to choose the language they wish to use for “private communication” during breaks. Moreover, the requirement to communicate in the state language outside of classes was deemed “excessively restrictive.” The office noted that parents of students subject to this kind of language discrimination could demand changes to the school’s internal rules.