cross-posted from: hexbear.net/post/7224815
From January 1, 2026, Latvia is set to prohibit the teaching of Russian as a second foreign language in schools.
Starting the same date, Russian-language TV and radio broadcasting will be banned in state media. Additionally, the VAT on sales of Russian-language books will increase to 21%.
These measures aim to reduce the presence of the Russian language and strengthen the role of the Latvian language in society.
Russian is the native language for 36% of Latvians.^[en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language_in_Latvia]
bluGill@fedia.io 2 weeks ago
Russian is useful to know if you are a spy but otherwise not worth it
undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch 2 weeks ago
I think a language’s usefulness is rather subjective and subject to experience: I love learning all sorts of languages that I have no daily exposure to but I wouldn’t say knowing them is “useless.”
bluGill@fedia.io 2 weeks ago
normally I'd agree but the language in question here is russian that currently needs to die for political reasons. Too bad, it is a pretty language from the little I've heard it.