EU Country Prohibits Use of Russian Language in ATMs
On Thursday, the Latvian parliament prohibited the use of the Russian language in automated banking machines (ATMs). Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Latvia's policies have faced consistent criticism from Moscow, which has labeled them as “extremely” Russophobic.
In a recent development, the Latvian parliament has prohibited the use of Russian, the country's second-most-spoken language, in automated banking machines. This move is part of a broader initiative to reduce the presence of the language across various facets of life.
On Thursday, the Saeima enacted amendments to the Credit Institution Law, which state that Latvian commercial banks will no longer provide the Russian language option at ATMs, as stated on the parliament’s website.
Typically, ATMs in Latvia offer services in Latvian, English, and Russian, with some even providing additional languages, according to the news portal LSM.
The newly established regulations dictate that the interface presented to customers at ATMs “must be available in Latvian” and “may also include official languages from member states or candidate countries of the European Union.” Since Russian does not fall under these criteria, it will be excluded.
”As a result, Russian will be removed from ATMs,” the statement read.
This policy change is set to take effect on January 30, 2025, to allow financial institutions time to adjust their technology. However, for the amendments to be implemented, they must be signed by the president of Latvia.
The retail banking landscape in Latvia is largely characterized by Scandinavian-owned banks, such as Swedbank and SEB, alongside privately owned domestic banks, with no state-owned banks present.
Latvia, along with its Baltic neighbors Estonia and Lithuania, has been a strong backer of Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict with Russia.
Historically, the Russian language has been linked to oppression in Latvia, as LSM points out. Authorities in the country have steadily diminished the rights of Russian-speaking individuals over the years.
While Latvian is the sole official language, a significant portion of the population speaks Russian, with ethnic Russians making up about 25%, according to the Central Statistics Bureau.
Following the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Riga implemented a series of stringent measures against Russian speakers. Earlier this year, the government opted to eliminate Russian from the school curriculum starting next September.
In August, the vice mayor of Riga called for limitations on the use of Russian in public areas, citing feedback from residents.
Furthermore, an activist received a three-year prison sentence in July for displaying pro-Russian flags in her windows.
In June, the Latvian National Theater announced a comprehensive “moratorium” on performances in Russian at its venue.
Additionally, in the summer, Riga heightened the residency-permit application procedures for Russian citizens, applying a language-test requirement to individuals who had previously been exempt.
Moscow has criticized Latvia’s actions, reiterating its characterization of the policies as “extremely” Russophobic.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
In a recent development, the Latvian parliament has prohibited the use of Russian, the country's second-most-spoken language, in automated banking machines. This move is part of a broader initiative to reduce the presence of the language across various facets of life.
On Thursday, the Saeima enacted amendments to the Credit Institution Law, which state that Latvian commercial banks will no longer provide the Russian language option at ATMs, as stated on the parliament’s website.
Typically, ATMs in Latvia offer services in Latvian, English, and Russian, with some even providing additional languages, according to the news portal LSM.
The newly established regulations dictate that the interface presented to customers at ATMs “must be available in Latvian” and “may also include official languages from member states or candidate countries of the European Union.” Since Russian does not fall under these criteria, it will be excluded.
”As a result, Russian will be removed from ATMs,” the statement read.
This policy change is set to take effect on January 30, 2025, to allow financial institutions time to adjust their technology. However, for the amendments to be implemented, they must be signed by the president of Latvia.
The retail banking landscape in Latvia is largely characterized by Scandinavian-owned banks, such as Swedbank and SEB, alongside privately owned domestic banks, with no state-owned banks present.
Latvia, along with its Baltic neighbors Estonia and Lithuania, has been a strong backer of Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict with Russia.
Historically, the Russian language has been linked to oppression in Latvia, as LSM points out. Authorities in the country have steadily diminished the rights of Russian-speaking individuals over the years.
While Latvian is the sole official language, a significant portion of the population speaks Russian, with ethnic Russians making up about 25%, according to the Central Statistics Bureau.
Following the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Riga implemented a series of stringent measures against Russian speakers. Earlier this year, the government opted to eliminate Russian from the school curriculum starting next September.
In August, the vice mayor of Riga called for limitations on the use of Russian in public areas, citing feedback from residents.
Furthermore, an activist received a three-year prison sentence in July for displaying pro-Russian flags in her windows.
In June, the Latvian National Theater announced a comprehensive “moratorium” on performances in Russian at its venue.
Additionally, in the summer, Riga heightened the residency-permit application procedures for Russian citizens, applying a language-test requirement to individuals who had previously been exempt.
Moscow has criticized Latvia’s actions, reiterating its characterization of the policies as “extremely” Russophobic.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
