Latvian Human Rights Committee Chair, I represent Latvia’s Russian-speaking community. Russian is the native language of approximately 37 percent of the country’s population. As of this year, education in Russian, which had existed in Latvia for almost 250 years, has been completely abolished, including in private schools and kindergartens. Russian is prohibited both as a language of instruction and even as a subject in the core curriculum. Amendments are being promoted that would prohibit the use of Russian in hospitals, social services, the police, and schools, even during breaks. A petition calling for the deportation of people deemed disloyal and for the deprivation of citizenship is under consideration. Hate speech by politicians and the media has become a shocking norm. Threats and incitement to hatred are heard in public places and online. Starting next year, Russian-language programs on public media will be shut down. A higher tax is being introduced for the Russian-language press. Monuments to those who fought against fascism and other significant sites have been demolished. The category of non-citizens still exists—nearly 200,000 people without voting rights. Thousands of former Latvian non-citizens who acquired Russian citizenship are at risk of deportation because of a language examination. The majority are over 65 years old. Members of the community, activists, and politicians are facing criminal prosecution, including prolonged detention without trial. Recommendations issued by international organizations remain unimplemented. All of this undermines trust, destroys social cohesion, and is leading to very serious consequences. Our recommendations are as follows: 1) ensure implementation of the recommendations issued by UN Treaty Bodies over the past eight years; 2) review laws restricting the use of minority languages in all spheres of life; 3) stop and prevent deportations and politically motivated persecution. Thank you.