organising a blockade of food products, transport, water and energy to the Crimean peninsula, which
violates the rights of the population in the region.
We support the recommendations, made in para. 20 (paras. a, b, c), which in their core
articulate, that only the coherent democratic lines in regards to minorities inside the country will
create the conditions for stability and security of the society, prevent the emergence of tensions and
conflicts. Unfortunately, already for 25 years the so-called parallel societies exist in Latvia and
Estonia, where Russian-speakers are in a socially, economically, culturally and politically
disadvantaged position comparing to the rest of the population. The maintenance of significant
numbers of “non-citizens”, who cannot be easily called as stateless individuals, but they are also not
full citizens of their country.
In para. 7 of the report it is absolutely fairly pointed out, that the use of native language has a
big emotional meaning for communities and is a major attribute of individuality and collective
identity. Unfortunately, in these countries the space for the use of native language is shrinking – in
schools, media, and other spheres. In Latvia and Lithuania there are strict limitations in place on the
use of minority’s mother tongue when spelling of their own names. As you understand, this is not
just an additional letter to the first name and last name, this is a combination of problems which
occur, for example, when crossing borders, identification of kinship, inheritance matters. And overall
this kind of distortion touches the dignity of any individual.
We ask the Special Rapporteur to pay attention to these problems and consider them when
finalising the report and recommendations.
Thank you for your attention.