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Mass rally in defense of Russian schools held in Riga

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Mass rally in defense of Russian schools held in Riga


06.12.2019

Photo credit: official page of the Russian Union of Latvia on Facebook

A protest rally against the elimination of Russian-language education took place in Riga, TASS reported. It was organized by the Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools and the Russian Union of Latvia. About three thousand people took to the streets of Riga. The participants of the March of Light against Darkness campaign gathered outside the building of the Ministry of Education, which initiated the transition of national minority schools into the state language. They took flashlights with them, turned on the screens of their phones to create a light stream that would scatter the darkness. The route ran from the "Ministry of Darkness" to freedom - to the monument to Freedom.

The column passed through the streets of old Riga, chanting “Hands off Russian schools” and “Our schools! Our children!” In Russian and Latvian. The first stop was made at the parliament building, which approved educational reform. From holding the slogans “Latvia is my country!” Russian is my language! ”, “ We won’t surrender our children! ”.  After that, protesters went to Freedom Square holding the signs with slogans like “Latvia is my country!” Russian is my language! ”, “ We won’t give away our children! ” and performed the anthem of the Headquarters of the Defense of Russian schools.

One of the leaders of the Russian Union of Latvia Miroslav Mitrofanov reassured those who believed that the defenders of Russian schools would stop. He stated that the protests would continue until the authorities agreed to authorize education in the languages of national minorities. During the rally, signatures were collected on a petition to the European Parliament with a call to retaliate against the country's authorities in the issue of education in Russian.

Russkiy Mir reported that more than five thousand people went to a protest rally against the destruction of a Russian-language education in Riga. Miroslav Mitrofanov is sure that such a mass rally is evidence of the decisive mood of people. People won’t not give up, he is convinced. The energy of resistance leaves hope for the future, the politician is sure.


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