GENOCIDE  WATCH

Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union, Latvia has pursued a policy of denying automatic citizenship to those whose families moved to the country after 1940. This mainly affects the country's Russian minority, making uo 23% of the country. Since the Ukraine War began, Latvia has moved to end Russian language education and allow for the deportation of non-citizens who do not pass a Latvian language exam. These measures run contrary to the European Union's Framework Convention for the Protection of Human Rights, which compels member states to grant full rights to their minority communities. Latvia also continues to be host to annual unofficial celebrations known as "Remembrance Day of the Latvian Legionnaires," which celebrate the Latvian Legion - a formation of the SS - as national heroes. Many Latvian narratives emphasize that members joined to fight for an independent Latvia and claim that, despite being an official SS unit, the legionnaires had no part in the Third Reich’s campaign of extermination against the Jews. Additionally, the Latvian Parliament remains divided on the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention, which protects victims of domestic violence. Though the measure ultimately failed, in October of 2025, the Latvian Parliament approved a bill to withdraw the country from the convention, claiming that it promoted a gender ideology that runs counter to Latvian traditions.