Institutions under the Latvian Ministry of Culture must remove the Russian language from all public communications, including websites, advertising, and strategic documents, by 30 July. Minister Nauris Puntulis issued the directive following criticism from the National Alliance regarding a Russian-language advertisement at the Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theatre. While the order mandates the use of the official state language for administrative and public functions, artistic productions remain exempt.
Exemptions for artistic works
The directive does not extend to the creative content of theatre performances. Agnese Vārpiņa, an adviser to Minister Puntulis, confirmed to the LETA news agency that plays originally written in Russian are considered original creative works. Because these productions are artistic in nature, they fall outside the scope of the new public communication restrictions.
The Ministry’s order is grounded in the Latvian Constitution and a 30 March 2026, Constitutional Court ruling, which established that the state has a duty to strengthen the use of the Latvian language in the public sphere and promote a unified Latvian information space.
Legal basis for the mandate
The Ministry of Culture cited the Constitutional Court’s findings to justify the shift in policy. Officials stated that the move is necessary to promote a unified Latvian information space. By enforcing the use of the country’s sole official language, the Ministry aims to align its subordinate institutions and state-owned companies with the requirements set out in Section 21 of Latvia’s Official Language Law.
The distinction between “public communication” and “artistic expression” marks a policy boundary. By shielding theatre scripts while restricting institutional advertising, the Ministry is attempting to balance the legal mandate for a singular state language with the protection of cultural autonomy.
What happens next
State and municipal institutions, including courts and state-owned enterprises, have until 30 July to comply with the directive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this order affect all Russian language usage in Latvia?
No. The order applies specifically to institutions under the Ministry of Culture and state-owned companies, and it focuses on public communications such as strategic documents, websites, and advertising.
Are theatre productions performed in Russian now prohibited?
No. The Ministry of Culture clarified that professional artistic works originally written in Russian are exempt from these restrictions.
What prompted this new requirement?
The directive followed public criticism from the National Alliance regarding a Russian-language advertisement displayed on the façade of the Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theatre.
How do you believe this balance between promoting a unified language and preserving cultural diversity will affect the local arts scene in the long term?