Latvia’s Russian-speaking minority rejects Moscow’s influence

In the eastern Latgale region of Latvia, many members of the Russian-speaking minority are distancing themselves from the ‘Russian world’ concept promoted by Moscow. As parliamentary elections approach on October 3, residents in areas such as Rezekne and Daugavpils expressed a strong sense of Latvian identity and a desire for self-reliance.

Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the community has faced increased scrutiny regarding loyalty and Moscow’s influence. While Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Russian speakers in the Baltic states face rights violations, many locals in Latvia’s second-largest city, Daugavpils—which is approximately 90% Russian-speaking—report that the war has forced a reconsideration of their own identities.