Chairman of the Union of Theatre Workers Ojars Rubenis stated in the LSM program "Case" that the problems with respect for the Latvian language among Russians in Latvia are because in the 1940s and 1950s, all sorts of rabble were brought here from Russia.
"I work a little with Russian schoolchildren. At the Classical Purvciems Gymnasium. 10th, 11th, 12th grade. I tell them - now we will be studying Latvian culture, but if you have any questions that you do not understand because I teach in Latvian, you can freely ask me in Russian or English. I assure you, in four years, there has not been a single question in Russian. They understand everything well in Latvian!" - says Rubenis.
According to him, he brought guests to the children, and the students communicated with them only in Latvian. He took the children to Latvian theaters, and the children also calmly asked the actors questions in Latvian.
"But during breaks, they speak Russian among themselves. Because they are from Russian families. And that is normal. The bigger problem now is that in Latvian schools, children are speaking English during breaks now," - he notes.
Rubenis reflects on why Russians in Latvia have no respect for the language: "I think, who was brought to Latvia in those 1940s and 1950s? A rabble! That's the point. And this rabble that came from Russia - unfortunately, they did not understand that they were in another state. Their task was to carry out Russification," - Rubenis is convinced.
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