Puntulis' Order on Russian Language Does Not Affect Theater Content, Ministry Clarifies

Latvian Culture Minister Nauris Puntulis (National Alliance) has issued an order requiring all institutions under the Ministry of Culture and their capital companies to eliminate the use of Russian in public spaces. However, the minister's advisor Agnese Vārpiņa clarified that the order does not impact theater content. If a performance's dramatic material is originally in Russian, it is considered an original creative work and is exempt from the restrictions.

The order mandates compliance with the State Language Law, prohibiting Russian in functions such as international events, strategies, advertisements, and websites. Puntulis justified the decision by citing a Constitutional Court ruling that emphasizes the importance of Latvian as the sole state language, as well as the Constitution itself.

An exception is made for professional artistic activities where the original creative work is in Russian. Institutions must implement the requirements by July 30.

Previously, National Alliance politicians had criticized a Russian-language advertisement by the Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theatre, citing Article 21 of the State Language Law, which stipulates that information from state and local government institutions must be provided only in the official language.