Hilarious translation of Latvian article about their new language exam:
Latvian government lost patience and is now making everyone with russian citizenship to pass A2 level Latvian language exam in order to retain their Latvian citizenship and avoid deportation. To many russians, this proves to be an impossible hurdle, many shedding tears over their misfortune.
"It's so unfortunate, it causes me great anxiety, I can't even speak calmly," says Ludmila Larkina, a russian citizenship holder who lives in Latvia.
Born and raised in Riga, Latvia, pensioner L. Larkina holds back her tears - she failed the Latvian language exam.
"Let's start with the fact that Latvians themselves make spelling errors," she notes.
Larkina has a russian citizenship and for people like her Latvian government raised an ultimatum - either pass the A2 level exam or leave the country.
"When everyone tells me that in 30 years I could've learned, I, of course, know that. And I can speak and understand Latvian, but naturally I can't write in it," Larkina says.
There are currently 25 000 russian citizens in Latvia. About half of them rushed to pass the language exam, but the results were often unfortunate.
"Are you taking the exam for the first time?" The reporter asked.
"No, this is my second attempt," a man replied.
"Which part was harder, speaking or writing?"
"Writing."
"How long have you lived in Latvia?"
"My whole life."
During the 2008 financial crisis russian government offered people of former Soviet republics a russian citizenship. Many Latvians got tempted by this proposal, especially women, as Russia's retirement age for women at the time was 55.
Larkina also took the offer. Being unemployed, she thought extra money couldn't hurt. That's why to this day she receives a russian pension, which is just over 100 euros.
"Now, because of these pennies, Latvia doesn't pay us anything. Why are we such enemies of the people just because Russia pays our pensions?" Larkina ponders.
Ludmila, together with 7000 other people, now waits for a chance to retake the exam. But around 4000 people took no action, and to them the Latvian government already issued a note ordering to leave the country within 90 days.
Some people were asked to share their opinion:
"I think it's a great rule. If someone lived their whole life here and do not know the language it's a nightmare."
"The law is horrible. Of course people won't learn the language in two years."
"The issue is, when russians would start talking to Latvians, Latvians would respond in russian. They spoiled them."
Latvian exam consists of 4 parts: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. There is a time limit and the whole process is aided by computers.
Larkina finds it hard to use a computer. She says whenever she used to be in a company of people, especially at work, she always spoke russian to people, and if there were any Latvians, they would also speak to them in russian for the sake of simplicity. And now it all turned around.
"You know, I know some people who lived here for many years. They also took the exam and failed. They're now getting ready to leave," Ludmila Larkina states.
Ludmila says that Latvian government is kicking out people whose children and grandchildren are Latvian, they go to Latvian schools, now they will also leave the country.
"Even my husband says - Ludmila, don't run your nerves, we can just leave and that's that," Larina says.
People interviewed in the streets seem to take two sides. While Latvians don't see any tragedy, russians claim that there is no need to learn Latvian and that the requirement is absurd.
"I see no point for it," a woman said. "There's no need nor point for it."
"I'm sad for the people who will have to leave, who are forced to leave. Those who live here consider Latvia their smaller homeland, their second homeland. It's not fair," another woman points out.
"Imagine if Chinese occupied you and told you to learn their language as a 60 year old. Would you be able to do it?" a man says.
But it's worth pointing out that the strict Latvian law does not apply to those over 75. It will also not apply to ethnic russians, just russian passport holders.