Russia Plans International Court Case Over Russian Speakers' Rights in Baltic States

The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed Moscow's intention to submit a case to the International Court of Justice addressing discrimination against Russian-speaking populations in the Baltic states before the end of this year.

Russian officials have indicated that consultations related to the legal action against the Baltic countries are nearing completion. Earlier, the Foreign Ministry announced that Moscow would resort to the International Court of Justice due to Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia's refusal to halt policies that violate the rights of Russians.

Gregory Lukyantsev, director of the Multilateral Cooperation in Human Rights Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told the Novosti agency that certain conditions must be met to file a case with the International Court of Justice, including proposing negotiations on the interpretation and application of relevant international treaties.

According to Lukyantsev, Russia has repeatedly sent notes on this matter to the Baltic states but has not received any substantive responses. He noted that the Baltic countries' replies have been limited to dismissing the claims as fabrications and mere manifestations of Russian propaganda. Lukyantsev added, "To my knowledge, specific demands against the Baltic states are currently being drafted, and a decision on this is expected by the end of this year."

In a separate statement, Lukyantsev warned that the authorities in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are preparing to carry out mass deportations of Russian speakers, intending to apply these measures even to elderly individuals.

The Russian Foreign Ministry had previously stated that Moscow repeatedly urged Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to assume international responsibility for ongoing violations of the rights of Russian-speaking residents. However, the Baltic authorities have refused to abandon these policies, and all attempts to resolve the disputes through negotiations have failed.