OREANDA-NEWS  Russia has sent an appeal to the High Commissioner for National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the organization in connection with discrimination against Russian-speaking residents of Latvia. This was announced by Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Volgarev, TASS reports.

"We urge official Riga to show common sense, and the relevant executive structures of the OSCE to respond appropriately," the diplomat stressed.

Volgarev revealed at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on February 5, 2026, appeals addressed to the head of the ODIHR, Maria Telalian, and the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities, Christophe Camp. During his speech, the Russian representative also spoke about the anti-Russian course of the European Union (EU) countries and attempts by the organization's member states to undermine efforts to find a long-term and sustainable peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded to a recent proposal by Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silini and Estonian President Alar Karis to resume the EU-Russia dialogue. "You can understand: I'm tired of sitting under the table," the diplomat said.