• Minister of Education Dace Melnbarde is concerned about the high number of young people who took part in the unofficial celebrations of Victory Day on 9 May in Riga
• Saeima’s Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee Inese Laizane: introduction of refugee quotas would endanger Latvian national identity and existence

The Minister of Education Dace Melnbarde is concerned about the high number of young people who took part in the unofficial celebrations of the end of the WWII or Victory Day on 9 May in Riga. The Minister is surprised that so many young people who received education in modern Latvian schools which have specific programmes and patriotic education can take part in such event. According to the Minister, the generation of people who arrived to Latvia with specific aims during Soviet times will not change, but it is hard to understand why young people come to this event. Vesti Segodnya

Diena prints an article about asylum seekers and irregular immigrants in Latvia in the context of possible introduction of refugee quotas in the EU. Presently, the Accommodation Centre of Detained Foreigners in Daugavpils (city in the Eastern part of Latvia) which has a maximum of 84 places is full due to large influx of irregular immigrants, mostly from Vietnam. Due to overloaded Daugavpils’ centre, part of the detained foreigners is accommodated in the premises of the State Police station in Riga. The Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe Nils Muiznieks stated that Latvia cannot avoid solidarity with other EU member states. However, Latvian government rejects introduction of refugee quotas in Latvia.  According to the head of the Saeima’s Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee Inese Laizane, refugee quotas would endanger Latvian national identity and existence. 

• Governing coalition does not support introduction of refugee quotas
• State Language Centre evaluates whether the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs violated the State Language Law by making his speech on 9 May in Russian language
• Public opinion survey: 60,2% of Russian speaking residents of Latvia positively evaluate the Russia’s President Vladimir Putin

After the meeting of the coalition’s partners, the Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma stated that the coalition supports solidarity with the other members of the European Union in solving problem with influx of refuges such as strengthening border monitoring, provision of medical aid, and other issues. However, the coalition does not support introduction of so-called “refugee quotas.” The Minister of Interior Rihards Kozlovskis will have to prepare arguments why Latviais not ready to agree for quotas. Diena

The State Language Centre (SLC) evaluates whether the speech made by the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs addressing people who came to celebrate the 9 May (or unofficial celebration of the end of WWII or Victory Day) in Riga corresponds with the State Language Law as it was made in Russian language only. The SLC checks whether Mr Usakovs made his speech as a state official or a private person and who was the organiser of the event – state or municipal institution or an NGO. Vesti Segodnya, Diena

According to a public opinion poll ordered by the MEP from Latvia Sandra Kalniete, 60,2% of Russian speaking residents of Latviapositively evaluate the Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. It is 6,2% less than in August 2014. Only 20,1% of Russian speakers negatively evaluate the Russia’s President. The biggest number of those who have positive attitude towards Putin are 55 to 74 years old. The support among Russian speaking youth is also high (61,8%). Among Latvian language speakers, there are only 12,1% positively evaluating V. Putin and 73,6 have negative attitude. Sandra Kalniete explains high support to the Russia’s President by influence of Russia’s propaganda. She also supports creation of a national Russian language channel in Latviawhich would counter Russia’s propaganda but believes that it should co-funded by the EU. Commenting the results of the poll, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Andrejs Pantelejevs mentioned its limits and stated that no fundamental conclusions can be made on the basis of such poll. He said Latviashall talk to the Russian speakers and reminded about another, wider survey conducted last year, which also shown that very few Russian speakers would like Latviato leave the EU. Latvijas Avize

• For the first time, Latvian high officials commemorated the WWII victims at the Salaspils memorial on 8 May; unofficial Victory’s Day celebrations gathered around 200,000 people in Riga
• Saeima’s Education, Culture and Science Committee supported a proposal requiring teachers to be loyal towards Latvia and the Constitution

Newspapers reports about official events on commemoration of the end of the WWII on 8 May and unofficial celebration or Victory’s Day on 9 May in Latvia. On 8 May, the Latvian high officials, war veterans and representatives of the diplomatic corps commemorated the war victims and warriors at the common grave in Rigaand Lestene, as well as, for the first time, at the Salaspils memorial located on the site of the former Nazi concentration camp.  The Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma, in her speech at the memorial, stated that this place is a reminder of the tragic past and that we should never forget and never allow such terrible crime as the WWII. The Prime Minister also called the historians to explore the real history of the Salaspils concentration camp. On 9 May, about 200,000 people took part in the unofficial celebrations in Rigaat the Monumentof Liberatorsof Rigafrom Nazi Invaders.  The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs, in his speech at the Monument, stated that it is our duty to always remember and honour victims of all past century’s political regimes. But we should never forget that the Nazism was absolute evil and on 9 May we celebrate victory over this evil, said Mr Usakovs. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

The Saeima’s Education, Culture and Science Committee supported a proposal stipulating that heads of the education institutions and teachers should be loyal towards Latviaand the Constitution. According to the Head of the Committee Janis Vucans, the notion of “loyalty” could be defined by a normative regulation which has to be elaborated.  Latvijas Avize (8.05)

• Newspapers report about a research „Identity and Belonging to Latvia of Ethnic Minority Students”
• Governing coalition’s council will discuss the issue about refugee’s quotas next week
• The MP Veiko Spolitis withdrew his proposal on fines for wearing St. George ribbons
• Diena interviews media expert Sergejs Kruks about integration issues in Latvia

Newspapers report about a research „Identity and Belonging to Latvia of Ethnic Minority Students” conducted by a researcher Mara Laizane.  85 persons – 65 students aged from 15 to 19 and 20 teachers got interviewed during the research. The results of the research show that ethnic minority students feel belonging to Latviaand most often identify themselves as “Latvia’s Russian speakers.” A part of ethnic minorities cannot identify themselves as “Russians” as they believe that “real” Russians live in Russiaonly. The other part, proudly identify themselves as “Russians” due to the family traditions and historical context. The third part call Russian language as their native language but by ethnic belonging they are Polish, Belorussians, Ukrainians etc. Students also stressed that ethnic designations such as “ethnic Russian” and “ethnic Latvian” have negative connotation. Students also believe that even if they wanted to they could never become ethnic Latvians because you can only be born as ethnic Latvian. Ethnic minority students feel the unity with ethnic Latvians when celebrating New Year or state holidays or during sports events. In total, the attitude of ethnic minority students towards Latviais positive. Ethnic minority students have some stereotypes about ethnic Latvians, but those are very different. Those young people who have daily contact with ethnic Latvians have lees stereotypes about them and more positive evaluation. Ethnic minority students agree that it is important to know Latvian language but believe that you cannot learn it on a good level at schools only. Students also believe that ethnic minority schools should be preserved because special value of these schools is in the good level of learning Russian language and literature. Celebration of Russian or Orthodox holidays in schools is also important issue for ethnic minority students. Evaluating the curriculum on history, young people called it as one-sided propaganda tool and what is written in the curriculum do not much with what they hear in families and media. Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnya

The full text of the research in Latvian language is available at: http://www.ascendum.lv/lv/notikumi/prezentes-petijumu-par-mazakumtautibu-skolu-skolenu-piederibas-sajutu-latvijai.html

According to Latvijas Avize, the governing coalition’s council is planning to discuss the issue about refugee’s quotas next week. The MPs interviewed by the newspaper agree thatLatvia should show its solidarity with the South European states regarding the continuous influx of asylum seekers from the North African countries. However, the opinion of the MPs about manifestation of the solidarity differs – whether to provide support to the South European states only or to provide accommodation for part of the refugees.

The MP Veiko Spolitis withdrew his proposal to introduce fines for wearing St. George ribbons (associated with the commemoration of World War II and Russia’s military heroism) at the public events and hanging those in cars in Latvia. The MP explained that he needs to precise and discuss the proposal with different ministries and involved parties. According to him, the St. George ribbon became Russia’s symbol which is not acceptable in the democratic society.  Vesti Segodnya

Diena interviews media expert Sergejs Kruks about integration issues inLatvia. According to Mr. Kruks, ethnic tension inLatvia is a problem artificially cultivated and maintained by Latvian politicians. Mr Kruks stresses that researches and public opinion surveys show that there are no big differences between the ordinary residents – ethnic Russians and ethnic Latvians. Both groups are worried about the same problems and have similar attitude towards government, media and other issues. He also criticizes approach to integration based on cultural dimension only as it should be done through inclusion of ethnic non-Latvians in the decision making and implementation. 

• The MP Veiko Spolitis proposes to introduce fines for wearing St. George ribbons 
• Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma does not rule out that Latvia could accept redistribution of refugees 
• Saeima’s Speaker Inara Murniece: Latvia is a national state where all its citizens have common Latvian language, culture and historical memory

The MP Veiko Spolitis (independent) proposes to introduce fines for wearing St. George ribbons (associated with the commemoration of World War II) at the public events and hanging those in cars in Latvia. The MP equates St. George ribbons with symbols of totalitarian regimes and proposes to impose fines for the usage of these ribbons up to EUR 750. Vesti Segodnya

Commenting possible introduction of quotas for each EU member state on accommodation of refugees, the Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma said that it is not ruled out that Latvia could accept the redistribution of refugees initially arriving to other EU member states. Other politicians – the MPs Artis Pabriks (Unity) and Janis Dombrava (National Union) discussing the possible accommodation of refugees argue that Latvia can avoid it because it already has accommodated large number of immigrants during Soviet era. The MP Boriss Cilevics, in his turn, does not believe that Latvia would voluntary accommodate refugees from other the EU countries. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize publishes the speech by the Saeima’s Speaker Inara Murniece in honour of the 4th of May – day of the restoration of state independence. In her speech, Mrs Murniece mentioned that it was the majority of the ethnic Latvian “state nation” and ethnic minorities who wanted to restore national, democratic, European Latvian state. At the same time, she believes that there were others, mostly USSR citizens who arrived to Latvia as a result of colonisation policy of the Soviet occupation regime, who wanted the occupation regime to continue. The Speaker stressed that Latvia is a national state where all its citizens have common Latvian language, culture and historical memory. She alleges that the bilingual education schools system is segregated by ethnic principle. Mrs Murniece said that during 25 years of independence the positions of the state language have strengthened and many ethnic non-Latvians are proficient in it and use it. However, she alleges that “ethnic Latvian in his own state” cannot qualify for job without Russian language proficiency and she finds it shameful. Latvijas Avize (5.05), Vesti Segodnya