• Academic Juris Rozenvalds: ethnic majority should make a first step towards ethnic minorities
• Nationalists union All for Latvia/FF-LNIM made several proposals on strengthening of ethnically Latvian Latvia
• Three Latvian citizens submitted a claim to the Constitutional Court of Latvia objecting to the fact that Russian language has a status of a foreign language in Latvia

Academic Juris Rozenvalds believes that the referendum on the status of Russian language is a consequence of a wrong integration policy and a response protest to the actions of the nationalists union which proposed to set the Latvian language as the only language of instructions in all state funded schools. Mr Rozenvalds also believes that the new guidelines for integration policy elaborated by the Ministry of Culture is one more step backwards from integration. Mr Rozenvalds believes that the majority (ethnic Latvians) should make a first step towards ethnic minorities, and such step could be granting the Orthodox Christmas (7 January) status a bank-holiday. The next step would be resolution of issues regarding the legal status to ethnic minority languages and widening of political participation of non-citizens. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya reports that on Monday, 27 February, partners of the governing coalition discussed proposals of the nationalists union All for Latvia/FF-LNIM on strengthening of ethnically Latvian Latvia. One of the proposals was supported by all the coalitions partners – the draft amendments to the Article 76 of the Constitution of Latvia stipulating that such issues as citizenship, naturalisation, status of state language, territorial integrity of the state and other issues which, in the nationalists opinion, put Latvia under the risk as a national and democratic country cannot be discussed at national referendum. The nationalists union also proposed to determine that education in all kindergartens should be only in Latvian language. However, discussion of this proposal was postponed to the next coalitions meeting. The coalition also did not support the proposal to deprive Latvian citizenship of those who made public disrespectful statements towards Latvia as a democratic and national state.

Three Latvian citizens submitted a claim to the Constitutional Court of Latvia objecting to the fact that Russian language has a status of a foreign language in Latvia. The claimants argue that Russian and German languages had a special status during the first independence of the Republic of Latvia, such as allowing ethnic non-Latvians to communicate with state and local institutions in Russian or German, right to speak from the Saeimas tribune in one or the other language, and others. Latvia defines itself not as a newly independent country, but as a restored state with full legal continuity, and after the restoration of independence of the Republic in 1991 its legal framework was restored as well (Constitution, Civil Law etc.). Exceptionally, the status of minority languages was not restored. Vesti Segodnya

• Newspapers report about preparations for the 16 March
• Newspaper: the first state-funded feature film shot in Russian language focuses on the life of Russian petty criminals in Riga
• Naval Academy professor claims threat of political dismissal

Five different organisers submitted applications for holding eight different events on 16 March (unofficial day of commemoration of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires), some of these events are scheduled for the same time and location. The Riga City Council is in charge of authorising public events, and according to its representative, in cases when applications overlap, the Council will give preference to those submitted earlier. The Head of the Security Police Janis Reiniks, the security threats for 16 March events this year are higher than usually, and there is information that around 30-40 extremists from foreign countries are going to take part in the evens this year. Starting from the next year, the right-wing union “All for Latvia / For Fatherland and Freedom / LNIM” proposes to commemorate Latvian freedom fighters on 17 March instead of 16 March.

Five different organisers submitted applications for holding eight different events on 16 March (unofficial day of commemoration of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires), some of these events are scheduled for the same time and location. The Riga City Council is in charge of authorising public events, and according to its representative, in cases when applications overlap, the Council will give preference to those submitted earlier. The Head of the Security Police Janis Reiniks, the security threats for 16 March events this year are higher than usually, and there is information that around 30-40 extremists from foreign countries are going to take part in the evens this year. Starting from the next year, the right-wing union All for Latvia / For Fatherland and Freedom / LNIM proposes to commemorate Latvian freedom fighters on 17 March instead of 16 March. Diena, Chas, Telegraf, Vesti-Segodnya

Chas reports about the release of the first feature film in Russian funded by the state, People/there. The film focuses on the life of two Russian youngsters in Riga. The newspaper alleges the movie stigmatises Latvias Russians, portraying them as petty criminals, while Latvians only appeared in the movie briefly, as victims. The movie is shot in Russian language, with Latvian subtitles, and will be on the screens in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The newspaper is concerned that given the hysteria over the language referendum, this movie contributes to the barricade of hatred.

Newspapers continue to report about the aftershocks of the referendum. Latvian Naval Academy professor Georgs Kuklis-Rosmanis received an official request from the leadership of the Academy to explain his decision to sign the proposal to grant Russian the status of the second state language. When interviewed before the referendum, Mr. Kuklis-Rosmanis has admitted that he signed the proposal, arguing his decision by the need for equality. According to Mr. Kuklis-Rosmanis, he was also told by the leadership that his opinion is ideologically wrong and he has impression that he will be dismissed from his job because of his political opinion, yet the dismissal will not openly mention political views.

Newspapers continue to report about the aftershocks of the referendum. Latvian Naval Academy professor Georgs Kuklis-Rosmanis received an official request from the leadership of the Academy to explain his decision to sign the proposal to grant Russian the status of the second state language. When interviewed before the referendum, Mr. Kuklis-Rosmanis has admitted that he signed the proposal, arguing his decision by the need for equality. According to Mr. Kuklis-Rosmanis, he was also told by the leadership that his opinion is ideologically wrong and he has impression that he will be dismissed from his job because of his political opinion, yet the dismissal will not openly mention political views. Vesti-Segodnya

• NGO Latvian Society of Daugavpils started to provide free-of-charge Latvian language courses
• Experts forum Latvia after referendum: strategies of interethnic cooperation conducted in Riga
• Researcher Iveta Kazoka: Latvian and Russian language media reflect stereotypes
• Group of Latvian residents elaborated 10 proposals for consolidation of the society
• Council of Jewish Communities in Latvia criticizes Neatkariga for giving a platform for expression of anti-Semitic views
• Diena prints an article about Latvian language learning in kindergartens

An NGO Latvian Society of Daugavpils (city in the Eastern part of Latvia) started to provide free-of-charge Latvian language courses for city residents. At present, there are three groups composed of 10-15 people of different ages. But due to a high demand for the courses the NGO appealed to the City Council asking for support funding. Chas

Chas reports about experts forum Latvia after referendum: strategies of interethnic cooperation conducted by the European Progressive Research Foundation and the Freedom and Solidarity Foundation in Riga. Integration expert, politicians and NGOs activists took part in the forum discussing relations of ethnic Latvian and Russian speaking residents of Latvia and establishment of a dialogue between two parties.

According to a researcher of the Centre for Public Policy Providus Iveta Kazoka, Latvian mass media actively reflected existing stereotypes on the threshold of the referendum on the status of Russian language. Thus, Latvian language media portrayed an image of typical ethnic Latvian as a pensioner, who fought for independence and who is very much concerned with the language issue, while Linderman was presented as the typical ethnic Russian. At the same time, Russian language media portrayed typical ethnic Russian as a common person who is facing daily difficulties in Latvia, and who is also discontent with the fact that his favourite political party was left outside the ruling coalition, while Raivis Dzintars was presented as the typical ethnic Latvian. In the meantime, persons with alternative or moderate views got harshly criticized by their respective language streams of the media. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Centre for Public Policy Providus conducted debates of citizens about integration. 42 randomly chosen Latvian residents took part in the debates. As a result of the debates, the participants elaborated 10 proposals for consolidation of the society. The proposals include: to ensure free-of-charge Latvian language courses; to popularize education in Latvian language; to establish common informative and cultural space; to ensure Latvian language learning starting with kindergarten; to involve successfully integrated persons in a process of promotion of integration. All the proposals got discussed by the President of Latvia Andris Berzins, experts, politicians and representatives of ministries. The President called the state officials to be more active promoting integration process. Latvijas Avize

In an open letter to Neatkariga, the Council of Jewish Communities in Latvia criticizes the newspaper giving a platform for expression of anti-Semitic views to the well-known lawyer Andris Grutups. As reported, in an interview with Neatkariga, Mr Grutups stated that Vladimirs Lindermans (one of the initiators of the collection of signatures for granting Russian language status of a state language in Latvia) is a Jewish revolutionary who wants to antagonise ethnic Latvian and ethnic Russian residents in Latvia. Mr Grutups and his interviewer also questioned why the Jewish community in Latvia does not criticize the activities of Mr Lindermans. The Council of Jewish Communities stated that it cannot be responsible for political activities of one its possible members, moreover, it believes that any nation as a whole cannot be collectively held responsible for activities of individuals belonging to that nation.

Diena prints an article about Latvian language learning in kindergartens. According the newspaper, in the majority of kindergartens with Russian language of instructions or in two-flow kindergartens children learn Latvian language two times a weeks trough games. Parents interviewed by the newspaper believe that usually it is not enough with such Latvian language learning because in the first grade in schools children have bilingual subjects with materials only in Latvian language.

• Head of the Saeimas Committee on Consolidation of Society Ilmars Latkovskis: Latvia as two community state does not have a future
• Diena prints series of articles about Daugavpils
• MP Raivis Dzintars calls to terminate the opportunity of parents to choose kindergartens with Latvian and Russian language of instruction
• Neatkariga prints an interview with one of the initiators of the collection of signatures for granting Russian language status of a state language in Latvia Aleksandrs Gaponenko
• Researcher of Nazi crimes and the Holocaust from the United Kingdom initiated collection of signatures on the Internet under a petition to forbid the processions on 16 March in Riga

Chas prints an interview with the MP, head of the Saeimas Committee on Consolidation of Society Ilmars Latkovskis. Mr Latkovskis believes that Latvia as two community state does not have a future because there always will be confrontation and instability. Mr Latkovskis believes that Latvian residents trough dialogue should find the common vision for countrys future.

Diena prints series of articles about Daugavpils – the city in the Eastern part of Latvia in which 85,18% of citizens voted for the Constitutional amendments granting Russian language status of official in Latvia at the national referendum. The newspaper interviews residents and well-known persons of the city.

Latvijas Avize and Neatkariga print interviews with the MP Raivis Dzintars (All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM). Mr Dzintars calls to terminate the opportunity of parents to choose between kindergartens with Latvian and Russian language of instruction. He believes that one of the starting points for integration is transition of all kindergartens into Latvian language as the only language of instruction. At the same time, the groups with children from ethnic minorities families should have orientation on preservation of ethnic and cultural identity. Mr Dzintars believes it should be strictly ensured that all education establishments have one education content.

Neatkariga prints an interview with one of the initiators of the collection of signatures for granting Russian language status of a state language in Latvia, director of the European studies institute Aleksandrs Gaponenko. Mr Gaponenko states that the referendum on the status of Russian language was the first step towards elimination of discrimination of Russian speaking residents in Latvia. The next step will be the initiation of referendum for granting all non-citizens Latvian citizenship.

A researcher of Nazi crimes and the Holocaust from the United Kingdom Monica Lowenberg initiated collection of signatures on the Internet under a petition to forbid the processions on 16 March in the centre of Riga (un-official commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires.) The petition is addressed to Latvia, the international community, the UK government, the European Union and the NATO. The petition says that the number of persons taking part in the processions grows every year. About 1,000 persons already signed under the petition, the majority of them are from Latvia and Estonia.

A researcher of Nazi crimes and the Holocaust from the United Kingdom Monica Lowenberg initiated collection of signatures on the Internet under a petition to forbid the processions on 16 March in the centre of Riga (un-official commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires.) The petition is addressed to Latvia, the international community, the UK government, the European Union and the NATO. The petition says that the number of persons taking part in the processions grows every year. About 1,000 persons already signed under the petition, the majority of them are from Latvia and Estonia. Telegraf

• ECRI published its new report on Latvia
• President of Latvia Andris Berzins supports the proposal to grant the Orthodox Christian and Old Believers Christmas the status of a bank-holiday in Latvia
• Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis assigned all the ministries and other state institutions to prepare proposals for promotion of consolidation of society

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published its new report on Latvia. According to the report, while there have been positive developments, issues of concern remain: firstly important budget cuts affecting the Ombudsman and secondly the situation of the Roma. In the report, ECRI has made a number of recommendations to the Latvian authorities, three of which require priority implementation and will be revisited by ECRI in two years’ time: endow the Ombudsman’s Office with sufficient funds and human resources, and improve its accessibility in different languages and in the different regions of Latvia; ensure a focus of the Policy Guidelines for the Integration of Society in Latvia on anti-discrimination and an open and integrated society, and provide for sufficient and timely financial resources, coordination and involvement of all relevant actors in the implementation of the guidelines; close any remaining special classes for Roma, integrate Roma pupils in mainstream classes and address the high representation of Roma children in special needs’ schools.

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published its new report on Latvia. According to the report, while there have been positive developments, issues of concern remain: firstly important budget cuts affecting the Ombudsman and secondly the situation of the Roma. In the report, ECRI has made a number of recommendations to the Latvian authorities, three of which require priority implementation and will be revisited by ECRI in two years time: endow the Ombudsmans Office with sufficient funds and human resources, and improve its accessibility in different languages and in the different regions of Latvia; ensure a focus of the Policy Guidelines for the Integration of Society in Latvia on anti-discrimination and an open and integrated society, and provide for sufficient and timely financial resources, coordination and involvement of all relevant actors in the implementation of the guidelines; close any remaining special classes for Roma, integrate Roma pupils in mainstream classes and address the high representation of Roma children in special needs schools. Vesti Segodnya

Report on Latvia is available at:

Report on Latvia is available at: http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/library/PressReleases/100-21_02_2012_Latvia_en.asp#TopOfPage

The President of Latvia Andris Berzins supports the proposal to grant the Orthodox Christian and Old Believers’ Christmas (7 January) the status of a bank-holiday in Latvia. The faction of the Concord Centre (CC) is planning to submit the corresponding draft amendments to the Saeima repeatedly. The leader of the CC, Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs believes that granting Orthodox Christmas status of official holiday is not ethnic or linguistic issue because there are many Orthodox ethnic Latvians and representatives of other ethnicities. But at the same time, it would be a good signal especially for Russian speaking residents. However, the two parties of the governing coalition – the Unity and the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM  - do not support the proposal. The Zatler’s Reforms Party, in its turn, proposes the draft amendments to the Labour Law allowing the employees to take one extra holiday in a year on their discretion. Representatives of the Orthodox, Lutheran and Catholic churches in Latvia, in an interview with

The President of Latvia Andris Berzins supports the proposal to grant the Orthodox Christian and Old Believers Christmas (7 January) the status of a bank-holiday in Latvia. The faction of the Concord Centre (CC) is planning to submit the corresponding draft amendments to the Saeima repeatedly. The leader of the CC, Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs believes that granting Orthodox Christmas status of official holiday is not ethnic or linguistic issue because there are many Orthodox ethnic Latvians and representatives of other ethnicities. But at the same time, it would be a good signal especially for Russian speaking residents. However, the two parties of the governing coalition – the Unity and the nationalists union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM - do not support the proposal. The Zatlers Reforms Party, in its turn, proposes the draft amendments to the Labour Law allowing the employees to take one extra holiday in a year on their discretion. Representatives of the Orthodox, Lutheran and Catholic churches in Latvia, in an interview with Diena, also support granting the Orthodox Christmas status of a bank-holiday. Chas, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

The Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis assigned all the ministries, the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, the State Chancellery, and Society Integration Foundation to prepare the concrete proposals for promotion of consolidation of society during two weeks. The proposal should be connected with opportunities to learn Latvian language, with civil education program, and with establishment of ties with Latvians living abroad.

The Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis assigned all the ministries, the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, the State Chancellery, and Society Integration Foundation to prepare the concrete proposals for promotion of consolidation of society during two weeks. The proposal should be connected with opportunities to learn Latvian language, with civil education program, and with establishment of ties with Latvians living abroad. Latvijas Aviz