• Newspapers report about celebration the Victory Day in Riga
• Central Electoral Committee starts collection of signatures in support of transition of all state funded schools only into Latvian language

Newspapers report about the celebration of the end of the WWII or so-called “Victory Day” on 9 May in Riga. Various sources put the number of the people attending the celebration between several tens of thousands and to 200,000.  Newspapers note that the majority of the people who came were Russian speakers, including large numbers of young people. The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs and representatives of some foreign embassies also came to lay flowers at the Monument.  The Victory Day continues to be widely celebrated by certain sections of the population in the former Soviet republics.

Newspapers report about the celebration of the end of the WWII or so-called Victory Day on 9 May in Riga. Various sources put the number of the people attending the celebration between several tens of thousands and to 200,000. Newspapers note that the majority of the people who came were Russian speakers, including large numbers of young people. The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs and representatives of some foreign embassies also came to lay flowers at the Monument. The Victory Day continues to be widely celebrated by certain sections of the population in the former Soviet republics. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

Today, the Central Election Committee starts the collection of signatures in support of Constitutional amendments foreseeing the transition of all state funded schools into the Latvian language starting with 1 September 2012. As reported, the collection of signatures was initiated by the radical party All for Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM who independently gathered the required 10,000 signatures. The collection of signatures will continue until 9 June.

Today, the Central Election Committee starts the collection of signatures in support of Constitutional amendments foreseeing the transition of all state funded schools into the Latvian language starting with 1 September 2012. As reported, the collection of signatures was initiated by the radical party All for Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM who independently gathered the required 10,000 signatures. The collection of signatures will continue until 9 June. Diena

• Minister of Interior Linda Murniece discharged 93 policemen who did not improve their state language proficiency

The Minister of Interior Linda Murniece signed a decree to discharge 93 policemen who did not improve their state language proficiency. As reported, in March 2010, inspectors of the State Language Centre found that more than 200 policemen have insufficient Latvian proficiency. All the policemen were given a deadline to improve their language skills and to receive corresponding certificate. According to the legislation, the policemen are required to have the highest level of the state language proficiency.

The Minister of Interior Linda Murniece signed a decree to discharge 93 policemen who did not improve their state language proficiency. As reported, in March 2010, inspectors of the State Language Centre found that more than 200 policemen have insufficient Latvian proficiency. All the policemen were given a deadline to improve their language skills and to receive corresponding certificate. According to the legislation, the policemen are required to have the highest level of the state language proficiency. Chas

• Security Police: number of supporters of skinheads ideology grows among Russian speaking young people
• UPR Working Group discussed report on human rights in Latvia
• Civic Union calls the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs to celebrate the end of the WWII on 8 May
• All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM considers that head of the Concord Centres faction Janis Urbanovics broke the commitment of the MP to strengthen Latvian language as the only state language

According to the report of the Security Police, public activities of right wing radical organisations and movements did not grow in 2010 in Latvia. At the same time, there are factors showing formation of a new generation of supporters of skinheads’ ideology mostly among Russian speaking young people. According to the report, expansion of activities of radical organisations is hindered by insufficient funding, small number of supporters, weak ideological and organising basis.

According to the report of the Security Police, public activities of right wing radical organisations and movements did not grow in 2010 in Latvia. At the same time, there are factors showing formation of a new generation of supporters of skinheads ideology mostly among Russian speaking young people. According to the report, expansion of activities of radical organisations is hindered by insufficient funding, small number of supporters, weak ideological and organising basis. Telegraf

Yesterday, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group of the UN Human Rights Council during its session discussed report on human rights in Latvia. During the discussion, delegations of the member states put their attention on problem of non-citizenship in Latvia.

Yesterday, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group of the UN Human Rights Council during its session discussed report on human rights in Latvia. During the discussion, delegations of the member states put their attention on problem of non-citizenship in Latvia. Telegraf

The faction of the Civic Union in the Riga City Council calls the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs to celebrate the end of the WWII not on the 9 May but on 8 May. In the open later the Mayor, the Civic Union states that the Mayor of Riga is also a representative of the country member of the European Union where the end of the WWII is celebrated on 8 May, but the 9 May is the Day of Europe. The Mayor of Riga, in his turn, is planning to take part in the celebration events of so-called “Victory Day” in the centre of Riga on 9 May.

The faction of the Civic Union in the Riga City Council calls the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs to celebrate the end of the WWII not on the 9 May but on 8 May. In the open later the Mayor, the Civic Union states that the Mayor of Riga is also a representative of the country member of the European Union where the end of the WWII is celebrated on 8 May, but the 9 May is the Day of Europe. The Mayor of Riga, in his turn, is planning to take part in the celebration events of so-called Victory Day in the centre of Riga on 9 May. Chas, Latvijas Avize

Members of the nationalists’ party All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM appealed to the Saeima’s Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee asking to check whether the head of the Concord Centre’s faction Janis Urbanovics broke the commitment of the MP “to strengthen Latvian language as the only state language”. The nationalists consider that Mr Urbanovics broke the commitment by expressing his verbal support to the persons collecting signatures in support of granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. In one of the interviews to an Internet portal, Mr Urbanovics stated that he respects the initiators of the collection of signatures Vladimirs Lindermans and Jevgenijs Osipovs because they protect their native language.

Members of the nationalists party All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM appealed to the Saeimas Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee asking to check whether the head of the Concord Centres faction Janis Urbanovics broke the commitment of the MP to strengthen Latvian language as the only state language. The nationalists consider that Mr Urbanovics broke the commitment by expressing his verbal support to the persons collecting signatures in support of granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. In one of the interviews to an Internet portal, Mr Urbanovics stated that he respects the initiators of the collection of signatures Vladimirs Lindermans and Jevgenijs Osipovs because they protect their native language. Vesti Segodnya

• Mayor of Jelgava Andris Ravins: nationalists worsened integration process

The Mayor of Jelgava (city in the Central part of Latvia) Andris Ravins stated that the action of ethnic Latvian nationalists against Russian language schools pushed Russians for responsive action for support of Russian language as second official in Latvia. The Mayor believes that integration process is slowly improving in Latvia, but the action of the nationalists’ party All for Latvia! worsened the situation.

The Mayor of Jelgava (city in the Central part of Latvia) Andris Ravins stated that the action of ethnic Latvian nationalists against Russian language schools pushed Russians for responsive action for support of Russian language as second official in Latvia. The Mayor believes that integration process is slowly improving in Latvia, but the action of the nationalists party All for Latvia! worsened the situation. Vesti Segodnya

• Nationalists do not support automatic registration all children born in Latvia as Latvian citizens

Latvijas Avize reports about elaboration of the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law. Representatives of the nationalists party All for Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM do not support a proposal of the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers to register automatically all children born in Latvia as Latvian citizens. At present, children born in a family of non-citizens can be registered as citizens only after application submitted by both parents. According to the partys member, MP Gaidis Berzins, a person who wants to become a Latvian citizen should display his/her will to be tied with the state, its traditions and culture and parents should do it for their children.