• Number of population in Latvia dropped below 2 millions
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about initiator of a movement of pro-European Russian residents in Latvia, journalist Igors Vatolins

According to the Central Statistical Bureau the number of population in Latvia dropped below 2 millions – presently there are 1,997,500 of residents living in the country. 22,561 persons emigrated from Latvia and 8,299 arrived to Latvia in 2013. The majority of Latvians or 73% emigrated to the Great Britain and Germany, 16% emigrated to the CIS countries. 58% of immigrants arrived to Latvia from the EU countries, 31% from CIS countries. The number of representatives of the biggest groups of ethnicities in Latvia also decreased – number of ethnic Latvians decreased by 8,400, Russians by 10,300, Ukrainians, Polish, and Belorussians by 1,100 – 1,600 correspondingly. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an article about initiator of a movement of pro-European Russian residents in Latvia, journalist Igors Vatolins. The reason for Vatolins’ initiative is events in Ukraine which have affected Russian speaking residents in Latvia. The newspaper reports that Mr Vatolins for many years has worked for Russian language newspapers and was one of the most activist protestors against language reform in minority schools in 2003 and 2004.  In an interview with the newspaper, Mr Vatolins says that after events in Crimea large-scale non-citizenship, situation with minority schools, language status and confrontation about historical issues in Latvia is not anymore issue of perception of the world or human rights, but it is the matter of Latvian national security. Mr Vatolins says that he does not believe that Russian residents in Latvia one day might become Russia’s President’s Vladimir Putin’s weapon. The newspaper also notes that while Vatolin’s movement is not officially registered, on 9 May, activists of the Congress of Non-citizens already registered an association “Movement of European Russians” which has nothing in common with Vatolin’s movement.

• Saeima supported the draft Introduction to the Constitution of Latvia in the second reading
• Ex-MEP from Latvia, politician Karlis Sadurskis: education system in Latvia should become more ethnic Latvian
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about Roma integration

Yesterday, after three hours debates, the Saeima supported the draft Introduction to the Constitution of Latvia in the second reading. In the framework of the debates, the MP from the oppositional party the Concord Centre Andrejs Elksnins proposed to conduct a national referendum about the adoption of the Introduction as it impacts irrevocable articles of the Constitution. However, such proposal was refused. The Saeima also refused a proposal of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM to return a notion of state nation referring to ethnic Latvians in the Introduction. As reported, the draft text of the Introduction says: “Latvia was proclaimed on 18 November 1918 is formed through consolidation of historically Latvian lands based on a firm state will of ethnic Latvian nation and its integral right for self-determination in order to guarantee existence and development of ethnic Latvian nation, its language and culture for centuries, to ensure freedom of every person and whole nation and facilitate welfare [..] Latvian nation honours its warriors for freedom, pays tribute to the victims of foreign regimes, condemns crimes of communist and Nazi totalitarian regimes. Latvia as democratic, legal, socially responsible and national state is based on human dignity and freedoms, recognizes and protects fundamental rights and respects national minorities. [..] Since ancient times, Latvian identity in European cultural space is formed by ethnic Latvian and Liv’s traditions and wisdom, Latvian language, universal human and Christian values. Latvian language as the only state language, freedom, honesty, justice, solidarity, equality, family, labour and devotion to Latvia is the foundation for the solid Latvian society.[...].” Diena

In an interview with Latvijas Avize, ex-MEP from Latvia, politician Karlis Sadurskis stated that it is important to create a common Russian language media broadcasting for Baltic states as soon as possible in order to provide an alternative for channel re-broadcasted from Russia. He said that education system in Latvia should become more ethnic Latvian and Latvian language should be as the basic language of education.

Latvijas Avize prints an article about Roma integration. According to it, there are about 9,000 Roma residents in Latvia and in every area – such as education, employment, housing and health care – there is a lot to improve. Head of the Roma organisation Nevo Drom Anatolijs Berzovskis says that many Roma have emigrated from Latvia in search of work in other countries. Mr Berezovskis also says that many Roma children lack motivation to continue education. According to the head of the Roma Culture Development Centre Kaspars Antess, discrimination towards Roma people in Latvia is controversial issue because from one side they are granted the same rights as other citizens but the problem is whether Roma are ready to use these rights. 

• Vesti Segodnya: the new edition of the draft Introduction to the Constitution omitted the statement that Latvia observes the rights of ethnic minorities

Vesti Segodnya prints the text of the draft Introduction to the Constitution of Latvia as to be considered by the Saeima in the second reading: “Latvia was proclaimed on 18 November 1918 is formed through consolidation of historically Latvian lands based on a firm state will of ethnic Latvian nation and its integral right for self-determination in order to guarantee existence and development of ethnic Latvian nation, its language and culture for centuries, to ensure freedom of every person and whole nation and facilitate welfare [..] Latvian nation honours its warriors for freedom, pays tribute to the victims of foreign regimes, condemns crimes of communist and Nazi totalitarian regimes. Latvia as democratic, legal, socially responsible and national state is based on human dignity and freedoms, recognizes and protects fundamental rights and respects national minorities. [..] Since ancient times, Latvian identity in European cultural space is formed by ethnic Latvian and Liv’s traditions and wisdom, Latvian language, universal human and Christian values. Latvian language as the only state language, freedom, honesty, justice, solidarity, equality, family, labour and devotion to Latvia is the foundation for the solid Latvian society.[...].” The newspaper notes that in the first draft of the Introduction it was said that Latvia observes rights of ethnic minorities. The Saeima reviews the draft Introduction in the second reading today.

• Ombudsman Juris Jansons will present the Annual Report of the Ombudsman’s Office 2013 in Saeima
• 375 persons received Latvian citizenship through naturalisation process during first five months of 2014

Latvijas Avize reports that the Ombudsman Juris Jansons will present the Annual Report of the Ombudsman’s Office 2013 in Saeima this week. According to the newspaper, in 2013, the Ombudsman paid attention to free-of-charge education for children and availability of curriculum; to the problems in health care for children; to deficiencies in state funded social care centre; to rights of prisoners; etc. The newspaper highlights the monitoring of bilingual education as one of the most significant tasks done by the Ombudsman in 2013. As reported, following the results of the monitoring, the Ombudsman concluded that education in minority schools should be transferred into Latvian language. The monitoring received critical remarks from experts, some politicians and NGOs.

According to Vesti Segodnya, only 375 persons received Latvian citizenship through naturalisation process during first five months of 2014 and most likely, there will be less than 1,000 naturalised citizens in 2014. Comparing to 2013, there were 1,732 naturalised citizens. One of the leaders of the political party Union of Russians in Latvia Jakovs Pliners says that such data indicate that the naturalisation process has almost completely stopped. At the same time, the number of non-citizens in Latvia decreases for about 14,000 persons every year. The main reasons are death of non-citizens and acceptance of citizenship of other countries.

• Diena interviews head of the Saeima’s Society Consolidation Committee Ilmars Latkovskis
• Nationalists’ union again elaborated new proposals to the Immigration Law

Diena interviews head of the Saeima’s Society Consolidation Committee Ilmars Latkovskis. Mr Latkovskis believes that Russian speaking residents in Latvia is not homogenous group and, therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive study in order to understand their perceptions. Regarding coordination of projects aimed at society integration, Mr Latkovskis says that the Ministry of Culture should overtake the leading position because culture is the main component the integration process should be based on. Mr Latkovskis also believes that one of the potential unifying platforms for the society could be European values.   

Neatkariga reports that the nationalists’ union All for Latvia/FF-LNIM again elaborated new proposals to the Immigration Law restricting granting residence permits to non-EU residents. As reported, recently, the Saeima supported in the final reading the amendments raising minimal cost of a real estate for non-EU residents in order to be granted residence permit in Latvia. The new proposals stipulate granting the Cabinet of Ministers rights to suspend granting of residence permits to citizens of certain countries if there are threats to state security. Mainly the nationalists want to restrict granting residence permits to Russia’s citizens.