• Most popular parties in April - Concord Centre and the Unity
• Vladimirs Buzajevs compares demographic trends among ethnic Latvians and ethnic non-Latvians

 According to a public opinion survey conducted by a company “Latvijas Fakti” the most popular parties in April were the Concord Centre and the Unity – supported by 16,8% and 16,1% correspondingly. Popularity of the Concord Centre has dropped by 4,6% comparing to March, but the number of the Unity’s supporters increased by 2,5%. The Union of Greens and Farmers is supported by 8,6% of respondents, the nationalists’ union All for Latvia/FF-LNIM by 6,3%. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya prints an article by co-chairman of the Latvian Human Rights Committee Vladimirs Buzajevs about comparative demography of ethnic Latvians and ethnic non-Latvians since 1991 till 2012. According to V.Buzajevs, while the total number of Latvian population has significantly decreased during these years, the loss of ethnic non-Latvians is much higher than the loss of ethnic Latvians. Thus, the number of ethnic Latvians decreased by 17%, while the number of ethnic minorities by 37%. V.Buzajevs does not agree with the official explanation that the rate of decline is so different due to different age composition of both groups and higher emigration rate of non-Latvians. V.Buzajevs asserts that these data provide the evidence of ethnic discrimination.

• State increases amount of benefit granted to refugees and persons with alternative status
• Riga City Council did not allow the Congress of Non-citizens to hold a concert “We want changes”
• Minister of Culture Dace Melnbarde: every person living in Latvia has a duty to know Latvian language

According to the regulations approved by the Cabinet of Ministers recently, refugees and persons with alternative status will receive a benefit in amount of EUR 256 per month and children with the same status will receive EUR 76 per month. State also grants funding for Latvian language courses in amount EUR 49.48 per month. The majority of MPs interviewed by Neatkariga do not support such amendments arguing that such benefit exceeds the average amount of pensions in Latvia while the amount of the benefit for refugee children exceeds the amount of benefit for Latvian children several times.

The Riga City Council did not allow the Congress of Non-citizens to hold a concert “We want changes” today in Riga. The decision in motivated by a conclusion of the Security Police according to which there are high risks of disorder as well as security threats and the organisers will not be able to ensure the security measures during the event. As reported, one of the activists of the Congress of Non-citizens Aleksandrs Gaponenko positioned the event as “Latvian Maidan.” Neatkariga reports that in response to this event, a group of Latvian young activists will hold an action reminding Russian speaking residents about opportunities for free-of-charge Latvian Language courses. According to the activists, the aim is to popularise Latvian language learning through benevolent and encouraging action. Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

The Minister of Culture Dace Melnbarde in an interview with Vesti Segodnya states that every person living in Latvia has a duty to know Latvian language and it is an issue of loyalty to the state. The state in its turn guarantees every person the preservation of identity and usage of native language. (Vesti Segodnya 23.04)

• Latvijas Avize interviews the Riga City Council’s deputy Sarmite Elerte
• Latvian Human Rights Committee highly appreciate the recommendation of the UN HRC to Latvia to "review the State Language Law and its application"

Latvijas Avize interviews the Riga City Council’s deputy Sarmite Elerte (the Unity.) Mrs Elerte believes that ethnic non-Latvian residents do not want to live in Russia, but, most likely, there is relative large percentage of those who want to see Latvia more pro-Russian. However, Mrs Elerte believes that idea of a pro-Russian Latvia is incompatible with Latvia as a national, democratic state. According to Mrs Elerte, granting Russian language official status in municipalities, granting Latvian citizenship automatically would strengthen two-community state. Sarmite Elerte believes that the capacity and funding of the integration department of the Ministry of Culture should be increased, and in the future it would be useful to appoint special minister for integration issues. Mrs Elerte also believes that it is an exaggeration to say that all Russian residents in Latvia live in Russia’s information space as a lot of residents receive information from local internet news portals and Latvian Radio Channel 4 – which is the most popular Russian language radio station in Latvia.

Vesti Segodnya interviews representatives of the Latvian Human Rights Committee Vladimirs Buzajevs and Aleksandrs Kuzmins about the information they and the state provided to the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) regarding the enjoyment of rights envisioned by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The interviewees highly appreciate the work of the HRC and especially its recommendation that Latvia "should review the State Language Law and its application in order to ensure that any restriction on the rights of non-Latvian speakers is reasonable, proportionate and non-discriminatory, and take measures to ensure access by non-Latvian speakers to public institutions and facilitate their communication with public authorities."

• Political scientist Ilze Ostrovska: number of non-citizens should be reduced to a minimum 
• Aleksandrs Gaponenko wants to arrange “Russian Maidan” in Latvia
• Picket against the Ombudsman Juris Jansons held in Riga

Political scientist Ilze Ostrovska believes that it is necessary to reduce the number of non-citizens in Latvia to a minimum. According to Mrs Ostrovska, the number of non-citizens in Latvia is still very high despite the fact that already 20 years passed since Latvia became independent state. Mrs Ostrovska does not agree that all non-citizens should be granted citizenship automatically but the state should make sure that Latvian citizenship becomes more beneficial comparing to the status of non-citizen. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports that one of the activists of the Congress of Non-Citizens Aleksandrs Gaponenko openly admires the events in the Eastern part of Ukraine and hopes to arrange “Russian Maidan” in Latvia. The Congress also plans to hold a concert with motto “We Want Changes” in the centre of Riga on 25 April.  The participants of the concert would also speak about non-citizens, education, Russian language in Latvia, and unity of the society.

Yesterday, the Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Language Schools and representatives of dwellers of denationalised housing held a picket for resignation of the Ombudsman Juris Jansons. The Ombudsman came to the protesters and stated that the demands for his resignation are groundless and based on false assumptions. Mr.Jansons left after the protesters shouted at him. Around 90 people took part in the protest. Latvijas Avize

 

• Forum of national minority parents held in Riga

Vesti Segodnya reports about a forum of national minority parents. According to the organizer of the forum Konstantins Cekusins, the aim of the forum is to involve parents in different initiatives concerning education process. The forum was attended by 44 parents and opened by the Minister of Education Ina Druviete. Also representatives of the Riga City Council supported activity of parents. Mr. Cekusins appreciates the fact of the Minister's participation, yet believes this participation was more symbolic than constructive, because she simply described the situation as it is seen from one side – "everything is good". While she declared her willingness to cooperate, it is unclear if in reality, once the parents express their demands, she will cooperate or these demands will be ignored. Mr. Cekusins believes the view of the parents is not sufficiently represented and it is planned to establish a legitimate body which will officially represent the parents.