• Three applications are submitted for organisation of events commemorating Latvian Waffen SS legionaries in Riga on 16 March
• Activists for defence of Russian language schools will discuss possible protest methods
• ex-Minister of Education Roberts Kilis: idea to transfer education in ethnic minority schools into Latvian language is delirious

Three applications are submitted to the Riga City Council for organisation of events and procession commemorating Latvian Waffen SS legionaries in the centre of Riga on 16 March. Two applications are submitted by organisations “Hawks of Daugava (Daugavas vanagi)” and “Let’s play (Paspelesimies)” and one by a private person. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya reports that activists of the Headquarters for Defence of Russian Language Schools and forum For Progress in Latvia are planning to conduct a meeting with all residents who are interested in non-violent protest methods against transition of ethnic minority schools into Latvian language on 28 February.

According to the ex-Minister of Education Roberts Kilis, an idea to transfer education in ethnic minority schools into Latvian language is delirious. Mr Kilis sees no rational basis for such reform and believes it is connected with the up-coming elections. Mr Kilis also believes that language of education is a very important issue and it should be solved by the education experts and parents. Speculations around Russian language schools will draw away attention from other important problems in the education system. Vesti Segodnya

• First new solemn ceremony on granting Latvian citizenship to persons who went through the naturalisation process conducted on 21 February
• Congress of Non-Citizens timed discussed education in ethnic minority schools in Latvia
• Conference about historical developments and the current situation of languages in Latvia

Latvijas Avize reports about the first new solemn ceremony on granting Latvian citizenship to persons who went through the naturalisation process. The Ceremony was conducted in the building of the Latvian Parliament. The Chairperson of the Saeima Solvita Aboltina in her speech at the ceremony said that citizenship is not only a legal act and passport – it is much closer sense of belonging and confidence that a person wants and can live in this country. The new citizens gave a solemn promise which says that they will be loyal to Latvia, protect Latvian independence, strengthen Latvian language as the only state language, live and work honestly in order to enhance welfare of the state and people.

Vesti Segodnya reports about the session of the Congress of Non-Citizens timed to the international Day of Native Language. The main issue for discussions was education in ethnic minority schools in Latvia. According to one of the leaders of the Congress Elizabete Krivcova, 40% of ethnic minorities in Latvia are non-citizens and as they do not have political rights they cannot impact the government including issues concerning education of their children. As education is one of the key aspects for preservation of ethnic identity, the government plans to switch national minority schools into Latvian language is very important issue and the Congress will use non-violent methods of protests against it.

Forum “For Progress in Latvia” organised a scientific-practical conference “Native Word Preserves Culture” on 21 February in Riga. The participants discussed historical developments and the current situation of Russian and Latvian languages and cultures in Latvia. Co-chairman of Latvian Human Rights Committee Vladimirs Buzaevs highlighted statistics to show the competitiveness of minorities in Latvia decreased since 2004 (transition of 60% of subjects in minority schools to Latvian language of instruction) and reminded that during the Soviet era, the Minister of Education Ina Druviete studied in school in Latvian. Vesti Segodnya

• Opinion survey: 41% of respondents support transition of education in ethnic minority schools into Latvian language

According to a public opinion survey conducted by a research company “Snapshots”, 41% of respondents support transition of education in ethnic minority schools into Latvian language. 32% do not support such reform believing that it would be discrimination of ethnic minorities. 11% believe that such reform will not change anything as schools will continue to educate in convenient language. weekly Setsdiena

 

• MPs discussed results of a research “State Language Proficiency Testing in Latvia (2001-2012)”
• All groups of free-of-charge Latvian language courses in Riga filled in three days

Vesti Segodnya reports that yesterday, the Saeima’s Society Consolidation Committee discussed results of a research “State Language Proficiency Testing in Latvia (2001-2012).” According to the statistics, 90,883 persons got tested for Latvian language proficiency from 2001 to 2012, and 9,625 persons in 2013. The biggest number of persons who received state language proficiency certificates was in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, more than 10,000 people got tested. Such record is connected with the economic crisis when many people lost their job and needed language proficiency certificate in order to find a new job. The MPs noted that many ethnic non-Latvians have the certificate yet cannot speak Latvian and discussed whether such people should be retested. The representative of the State Language Centre Antons Kursitis said that the main problem regarding language issues in Latvia is self-sufficiency of Russian language. Mr Kursitis said that the way how to solve the existing situation is transfer all state funded education into Latvian language only.

All groups of free-of-charge Latvian language courses funded by the Riga City Council got filled in three days. As reported, the City Council granted funding for Latvian language courses for 1,200 Riga residents. Latvijas Avize

• Two years passed since the referendum on granting Russian language status of a state language in Latvia
• „Russian Dawn” prepares an initiative for national referendum aimed at solving problems of Russian speaking residents
• Governing coalition suspended the draft amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating punishment for public denial of USSR and Nazi German aggression against Latvia

Newspapers reports that today, a two-year mark has passed since the referendum on granting Russian language the status of a state language in Latvia.  According to Vesti Segodnya, the referendum resulted in toughening of some legal requirements.  For instance, the Saeima made more complicated a procedure on initiating of national referendum; the Labour Law was amended with prohibition to indicate in a job announcement requirements for foreign language proficiency without good reasons.  Moreover, the new governing coalition agreed about transition of education in ethnic minority schools into Latvian language starting with 2018. Latvijas Avize interviews politicians and experts on what is their opinion about the consequences of the referendum. Thus, the ex-Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis says that following the referendum, the government has elaborated a program for upcoming years and granted funding in amount of more than 1 million euros for Latvian language courses, cooperation with NGOs, elaboration of materials about Latvian language to ethnic minority schools; and for support of TV programs about history. Mr Dombrovskis believes that the referendum resulted in the biggest discussion about fundamental values for Latvia during the last 20 years and helped residents to understand their duties before the state and nation.  The MP Raivis Dzintars (nationalists union) believes the referendum showed how big is potential of its initiators to mobilise ideologically part of the Latvian society. He also believes that in order to prevent such initiatives in future the government at least should introduce patriotic education program in schools, adopt the “brave” Preamble to the Constitution, or to prohibit discrimination of those who are not proficient in Russian. A well-known writer and journalist Marina Kostonecka believes that the referendum was a huge provocation and the main aim of its initiators was to draw attention at problems ethnic Russian residents have in general, however, the politicians did nothing to find the real reasons and decrease the split in the society.

The movement „Russian Dawn” and its leaders Illarions Girs and Jevgenijs Osipovs are preparing an initiative for national referendum aimed at solving problems of Russian speaking residents of Latvia. “Russian Dawn” will demand for restoration of education in Russian language as it existing before 2004; for depoliticization of naturalisation process, for recognition of non-Latvian names in native transliteration (without Latvianisation), for giving status of bank holidays to Christian Orthodox celebrations; for street signs in Russian language in regions densely populated by non-Latvians. According to “Russian Dawn” such legal initiative does not require amendments in the Constitution of Latvia and it should be supported by 229,429 persons. Vesti Segodnya

The governing coalition suspended the draft amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating punishment for public denial of USSR and Nazi German aggression against Latvia, for justification, glorification or for malicious, rude or offensive attempt to question the fact of aggression. According to a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such amendments are not coordinated with the bodies defending Latvia in international institutions and those were not evaluated in accordance with the court practice of the European Court of Human Rights.