• Ombudsman Juris Jansons presented the Annual Report 2012 to the MPs
• Vladimirs Lindermans and Jevgenijs Osipovs elected to the Parliament of Unrepresented

 Yesterday, the Ombudsman Juris Jansons presented its Annual Report 2012 at the Saeima’s plenary session. In the report, the Ombudsman concentrated more on social and economic rights in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya notes that the Ombudsman did not mention in the Report issues regarding status of Russian language and mass-scale non-citizenship, despite the language referendum held in February and scandal around refusal of the Central elections Committee to initiate referendum procedure on granting citizenship to all non-citizens. Latvijas Avize, in its turn, notes that the MPs from the Nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM criticized the Ombudsman for not mentioning issues regarding incitement of hatred and linguistic discrimination of ethnic Latvians.

30 members got elected in the Parliament of Unrepresented initiated by the Congress of Non-Citizens. 21 of 30 of the members are non-citizens. Among the elected members there are well known left-wing radicals – leaders of the party For Native Language Vladimirs Lindermans and Jevgenijs Osipovs, activist for non-citizens’ rights Aleksandrs Gaponenko, and the head of the Latvian Anti-Fascist Committee Josefs Korens. As reported, about 15,000 persons took part in the elections to the Parliament of Unrepresented. Diena

• General Prosecutor Eriks Kalnmeiers: the number of criminal proceedings on incitement to ethnic hatred grows

• Head of the Centre of Arabic Culture in Latvia Hosam Abu Meri: Muslim community in Latvia is very traditional
• About 15,000 Latvian residents took part in the elections to the Parliament of Unrepresented

 Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the General Prosecutor Eriks Kalnmeiers. According to Mr Kalnmeiers, the number of criminal proceedings on incitement to ethnic hatred grows in Latvia – there were six cases in 2009, seven cases in 2010, eleven cases in 2011, and 17-18 cases in 2012. The General Prosecutor explains the growing number of cases by more precise monitoring of hate speech and more strict approach for investigation of such cases. The main target groups of hate speech on the Internet are ethnic Latvians or Latvian state, ethnic Russians and Russian speakers, and Jews. There were also few cases of incitement to ethnic hatred against Arabs and Estonians. Mr Kalnmeiers believes that the roots of the hateful expressions mostly come from the past – Soviet occupation, repressions, deportations as these events left deep effect which still has an impact, and many identify the past Soviet regime with the present day Russian speakers. Mr Kalnmeiers suggests that those who disseminate hatred could be sent to history re-education lessons as part of the probation measures, similarly to traffic safety lessons, which are mandatory for those drivers, who made too many traffic violations. Mr Kalnmeiers also notes that there are cases when persons publish anonymous hateful expressions in the online discussions with an aim to provoke conflict among the internet users. For instance, there was a case when the authors of hateful expressions against ethnic Latvians were nationalistically minded ethnic Latvians.   

Head of the Centre of Arabic Culture in Latvia Hosam Abu Meri in an interview with Neatkariga denies the assertion made by the Security Police that Muslim community in Latvia might become more radical. Mr Abu Meri says that the Muslim community in Latvia is very traditional and formed by people without radical mindset – Arabs (the fewest number), Azerbaijanis, Tatars, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Chechens  - people who speak Russian and Latvian language with Latvian or the CIS countries’ mentality. Mr Abu Meri believes that Latvia does not have such a political impact worldwide to become a target of Islamic radicals. Mr Abu Meri also says that Latvia is not a traditional country of destination of immigrants from the Middle East because refugees and immigrants here do not have jobs and social benefits. Therefore large influx of immigrants from the Middle East is not expected in Latvia in the near 20-30 years.

According to the representative of the Congress of Non-Citizens Elizabete Krivcova, about 15,000 Latvian residents took part in the elections. About 10,000 voted at the polling stations and 5,000 on the Internet. The results of the election will be published soon. Vesti Segodnya

• Saeima’s sub-committee of patriotic education elaborates the state program on patriotic education in schools

The Saeima’s sub-committee of patriotic education forms a working group which will elaborate the state program on patriotic education in schools. According to the head of the sub-committee, MP Raivis Dzintars it is important to set the minimum of requirements for schools promoting patriotic education which would include obligatory celebration of certain days, topics for educative lessons, usage of state anthem and symbols. Mr Dzintras also considers that the program should determine what kind of information is allowed to be disseminated in schools and what guests are recommended to be invited to schools. Latvijas Avize, Diena, Vesti Segodnya

• Latvijas Avize: Russian youngsters give the official answer that Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union, but think differently
• NGO "Latgalian Parliament" suggests administrative changes and calls for support to Latgalian language
• Riga Council deputy Janis Martins Skuja (Democratic Patriots) referred to the Security Police the instance of reading a schoolbook issued in Russia
• Vesti Segodnya writes about a case of elderly non-citizen, who lost the plot of land she owned since 1986, ostensibly because of her status as a non-citizen

 

Latvijas Avize journalist attended the celebration of the end of the WWII or “Victory Day” on 9 May at the Monument to Liberators from Nazi Invaders, and interviewed local Russian youngsters, who attended the celebrations. According to the interviewees, the main reason why they participate in the event is that they would like to show their gratitude to the efforts made by the people during the war. The youngsters learned at school the official view that Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union, but disagree with it. When asked officially about occupation (such as during exams), they provide "correct" answer, because "we live in Latvia, therefore at school you should not speak what you think". It was also recommended to keep one's mouth shut, because for expressing the views, the youngsters could be put to jail. One of the youngsters stated that he does not oppose the occupation hypothesis, yet he is interested to learn various views. The interviewed also believe that those who celebrate 16 of March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires), should not be disturbed.

 

NGO "Latgales Saeima" (Latgalian Parliament) supports the regional unity of Latvia, and suggests the formation of "second-tier" municipalities, which would have more competences in economic, social, cultural and other issues, as well calls to reconsider recent territorial reform, whereby some Latgalian districts were included into Vidzeme and Zemgale regions. The "Latgales Saeima" calls to ensure that public funding on the permanent basis is also provided to Latgalian, including provision of education from kindergartens to universities and at least 2% of air time in the public media. Latvijas Avize

 

Riga city Council deputy Janis Martins Skuja (Democratic Patriots) referred to the Security Police the instance of using in school a book "Introduction to Political Science" issued in Russia. The director of the school pointed out that normally, the book is not used in the school, but an exception was made for two students, who have very weak Latvian language proficiency and were given to read one chapter of the book. Allegedly, the chapter explains the notion of ideologies and is similar in content with Latvian books. Latvijas Avize

 

Vesti Segodnya writes about a case of an elderly non-citizen, who lost the plot of land she owned since 1986, ostensibly because of her status as a non-citizen. 

• Neatkariga prints an interview with the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs about the results of the recent local elections

Neatkariga prints an interview with the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs. Commenting the success of the union of Concord Centre and the party Honour to Serve Riga (CC/HSR) at the local elections in Riga, Mr Usakovs says it shows that the ethnical voting has been overcome because many ethnic Latvians gave their votes to this union. Mr Usakovs notes that there is no ethnic division in the union of the CC/HSR as it has ethnic Latvian and ethnic Russian deputies. The Mayor agrees that the overwhelming majority of Russian speaking electorate gave their votes to the CC/HSR and explains it by the fact that other parties did not even try to address the Russian speakers.