• There are 1,295,345 ethnic Latvians and 582,998 ethnic Russians living in Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya interviews director of the only Russian language secondary school in Valmiera

According to the Register of Residents, there are 1,295,345 ethnic Latvians and 582,998 ethnic Russians living in Latvia. 181,785 ethnic Russian residents have the status of non-citizen. There are also 713 ethnic Latvians non-citizens. Among representatives of other ethnicities there are 73,442 Belorussians, 52,274 Ukrainians, 47,947 Polish, 27,778 Lithuanians, 8,972 Jews, 8,069 Roma, 864 Chinese and others. In Riga, there are 300,753 ethnic Latvians, 276,623 ethnic Russians, 26,079 Ukrainians, and 27,583 Belorussians. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya interviews director of the only Russian language secondary school in Valmiera (city in the Northern part of Latvia). Valmiera is one of the most ethnic Latvian cities in Latvia. There are 270 students in the school. Russian language kindergarten is also located in the same building. According to the director, Russian speaking kids from all Vidzeme region study in the school as it is the only Russian secondary school in the region. However, travelling to Valmiera requires financial expenses and not all parents can afford it. The director says that local Russians living in the mostly ethnic Latvian environment are perfectly proficient in Latvian language but they also want to keep their ethnic identity, therefore, choose the Russian language school for their children.

• “SKDS” published a government commissioned survey of Latvia’s ethnic minorities “Sense of Belonging to Latvia”
• Cabinet of Ministers tasks the ministries with the preparation of proposals for measures aimed at the consolidation of the society

The market and public opinion research centre “SKDS” launched a government commissioned survey of Latvia’s ethnic minorities “Sense of Belonging to Latvia.” According to the survey, the number of respondents who agree with the statement “I am proud of being a Latvian citizen/resident” has grown compared with the results of surveys conducted in previous years. In 2014 58% agree with the statement compared with 35% in 2009. As to the most topical problems 38% of respondents mention issues of social security and social policy, 34,4% - unemployment, 26,5 % - raising of living standards, 19% - health care, 17,5%  – economic development, 13,8% - financial policy, 13,3% - citizenship and ethnic issues, etc. 20,7%  respondents claim their knowledge of Latvian is excellent, 27,6% - as good, 27,5% - as satisfactory, 18,8% - as poor, and 4,2% do not know any Latvian. Only 11,3% of those ethnic minorities who are not Latvian citizens plan to naturalise within the next 12 months, while 80% have no such plans. Respondents mention lack of motivation, age, poor Latvian language proficiency as the main reasons for not obtaining Latvian citizenship. In evaluating the events aimed at the promotion of consolidation of the society, 79% of respondents (who were aware about the following events) positively evaluated Latvian language courses, 77% - events for children (camps, competitions etc), 65% broadcasting of important events on LTV7 and Latvian Radio Channel 4 in Russian, 55% support to ethnic minority NGOs aimed at the preservation of cultural and ethnic identity, 50% day or festival of ethnic minorities, 49% bilingual education in schools, and 46% - the solemn ceremony on granting Latvian citizenship. The majority of respondents or 41% in evaluating the conflict between the Ukraine and Russia stated that they do not support any of the sides, while 36% support Russia, and 15% Ukraine. In responding to the question as to what ethnic Latvians should do to promote the consolidation of the society, the most frequent answers were: the government should stop provoking and splitting people (13%); to be friendly, responsive, kind, appreciative (11%); both sides should make concessions, unite, and not split the society (8%.) The survey was conducted in May and June 2014. 800 ethnic minority respondents took part in the survey – 68,9% of them were Russians, 11,4% Belorussians, 7,2% Ukrainians, 5,8% Polish, and 6,6% representatives of other ethnic group.

Full text of the survey is available in Latvian at: http://www.mk.gov.lv/sites/default/files/editor/atskaite_piederiba_08_2014.pdf

In response to the survey, the Cabinet of Ministers has tasked the ministries with the preparation of proposals how to ensure free Latvian language courses, increase motivation for obtaining Latvian citizenship, improve availability of information in Latgale (Eastern Latvia), government communication that encourages the sense of belonging to Latvia, and other measures for the consolidation of the society. The Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma highlighted the fact that 64% of ethnic minorities are Latvian patriots as a good indicator also acknowledging the need for considerable work in furthering integration.

Official press release by the Cabinet of Ministers available in English at: http://www.mk.gov.lv/en/aktualitates/government-urges-strengthen-national-minorities-sense-belonging-latvia

• National Council on Electronic Mass Media plans to establish a studio of Latvian Radio in Latgale
• The MP Dzintars Abikis: transition of ethnic minority schools into Latvian language should be implemented quietly

According to the National Council on Electronic Mass Media, EUR 187,684 required for establishment of a studio of Latvian Radio in Latgale (eastern region of Latvia.) The special studio is needed in order to ensure broadcast of Latvian Radio in Latgale region thus strengthening informative space in border areas, sense of belonging to the state, national identity and promoting consolidation of the society. Latvijas Avize

The MP Dzintars Abikis (the Unity) believes that members of the nationalists’ union make too much noise about transition of ethnic minority schools into Latvian language. Instead of that, Mr Abikis considers that everything should be done quietly through methodical and persistent work.  Other MP Janis Urbanovics (the Concord Centre), in his turn, advises Mr Abikis to leave alone the issue of education system arguing that graduates of ethnic minority schools have no problems with Latvian language proficiency and stressing that the main problem is not in language but in funding for education.

• Vesti Segodnya interviews head of the Latvian Roma Community Normunds Rudevics about plans to open a Roma village in Latvia
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with a political scientist Juris Rozenvalds
• Vesti Segodnya reports about a conference of Russian compatriots “Russian World in Latvia and Challenges of XXI Century”
• Political scientists Edvins Snore: the biggest Latvia’s problem is too big proportion of Russian speaking residents
• Author of a book “Russification” Antons Rancans: Russians have robbers’ gene in mentality and mostly, they were created not for work, but for robbery
• The most popular parties in August: the Concord, the Unity and the Union of Greens and Farmers

Vesti Segodnya interviews the head of the Latvian Roma Community Normunds Rudevics who plans to open a Roma village in Latvia. Mr Rudevics plans to receive funding from the European Union grants in amount of 35-40 millions euros for establishment of a village where Roma people would live and work. In such a village residents would follow ancient Roma traditions and laws. Mr Rudevics says that Latvian municipalities would also help in establishing such village by providing land and ensuring infrastructure.  He also says that such village will be open not only for ethnic Roma but for all people who are ready to live in accordance with Roma traditions.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with a political scientist Juris Rozenvalds. According to Mr Rozenvalds, events in Ukraine actualize ethnic issues in Latvia, but the root of the problem is in Latvian society. Mr Rozenvalds believes that the problem of ethnic relations in Latvia should be solved by finding rational solution or through centrist political force. He believes that a relation between Russians and Latvians is a matter of further economic development and competitiveness of the state. Pushing political representatives of Russian speaking voters into eternal opposition decreases political competition and, as an outcome, some political parties feel irreplaceable increasing tensions in the government and decreasing its ability to implement sustainable policy, says Mr Rozenvalds. He also says that recent public opinion survey shows that the majority of Latvian and Russian speaking residents are minded to look for compromise. But, the political elite uses more radical moods.  

Vesti Segodnya reports about a conference of Russian compatriots “Russian World in Latvia and Challenges of XXI Century” held in Riga. The conference was opened by the Russia’s Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov telling about situation in Ukraine and Russophobic mood towards Russia. The MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka stressed discrimination of Russian residents in Latvia. Head of Latvia Anti-fascist Committee Josefs Korens came with a speech about development of Nazism in Latvian internal policy.

Political scientist and a candidate for the Parliament’s elections from the nationalists’ union list Edvins Snore in an interview with a weekly magazine “Sestdiena” stated that the biggest Latvia’s problem is too big proportion of Russian speaking residents. E.Snore said that Latvian state should promote repatriation of Russian speakers, otherwise Russia can use that in arranging same events as in Ukraine. 

Neatkariga interviews author of a new book “Russification” (“Krievošana” – in Latvian) Antons Rancans. Accoridng to him, the book shows that there is robbers’ gene in mentality of Russians and the rest of it is “idle talk.” A. Rancans believes that past events show that Russians were robbing and now they continue to do it and says that mostly, “they are were created not for work but for robbery.” He also blames Russians in Russification of residents of Latgale region. Neatkariga (22.08), Vesti Segodnya

According to the latest public opinion survey conducted by “Latvijas fakti”, the most popular party in Latvia is the Concord – 21,1% of residents would vote for it at the upcoming Saeima’s elections (in July its was supported by 18,1%.) The Unity is supported by 17,3% (16,4% in July), the Union of Greens and Farmers us supported by 8,2% (9,9% in July), and the nationalists’ union All for Latvia/FF-LNIM by 5,8% (6,1% in July.) Other parties are supported by less than 5% of residents. Latvijas Avize

• Rezekne City Council plans to grant funding for publication of a book about warriors of the Red Army who died or lived in Latvia
• Radical nationalist Aivars Slucis calls Latvia to start preparing for war with Russia

Latvijas Avize reports that the Rezekne City Council plans to grant EUR 3800 for publication of a book about warriors of the Red Army who died on Latvia’s territory in 1944-1945 and lived in Latvia after the WWII. Currently, the book is planned to be issued only in Russian language. One of the members of the City Council Jazeps Korsaks is against publication of such book as to his opinion “it idealizes the Red Army and may mislead the new generation about history.” However, the Mayor of Rezekne Aleksandrs Bartasevics does not agree that the book glorifies occupation regime. The Mayor says that the book in a neutral language reflects biography of people who fought against fascism in Latvia and many of them are ethnic Latvians and that the book shall be issued in Latvian language as well.

Latvijas Avize again publishes the paid publication by well known Latvian radical nationalist living in the U.S.A. Aivars Slucis. In the publication, A.Slucis calls government to start preparing for war against Russia. Among the measures to be taken, he mentions: liquidate minority education; introduce mandatory military service; purchase guided missiles; develop defence industry; reduce the number of ethnic Russians (relocate to Russia or Western countries); build liquefied gas terminal, nuclear power plant, and energy bridge abroad.