• Ombudsman Juris Jansons proposes to conduct a consultative referendum about accommodation of refugees in Latvia
• Interview with the head of the Riga Office of the International Organisation for Migration Ilmars Mezs about possible accommodation of asylum seekers in Latvia

The Ombudsman Juris Jansons proposes to conduct a consultative referendum about accommodation of refugees in Latvia. The Ombudsman believes that democratic state should listen to the society’s opinion on such issues. Head of the Saeima’s Foreign Affairs Committee, MP Ojars Eriks Kalnins (Unity) does not see the necessity for such referendum and believes that it is rather important to inform the society about the European migration policy and its impact. He stresses that so far there were too many emotional slogans about this issue and no serious discussion about the accommodation of refugees for the larger public. Mr Kalnins also says that it is dangerous to take decision on difficult political issues through public survey if residents have not profoundly explored the issue. The MP Rihards Kols (National Union) does not support such referendum but believes that it would be enough with a public opinion survey showing negative attitude of residents towards the issue. Expert on the constitutional rights Edgars Pastars believes that issue on accommodation of refugees should be decided by the government as it is related to the international humanitarian obligations. Latvijas Avize

Diena interviews the head of the Riga Office of the International Organisation for Migration Ilmars Mezs about possible accommodation of asylum seekers inLatvia. Mr Mezs stresses that people often confuse who are illegal immigrants and who are asylum seekers or refugees. It is obligation of the society to rescue refugees and no one demandsLatvia to accommodate illegal immigrants, says Mr Mezs. He agree that Latvia should take fair part in the refugee burden that the other European countries face. However, he does not agree to the number of asylum seekers to be accommodated in Latvia as proposed by the European Commission. Ilmars Mezs believes that such number (737 – refugees per year) is too high andLatvia will not manage it. He says that even thoughEUR 6,000 will be granted for each accommodated asylum seeker, it will not be enough because about a third of this amount or up to a half, most likely, will be spent on administrative costs. And afterEUR 6,000 are spent, the Latvian budget or tax payers will be forced to ensure provision for them. He also doubts that the persons accommodated in Latvia will successful in integrating in the labour market even after two or three years. “Many of them, especially, those who come from African countries, will not have any education, there will be many illiterates who will be able to work only the least qualified jobs” says Ilmars Mezs. According to Mr. Mezs, most of those refugees who already live in Latvia, are not able to integrate into the labour market and to provide for themselves also after a year or two spent in Latvia, and big share of those who received refugee status in Latvia are already living in some rich West European counties.  Mr Mezs also says that the benefits for the refugees should be comparable to the standard of living of the poorest Latvian residents. Refugee quotas would also facilitate the business of trafficking in human beings, believes Mr. Mezs. As the possible solution of the issue, Ilmars Mezs proposes that Latvia as a pilot-project could try to accommodate 50-100 persons and to see whether after a year or two the majority of them is well integrated, ensures provisions for themselves and families and after that to consider whether the number proposed by the European Commission in feasible for Latvia. 

• Members of the National Union propose to switch education in national minority schools into Latvian language only
• Vesti Segodnya: Latvian government uses the fact of Russian minority as an argument for not accepting refugees

The MPs, members of the National Union (NU), at a meeting with the Minister of Education Marite Seile proposed to switch education in national minority schools to Latvian language only. Leader of the NU Raivis Dzintars said that it is possible to discuss terms and methods of the transition but it is important to make it done. R. Dzintars argued the bilingual education system is not effective, does not promote united nation, and is too expensive. The Minister of Education, in her turn, reminded that the coalition’s declaration and other basic documents do not foresee liquidation of bilingual education system. The Minister said that the discussions about the education quality in bilingual schools will continue in January 2016 after the completion of a research on education quality. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya stresses that in order to justify its position against the mandatory accommodation of refugees the government uses the argument that there is already a large Russian minority in Latvia. As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted the state’s position regarding the migration programme proposed by the European Commission, according to which Latvia does not support mandatory refugee quota system because of historical aspects, ethnic divisions, and the fact that Latvia technically is not ready to accept several hundreds of refugees. 

• Diena prints an article about racism in Latvia
• Annual Report 2014 of the Security Police focuses on activities of Russia’s special services and so-called movement of Russia’s compatriots in Latvia

Diena prints an article about racism inLatvia. Two Indian students in an interview with the newspaper say that they quite often face discrimination and racist incidents inLatvia and those incidents affect also their study process. “We have experienced an instance of two young men coming to us at a bus stop and pushing us away from it. We have to avoid walking through certain places – the most dangerous is the district around the central station. We never walk alone: it would be a suicide - if not physical, than moral” – say the foreign students. They also tell about discrimination cases and fraud in apartment renting. The students complain that police do not take seriously their complaints. The number of foreign students for the past few years has grown by about one third, reaching 5,000. Representative of theRigaStradinsUniversity confirms that complaints about racist and discriminatory incidents are received regularly. Mostly the complaints come from dark skinned students citizens of the EU who were denied entry to night clubs, restaurants, pushed or attacked physically, shouted at or threatened. While opinion polls also indicate incidence of racist crimes, the majority of such cases remain unreported to the police. Also the Ombudsman’s Office and the Latvian Centre for Human Rights receive few complaints a year.

Newspapers report about the Annual Report 2014 of the Security Police. The report mainly focuses on the activities of Russia’s special services and so-called movement of Russia’s compatriots in Latvia. The report describes in details activities of several Russian non-governmental organisation and informal groups. The report names the most active persons who work on promotion of Russia’s policy on compatriots and supports Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. The report mentions such organisations as the Congress of Non-Citizens and its leaders Aleksandrs Gaponenko, Elizabete Krivcova, the Anti-fascists Committee and its leaders Josifs Korens and Janis Kuzins, the Russian Dawn and its leaders Illarions Girs and Jebgenijs Osipovs, and others, including the MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka and National Bolshevik Vladimirs Lindermans. According to the report, it is officially known about five Latvian residents who joined separatists in the Eastern Ukraine and two who travelled to Syriato join ISIS. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

• Cabinet of Ministers adopted the state’s position regarding the migration programme proposed by the European Commission
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about Einars Graudins who is often presented in the Russia’s and Latvia’s Russian language media as political scientist

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted the state’s position regarding the migration programme proposed by the European Commission. According to the Minister of Interior Rihards Kozlovskis, Latviais against introduction of the mandatory refugee quota system; instead, Latviasupports voluntary principle of accommodation of asylum seekers. At the same time, the Minister stressed that Latviasupports strengthening of the cooperation in issues related to migration and it already takes active part in the FRONTEX operations for protection and monitoring of the EU external borders. Access to the official state position document is restricted. However, it is known that the position mentioned various obstacles for accommodation of refugees according to the proposed quotas, such as historical aspects, ethnic divisions, and the fact that Latviatechnically is not ready to accept several hundreds of refugees. As reported, the initial proposal of the European Commission foresees that Latviawill have to accommodate 737 asylum seekers and refugees. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an article about Einars Graudins who is often presented in theRussia’s andLatvia’s Russian language media as political scientist. According to the newspaper, E.Graudins has served in the USSR and Latvia’s army, worked in one of the media company, been a member of different political parties and unsuccessfully several times ran for elections. For the past couple of years he got actively involved in the activities of the unregistered organisation “Non-Citizens Congress” and is the member of its board. He is often seen as a spokesperson in differentRussia’s media commenting issues regarding Latvian non-citizens andUkraine. Journalist of a former Russian language newspaper “Chas” Igors Vatolins commenting E.Graudins’ activities says that he is well demanded expert for Russia’s media as he is ethnic Latvian who expresses the necessary opinion and supports Vladimir Putin’s policy. 

• Minister of the Interior: number of supporters to the leaders of so-alled “persons not loyal towards Latvia” does not grow
• Vesti Segodnya reports about the damage to a poster of the Slavic culture foundation 

According to the Minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis, the Security Police pays special attention to the leaders of so-called “persons not loyal towards Latvia.” The Minister also said that the number of supporters to these persons does not grow and the activities of such persons are funded by the Russia’s foundation. Vesti Segodnya  

Vesti Segodnya reports about the damage of a poster of a charity humanitarian foundation “Sofia” in Jurmala (town near Riga). The poster was painted with statements written in Latvian language such as “Latvia for ethnic Latvians” and “Go home!” Head of the foundation believes that the damage to the poster might be an action aimed at incitement of ethnic hatred because the activities of the foundation are aimed at support of preservation of Slavic culture and national minority schools.