• Latvijas Avize interviews new director of Social Integration and Policy Department of IUMSILS

Latvijas Avize interviews Juris Asars, recently nominated to the position of director of Social Integration and Policy Department of IUMSILS. One of the issues on the agenda of the new director is elaboration of Basic Principles of Society Integration Policy 2008-2018. His position is that there is one main group – ethnic Latvians, and we, Latvians, are doing all we can for you, Byelorussians and Russians, Ukrainians, to live here and feel like home, feel belonging to this state. Latvian language is the main principle for uniting the society, while expression of other ethnicities should not be prohibited. Mr.Asars also would like to know why the notions of inclusive society and multiculturalism have been included into the draft Basic Principles of Society Integration Policy 2008-2018 elaborated before his nomination to the office.

28 July 2008

28 July 2008

• Nils Usakovs on the growing popularity of the Concord Centre
• Language curiosity competition Think about how you talk! ended

Neatkarīgā Rīta Avīze interviewed Nils Usakovs, the leader of the Concord Centre (CC) about the popularity of the party (CC has for a long time been the most popular party in Latvia, supported by 10,5% of respondents in July), as well as about the referendum scheduled for 2 August 2008. N.Usakovs believes that the main factors determining rising popularity of the party are the growing popularity of the leftist, social-democratic ideas in Latvia and the fact that the CC is being formed as the first inter-ethnic political force, where ethnic Latvians and ethnic Russians are working together. Usakovs stated that taking into consideration fragmentation of the Parliament and the political sphere in general, right-wing parties will be forced to accept left-wing parties into governing coalitions in order to implement elements of left-wing policies.

Latvijas Avīze reports about the end of the language curiosity competition Think about how you talk!, organised by the State Language Agency (SLA) during 9-30 July 2008. The aim of the competition was to highlight the language used in everyday life. Language curiosities are available at SLA homepage www.valoda.lv.

• Discussions on the ECHR ruling in the case of Vasilijs Kononovs

Maris Riekstins, the Foreign Minister, believes that Latvia should appeal judgement in Kononovs’ case to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), because this ruling contradicts other judgements of the ECHR, such as cases against France, Germany and Estonia. Inga Reine, the Cabinet of Ministers’ Representative in International Human Rights Organizations also stated that in applying the time limit to the case, the Court ignored the fact that Latvian authorities were not able to start evaluation of Kononovs’ actions before 1991.

Maris Riekstins, the Foreign Minister, believes that Latvia should appeal judgement in Kononovs case to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), because this ruling contradicts other judgements of the ECHR, such as cases against France, Germany and Estonia. Inga Reine, the Cabinet of Ministers Representative in International Human Rights Organizations also stated that in applying the time limit to the case, the Court ignored the fact that Latvian authorities were not able to start evaluation of Kononovs actions before 1991. Diena, Latvijas Avīze

• European Court of Human Rights adopted a ruling in favour of a former Red Partisan Vasilijs Kononovs in his case against Latvia
• Riga Administrative District Court refused claim by Aleksandrs Kazakovs against the Ministry of Interior for his inclusion into the black-list

Yesterday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) adopted a ruling in favour of a former “Red Partisan” Vasilijs Kononovs in his case against Latvia and obliged Latvia to pay to Mr. Kononovs EUR 30,000 as moral compensation. As reported, in 2004, the Supreme Court of Latvia has found guilty Vasilijs Kononovs of committing war crimes in 1944 and sentenced him to 1 year and 8 months imprisonment. 84-years-old Vasilijs Kononovs complained that he was sentenced for offences which were not unlawful during the time they were made. Mr. Kononovs argued that the characterisation of his acts by the Latvian courts was based on an erroneous assumption that Latvia was at the time occupied by the USSR and that he was a representative of the occupation forces. He also complained about the length and unfairness of his trial and that his detention pending trial harmed his state of health.

Yesterday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) adopted a ruling in favour of a former Red Partisan Vasilijs Kononovs in his case against Latvia and obliged Latvia to pay to Mr. Kononovs EUR 30,000 as moral compensation. As reported, in 2004, the Supreme Court of Latvia has found guilty Vasilijs Kononovs of committing war crimes in 1944 and sentenced him to 1 year and 8 months imprisonment. 84-years-old Vasilijs Kononovs complained that he was sentenced for offences which were not unlawful during the time they were made. Mr. Kononovs argued that the characterisation of his acts by the Latvian courts was based on an erroneous assumption that Latvia was at the time occupied by the USSR and that he was a representative of the occupation forces. He also complained about the length and unfairness of his trial and that his detention pending trial harmed his state of health. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize, NRA

The Riga Administrative District Court has refused claim by an activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs against the Ministry of Interior for his inclusion into the list of persons whose entrance to Latvia is denied. Kazakovs claimed for moral compensation in amount of LVL 20,000 (EUR 28,457) from the Ministry for inclusion into the “black-list”.

The Riga Administrative District Court has refused claim by an activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs against the Ministry of Interior for his inclusion into the list of persons whose entrance to Latvia is denied. Kazakovs claimed for moral compensation in amount of LVL 20,000 (EUR 28,457) from the Ministry for inclusion into the black-list. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

• Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins supports action Guard your Language of the political party All for Latvia!
• Historian Inesis Feldamins: concentration camp organised by the Nazis in Salaspils was not a death camp

The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins supports action “Guard your Language” of the political party “All for Latvia!” As reported, “All for Latvia!” launched collection of signatures in support of full transition of all state funded schools to Latvian language starting from first grade. In a letter sent to “All for Latvia!”, the Minister voices his support for the action which draws attention on teaching in state language, language usage and control in Latvia.

The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins supports action Guard your Language of the political party All for Latvia! As reported, All for Latvia! launched collection of signatures in support of full transition of all state funded schools to Latvian language starting from first grade.In a letter sent to All for Latvia!, the Minister voices his support for the action which draws attention on teaching in state language, language usage and control in Latvia. Chas

Telegraf reports that historian Inesis Feldamins has stated that the concentration camp organised by the Nazis in Salaspils (town in the centre of Latvia) was not a death camp. According to Mr. Feldmanis, the number of victims died in Salaspils camp is also overestimated: instead of 100,000 people only about 2,000 died in Salaspils camp; about one thousand of the victims were Jews.