• 35,7% of Latvian residents who speak Russian language in family do not see justifications for Russia’s actions in Ukraine
• Latvijas Avize prints comments of the Concord Centre’s politicians about the position of local Russians regarding possible Russia’s aggression against Latvia
• Well-know Russian stand-up comedian and writer Mihail Zadornov might be deprived of residence permit in Latvia
• Forum of parents representing ethnic minority students scheduled for 12 April
• Headquarters for the Support of Russian Language Schools prepared its demands on education in ethnic minority schools
• Vladimirs Buzajevs: the language reform in ethnic minority schools is initiated by the nationalists because students of Russian language schools show better results

According to a public opinion survey conducted by SKDS, 35,7% of Latvian residents who speak Russian language in family do not see justifications for Russia’s actions in Ukraine, while 43,1% believe that there are grounds for such actions. Among Latvian language speaking residents, 78,3%  do not see justification and only 7,7% see it. Diena

Latvijas Avize prints comments of the Concord Centre’s politicians about the position of local Russians regarding possible Russia’s aggression against Latvia. The politicians believe that a question about theoretical Russia’s aggression is provocative. Thus, the MP Igors Pimenovs believes that local Russian residents are a resource for Latvia and not a “fifth column” and those who serve in Latvia’s military forces will act according to the oath they gave. The MP Andrejs Klementjevs does not see any connection between Crimea and Baltic states and says that local Russians would fight for Latvia as a country but not for its government because for all past 20 years people integrated into the society, but into the state. Mr Klementjevs also believes that young people do not feel attached to the USSR unlike 60-80 years old people who were young during the Soviet era.

The Saeima’s Consolidation Committee forwarded to the Ministry of Interior a letter asking to check whether publications of well-know Russian stand-up comedian and writer Mihail Zadornov incite ethnic hatred. The MPs received complaint from a Latvian resident who requested to revoke M. Zadornov’s residence permit in Latvia because he supported reunion of Crimea with Russia. Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Vesti Segodnya reports about a forum of parents representing ethnic minority students scheduled for 12 April in Riga. An organiser of the forum Konstantins Cekusins wants to mobilize parents with an aim to create a mechanism for realisation of parents’ rights to impact decision making process in education and to show that they are the main customers of education.

Before a protest action against transfer of education in ethnic minority schools into Latvian language scheduled for today, the Headquarters for the Support of Russian Language Schools prepared its demands. The Headquarters demand to exclude from the government’s and governing coalition’s documents plans for language transition in minority schools; to cancel all legal restrictions to study in Russian language at the same time ensuring high quality Latvian language learning; on the basis of pre-war Latvia's experience to introduce a norm obliging the municipality to open class with minority language of instruction if certain number of parents demand so; to restore the practice of separate education programs and separate centralised examination for graduates of Latvian language and ethnic minority schools; to abolish the legal norms which discriminate against the graduates of ethnic minority schools comparing to graduates of Latvian language schools; to ensure high quality preparation of teachers for ethnic minority schools funded by the state. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports about a research on the results of centralised examination in Latvian language schools and ethnic minority schools ordered by the Ministry of Education in 2009. According to an activist for support of Russian language schools Vladimirs Buzajevs, results of the research clearly reveal that students of ethnic minority schools showed better results in all subjects than students of Latvian language schools from 2006 to 2009 or before the introduction of the common centralised examination in Latvian language for all schools. V. Buzajevs believes that the fact that graduates of ethnic minority schools have better results is the real reason why nationalists proposed to transfer education into Latvian language.

 

• Neatkariga reports about a discussion about Roma education in Latvia
• Saeima’s sub-committee on patriotic education met with representatives of Russian language media in Latvia
• Union of Citizens and Non-citizens reminds Russia’s and European Ombudsmen about non-citizens in Latvia

Neatkariga reports about a discussion about Roma education in Latvia held on the International Roma Day. According to a researcher of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Sigita Zankovska-Odina, the reasons why Roma situation does not improve over years are the lack of long-term development program for support of Roma in municipalities and the lack of comprehensive approach for support of teachers, as well as insufficient number of Roma teacher’s assistants who can help Roma children to adapt to unusual environment and language. Another great concern is the fact that about quarter of Roma children study according to special programmes or even in special schools. Thus, Roma are often put in correctional classes due to insufficient Latvian language proficiency, misbehaviour and ethnic peculiarities. These obstacles result in the fact that many Roma students leave schools and later cannot find jobs.

The Saeima’s sub-committee on patriotic education met with representatives of Russian language media in Latvia. Participants of the discussion were asked to give their opinion on how to strengthen belonging of local ethnic minorities to Latvian state and whether private media should also be engaged in such mission. Media representatives stressed that they all want that Latvia becomes prosperous country and that all Latvian residents regardless of their native language and ethnicity see Latvia as their motherland. Journalists from TV channel LTV7 which broadcasts news in Russian language mentioned the lack of state funding as a factor hindering attraction of a larger audience. Head of the public television LTV Ivars Belte said that there is no clear state media policy and communication strategy with Russian speakers. Mr Belte also proposed to establish a united Baltic TV Channel in Russian language which would be funded by Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia and would be able to compete with Russia’s channels. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize  

Head of the Union of Citizens and Non-citizens Vladimirs Sokolovs sent letters to the Russia’s Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin and Ella Pamfilova and European Ombudsman Emilie O’Reilly reminding about the large scale non-citizenship in Latvia. V. Sokolovs stresses that these people committed no crime, yet were collectively stripped of their voting rights and now the non-citizens are neither citizens, nor foreigners, nor stateless persons, thus a category, unknown in public international law. Vesti Segodnya

• Latvijas Avize prints an article about Roma in Latvia
• 70 % of Latvian residents do not support ban of the First Baltic Channel
• Governing coalition conceptually supported proposal of the nationalists’ union to suspend the issuing of residence permits to third country nationals
• Anthropological research “What is happening in Russian schools” is to be conducted
• Another protest action of language reform in minority schools will be held on 10 April

Latvijas Avize prints an article about Roma in Latvia. Several events will be held in Latvia today on the International Roma Day such with an aim to attract attention on Roma genocide during WWII and long-term discrimination and possible ways to stop it. Social scientist Deniss Kretalovs says that the main problem of Roma is lack of education and comprehension of why education is important. Only 0,8% of Roma have higher education, 3% have professional secondary education and about 10% secondary education. Other Roma have either primary education or less than four classes or they do not even indicate the level of education. No other ethnic minority group in Latvia demonstrates such low level of education, says D. Kretalovs.  The newspaper also notes that according to Central Statistic Bureau, about 3,6% of Roma are illiterate. Many of Roma illiterates are ashamed to acknowledge this fact. Currently, an NGO “ADRA Latvia” conducts in Sabile (town in the western part of Latvia which also has a high number of Roma residents) courses for Roma teaching them how to read and write. There are also discussions about whether special Roma classes are permissible or not and how to stimulate Roma children to continue their education.

According to a public opinion survey conducted by SKDS, 70 % of Latvian residents do not support ban on broadcasting of the First Baltic Channel (mainly retranslates programs of the Russia’s 1st Channel) in Latvia. Ban of the channel does not support 90% of Russian speakers and 57% of ethnic Latvians. 14% of respondents support such ban. As reported, the National Council on Electronic Mass Media already banned retranslation of a TV channel “Rossija – RTR Planeta” for three months in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the governing coalition conceptually agreed to support proposal of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia/FF-LNIM to grant the government the right to suspend for a time issuing of residence permits to third country nationals. According to the Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma, the proposal most likely will relate to specific group of persons for non-EU countries without mentioning any specific country. Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

An association “Ascendum” granted funding in amount of EUR 2,585 for anthropological research “What is happening in Russian schools.” The aim of the research is to find students’ thoughts about their schools and future perspectives in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

The Headquarters for Defence of Russian Language Schools is organising one more protest action for preservation of education in Russian language in Latvia. The action will be held on 10 April in Riga. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

• Neatkariga interviews two directors of Riga Russian language schools
• 24 year old woman who cannot find job in Riga because of insufficient Russian language proficiency

Neatkariga interviews two directors of Riga Russian language schools about results and problems of ethnic minority education program and planned for 2018 language reform in minority schools. Both directors complain about the lack of human resources and, in particular, lack of young teachers able to work in bilingual environment. The directors say that topical issue is also quality of Latvian language teaching and curriculum as the existing curriculum does not promote high quality og Latvian language learning especially in secondary schools. The directors also worry that many graduates choose to emigrate from Latvia and to study in foreign higher education establishments because they don’t see their future in Latvia.

Vesti Segodnya reports about a complaint of a 24 year old woman who cannot find job in Riga because of insufficient Russian language proficiency. The woman complaints that she has been to several job interviews but everywhere she was required Russian language proficiency. Commenting the situation, representative of the State Language Centre Antons Kursitis says the Centre regularly receives complaints on unreasonable requirements for Russian language proficiency and believes it is a reason why young people emigrate from Latvia.

• President of Latvia Andris Berzins asked the Patriarch Cyril of the Russian Orthodox Church to postpone his visit to Latvia
• Latvijas Avize questions leaders of Russian NGOs in Latvia how they evaluate events in Ukraine and how would local Russians react on similar Russia’s intervention to Latvia
• National Council on Electronic Mass Media will restrict retranslation of the Russia’s TV channel “Rossija RTR”

The President of Latvia Andris Berzins sent a letter to the Patriarch Cyril of the Russian Orthodox Church asking to postpone his visit to Latvia planned in May. Such proposal is based on recent situation in Ukraine and Crimea and Russia’s intervention. According to MP Dzintars Zakis (Unity), such decision in right because the Patriarch Cyril is approached to Kremlin and refusal to his visit is similar to refusal to Russia’s officials. Mr Zakis also believes that Russia may use this case to stress repeatedly intolerance towards Russian speakers, Orthodox believers and Russian citizens in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya, Neatkariga, Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize questions leaders of Russian NGOs in Latvia how they evaluate events in Ukraine and how would local Russians react on similar Russia’s intervention to Latvia. All NGOs representatives do not believe that Russia would intervene to Latvia, but also doubt that local Russian residents would fight against Russians and rather would take neutral position.  According to the head of the Latvian Russians Society Valerijs Kravcovs, Russians who are Latvian citizens would not support such actions but it would be naive to expect that 300,000 Latvian non-citizens would defend Latvia.

Vesti Segodnya reports that Russian State Duma supported in the first reading a draft law stipulating easier procedure on granting Russian citizenship to recognized Russian speakers. Such amendments would refer to foreigners if they or their close blood relatives lived in Russia, including in the former Russian empire and the USSR.

The National Council on Electronic Mass Media (NCEMM) took a decision to restrict retranslation of the Russia’s TV channel “Rossija RTR” for three months. The NCEMM does not provide official argumentation for such decision yet. The NCEMM evaluates also the content of broadcasts of other Russia’s TV channel retranslated in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya, Neatkariga