• Study: majority of ethnic Latvian students believe it is right that representatives of the second largest ethnic group in Latvia do not take part in decision making process
• Mother objects in the court the decision not to open the first grade with Russian language of instructions in Tukums

Vesti Segodnya reports about the results of an international study Divided Education – Divided Citizens held by the centre for public policy Providus and the Network of Education Policy Centres. According to the study, majority of ethnic Latvian students believe that situation when representatives of the second largest ethnic group in Latvia are excluded from the decision making process since the restoration of independence is right. Only 27,6% of ethnic Latvian students believe that opinion of representatives of other ethnic groups should be taken into account when deciding issues important for the state. 57,1% of teachers in Russian language schools believe that Russian youth has lower social status and fewer career opportunities than ethnic Latvian youth. The authors of the study consider that stereotypes about each other are the result of insufficient communication between Russian and Latvian students.

Telegraf reports that a mother of a child who was not accepted into the first grade class with Russian language of instructions in Tukums 3rd secondary school turned to the court asking to declare the decision invalid and to open the first grade. As reported, Tukums City Council refused to grant funding for new school year for the first grade class with Russian language of instructions in the 3rd secondary school which is the only school in the city with Russian language classes. Parents of other 14 children who enlisted to attend the class support the claim.

• Newspapers report on celebrations of 9 May – Victory Day in Latvia
• Riga City Council banned event of right wing radical organisation on 9 May; Administrative District Court allowed procession Latvias Russian March
• Chas: centre for illegal immigrants in Olaine is almost 100% full

Newspapers report on celebrations of 9 May – Victory Day in Latvia. Around 100,000 of people took part in the celebrations near the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. During the day, the police have detained more than 100 persons for breach of public order. The police also detained several Latvian National Bolsheviks for demonstration of Soviet flag as well as members of radical organisation National Power Union for demonstration of Swastika and insubordination to police. Three members of ethnic Latvian radical organisation Latvian National Front managed to lay flowers with crape beneath the Monument.

Newspapers report on celebrations of 9 May – Victory Day in Latvia. Around 100,000 of people took part in the celebrations near the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. During the day, the police have detained more than 100 persons for breach of public order. The police also detained several Latvian National Bolsheviks for demonstration of Soviet flag as well as members of radical organisation National Power Union for demonstration of Swastika and insubordination to police. Three members of ethnic Latvian radical organisation Latvian National Front managed to lay flowers with crape beneath the Monument. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena, NRA

On Friday, the Riga City Council banned the event “Red Army – Liberators or War Criminals” planned to be held by the radical organisation National Power Union in Riga on 9 May. At the same time, the Administrative District Court cancelled the decision of the City Council to ban the Latvia’s Russian March in Riga on 9 May.

On Friday, the Riga City Council banned the event Red Army – Liberators or War Criminals planned to be held by the radical organisation National Power Union in Riga on 9 May. At the same time, the Administrative District Court cancelled the decision of the City Council to ban the Latvias Russian March in Riga on 9 May. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena, NRA

Chas reports that flow of illegal migrants to Latvia has noticeably increased since Latvia joined the Schengen agreement. According to the newspaper, the centre for illegal immigrants in Olaine is almost 100% full because the investigation and expulsion process takes long time.

• Survey: 53% of Russian speaking residents and 78% of Latvian speakers consider themselves as Latvias patriots

According to a public opinion survey held by “SKDS”, only 25% of Latvian residents stated that they are “definitely patriots of Latvia” and 42% stated that they are “somewhat patriotic” towards this country, while 25% stated they are “not patriots”. 78% of Latvian speakers and 53% of Russian speakers stated that they are patriots of Latvia 72% of respondents feel that they belong to Latvia, while 12% - to Russia.

According to a public opinion survey held by SKDS, only 25% of Latvian residents stated that they are definitely patriots of Latvia and 42% stated that they are somewhat patriotic towards this country, while 25% stated they are not patriots. 78% of Latvian speakers and 53% of Russian speakers stated that they are patriots of Latvia 72% of respondents feel that they belong to Latvia, while 12% - to Russia. Latvijas Avize

• Peoples Party in its elections program in Daugavpils promises to involve equally all citys residents in the decision making process
• Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov: 8 and 9 May united everyone who craved for the victory over Nazism
• Vesti Segodnya reports about an anthology Contemporary European Ethnocracy: Violation of Rights of Ethnic Minorities in Latvia and Estonia
• Most popular party - the Concord Centre; the most popular candidate for the Mayor of Riga – Ainars Slesers

Latvijas Avize reports that the Peoples Party in its elections program in Daugavpils promises to involve equally all citys residents irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, age or citizenship status in the city development and in the decision making process. According to one of the partys leader Maris Kucinskis, Daugavpils is a special city where large part of residents uses Russian language and these people also should have equal opportunities to take part on the decision taking process. At the same time, press secretary of the Peoples Party affirms that the position of the party regarding granting voting rights to non-citizens in municipal election remains unchanged: only citizens should take part in the elections.

Chas prints an interview with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov. The Ambassador believes that 8 and 9 May (the end of WWII) are the days which united everyone who carved for the victory over Nazism. According to the Ambassador, it is unfair that in Latvia, the veterans who defeated Nazism do not receive any benefits from the state. The Ambassador also believes that presently, the relations between Russia and Latvia are predominantly pragmatic.

Vesti Segodnya reports that a presentation of an anthology Contemporary European Ethnocracy: Violation of Rights of Ethnic Minorities in Latvia and Estonia was held yesterday in Moscow. The anthology was edited by the Russian foundation Historical Memory and tells about results of 5 years of Latvian and Estonian membership in the European Union.

According to the latest public opinion survey held by the market and social research company “Latvijas fakti”, the Concord Centre is the most popular party – 24,5% of respondents would vote for it in the Saeima elections. The New Era is supported by 10,3%, the Latvia’s First Party/Latvia’s Way by 9,3%, and the For Human Rights in United Latvia is supported by 7,3%. In the meantime, the most popular candidates for the post of the Mayor of the Riga is Ainars Slesers (Latvia’s First Party/Latvia’s Way) and Nils Usakovs (the Concord Centre) - 23,5% and 22,8% accordingly.

According to the latest public opinion survey held by the market and social research company Latvijas fakti, the Concord Centre is the most popular party – 24,5% of respondents would vote for it in the Saeima elections. The New Era is supported by 10,3%, the Latvias First Party/Latvias Way by 9,3%, and the For Human Rights in United Latvia is supported by 7,3%. In the meantime, the most popular candidates for the post of the Mayor of the Riga is Ainars Slesers (Latvias First Party/Latvias Way) and Nils Usakovs (the Concord Centre) - 23,5% and 22,8% accordingly. Diena, NRA

• Head of the Saeimas Defence and Internal Affairs Commission Juris Dalbins: de-occupation and de-colonisation in Latvia is desirable but not enforceable

The head of the Saeima’s Defence and Internal Affairs Commission Juris Dalbins (People's Party) in an interview with radical newspaper

The head of the Saeimas Defence and Internal Affairs Commission Juris Dalbins (People's Party) in an interview with radical newspaper DDD stated that de-occupation and de-colonisation in Latvia is desirable, and that closures of Russian schools is part of this process. He also noted that Latvian legislation is gradually being amended for these purposes, while mass expulsions are not enforceable, because the EU and NATO would not support such measures. Vesti Segodnya