• High state officials came with a statement against political provocations aimed at split of the society
• Legal framework for language reform in ethnic minority schools will be prepared by the next government
• Latvijas Avize reports about activation of different Russia’s “compatriots” organisations
• Foreign media reports about situation in Latgale region

The State President Andris Berzins, the Saeima’s Speaker Solvita Aboltina, and the Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma came with a statement calling Latvian residents not to fall on possible provocations. The statement condemns all politically motivated provocations which attempt to create tension and artificial discord in the society. According to the statement, Latvia always was a home place for representatives of various ethnicities who supported this state through hard times. “Disregard of ethnic belonging, native language, and religious views – we are one Latvian nation” – says the statement. It also calls Latvian residents to evaluate critically actions of Russia’s state authorities in Ukraine and not to prevent hopes of hostile towards Latvia powers to exploit Latvian residents as instrument for realisation of their political interests. “We affirm that Latvia is and will remain democratic European state which respects and protects Latvian and ethnic minorities’ diverse culture and different languages” – says the statements. Latvijas Avize notes that the statements was made after a session of the National Security Council which discussed situation in Ukraine and Crimea and issues of Latvian internal security.  Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

According to Vesti Segodnya, yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers made a decision to postpone preparation of a legal framework for transition of education in ethnic minority schools into Latvian language starting with 2018 on 30 October. This means that preparations for the reform will be under competence of the next government. The newspaper also notes that it is planned to elaborate proposals for models of education in national minority schools in order to raise the proportion of state language in the education content in cooperation with the members of the Advisory Council on Ethnic Minority Education.

Latvijas Avize reports about activation of different Russia’s “compatriots” organisations which pretend to protect the interests of Russian speaking residents of Latvia. In particular, the newspaper tells about an article published on Russian language local internet websites by a member of a party “For Native Language”. Its author wants to achieve that that all subjects in Russian language schools are thought only in Russian and calls parents for active protest actions. He also considers organizing a Russian riot which would be in not so proper time for Latvia and the European Union.  Large part of the internet comments published under the article supports such statements, but there are also many commentators who are sceptical and critical about it.

Vesti Segodnya reports many foreign media reports about situation in Latgale region (Eastern part of Latvia) in connection with events in Ukraine. Latgale is the region with the largest proportion of ethnic minorities and also one of the poorest Latvian regions.

• 195 persons applied for asylum in Latvia in 2013
• U.S.A. Ambassador to Latvia Mark Pekala: cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity is a great power and richness of Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya interviews associate Professor of the International Baltic Academy Mihails Rodins about the similarity of the current situation in Ukraine and Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya: old woman complaints she was refused medical examination because she spoke Russian language

According to Eurostat, 195 persons applied for asylum in Latvia in 2013. 75% of asylum seekers were from Georgia, 8% from Syria, 3% from Russia. Diena

The U.S.A. Ambassador to Latvia Mark Pekala in an interview with the 1st Baltic Channel stated that cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity is a great power and richness of Latvia which may also promote economic development. The Ambassador also did not support plans of the Latvian National Council on Electronic Mass Media to ban a Russia’s TV channel in Latvia saying that in the U.S. the freedom of speech is the greatest value and it is not limiting even radical statements providing a space for counter argumentation and discussions.

Vesti Segodnya interviews associate Professor of the International Baltic Academy Mihails Rodins about the similarity of the current situation in Ukraine and Latvia.  Mr Rodins believes that Ukrainian example will bring radicalisation in Latvian society because the society is deeply split and for past twenty years nothing was done for realisation of democratic norms and political representation of ethnic minorities. At the same time, Mr Rodins believes that situation in Crimea and Latvia is not comparable as Russian residents of Latvia do not want reunion with Russia and identify themselves with Latvian state.

Vesti Segodnya reports about a complaint of an old woman who was refused medical examination because she spoke Russian language. According to the woman’s story, she was brought by an ambulance to one of the Riga hospitals but a first doctor who came to make a medical examination after waiting couple hours asked what language does she speak and after hearing Russian refused to make examination. The patient received medical examination by some other doctor.

• Action Plan for implementation of the government’s declaration foresees actions for implementation of a language reform in national minority schools
• National Council on Electronic Mass Media plans to ban retranslation of one of the Russia’s TV Channels in Latvia
• Latvijas Avize: restrictions for candidates to the European Parliament should be introduced

Vesti Segodnya reports about the Action Plan for implementation of the government’s declaration headed by the Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma which among other issues includes 8 actions on how to implement declared transition of education in national minority schools into Latvian language starting with 2018. Among the actions there are elaboration and adoption of a document on state language policy 2015-2020 aimed at strengthening of a state language environment; elaboration of models of education in national minority schools in order to raise the proportion of state language in the education content; elaboration of proposals for pre-school education with a view to increase usage of Latvian language in a daily environment of pre-schools; preparation of curriculum on state language learning for adults; ensure qualitative inspection of state language proficiency by adults. The newspaper notes that none of the mentioned actions is a legal act which would require the Saeima’s approval.

According to the head of the National Council on Electronic Mass Media Ainars Dimants, it is planned to stop retranslation of one of the Russia’s TV Channels in Latvia in order to limit Russia’s propaganda. The Council is preparing a legal argumentation to ban the channel but it is unknown yet which channel will be banned. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize questions why the restrictions similar to the ones applied for the parliamentary and local elections do not apply for the election to the European Parliament (EP). In particular, the restrictions which make persons who where KGB agents and active members of the Communist party and the International Front of the Working People of the Latvian SSR after 13 January 1991 as not eligible to be elected. As an example, the newspaper mentions the MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka (former member of the International Front) who supported the reunion of the Crimea with Russia. The newspaper classifies such opinion as a threat to the independence of Latvia and European security. Another Latvian MEP Karlis Sadurskis applied to the Security Police asking to initiate a criminal proceeding against Mrs Zdanoka, but the MP Vilnis Kirsis appealed to the European Parliament’s faction of the Greens/ European Free Alliance to exclude her from faction’s members. Member of the nationalists’ union, MP Imants Paradnieks believes that such restrictions for the candidates to the EP should be introduced, but T.Zdanoka should be deprived of Latvian citizenship for her actions.

• Minister of Education Ina Druviete: Latvian language proficiency of ethnic minority students is not good enough

Diena interviews the Minister of Education Ina Druviete. The Minister believes that graduates of ethnic minority schools have good Latvian language proficiency but it is not good enough, because the language environment in such schools does not strengthen language knowledge. Therefore, it is important to search for way how to ensure more successful state language learning. According to the Minister, staring with 2018 the proportion of state language and minority language in schools might be 80% of subjects in state language, 20% - in minority language.  The Minister asserts that there are no basis to speak about closure of ethnic minority schools as learning subjects concerning ethnic identity of minorities will remain in their native language. The Minister says that Latvia will continue its good traditions of ethnic minority education, but it is time to strengthen more Latvian language.

• 150 persons took part in a protest action against transition of ethnic minority schools into Latvian language
• Russian Embassy in Latvia clarifies statements of the Ambassador Veshnyakov regarding granting Russian citizenship to non-citizens

Yesterday, about 150 persons took part in a protest action against transition of ethnic minority schools into Latvian language. The protest action was organised by a member of the Latvia’s Russian Union Jakovs Pliners. Member of the picket demanded government to cancel plans for such language reform, to ensure that children study in schools in their native language, and to grant funding for support of ethnic minority schools according to demand of parents. Neatkariga, Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize reports that it has received a letter from the Russian Embassy in Latvia regarding recent publication in media that Russia is ready to save Latvian non-citizens from poverty. The Embassy clarifies that the Ambassador Aleksandr Veshnyakov in his interview with Latvia Radio 4 talked not about some Russia’s draft law on granting citizenship to Russians living aboard but about the existing legal norms which stipulate granting Russian citizenship to Latvian non-citizens who are not permanent Russia’s residents. The Ambassador also said Russia stimulated acceptance of Russian citizenship by non-citizens only in the circumstances of economical crisis in order to help those people to receive at least Russian pension as a source of income.