• Latvijas Avize criticizes the Ministry of Welfare for official press information about planned changes in payment of benefits distributed to Russian language mass media in Russian

Latvijas Avize criticizes the Ministry of Welfare for official press information about planned changes in payment of benefits distributed to Russian language mass media in Russian. According to the newspaper it is a violation of the State Language Law. The State Secretary of the Ministry of Welfare R. Beinarovics in an interview with the newspaper states the information was sent to Russian language mass media in Russian in order to help journalists to understand information about such sensitive issue and to prevent wrong interpretation. At the same time, Mr. Beinarovics states that this is the only occasion when the Ministry distributed information in Russian and the Ministry will never do that again.

• Prosecutors Office brought charges against a young man who placed in the Internet comments hostile towards Jews, Russians and homosexuals

The Prosecutor’s Office of the Riga Court District brought charges against a young man who placed in the Internet comments hostile towards Jews, Russians and homosexuals. The Security Police and the Prosecutor’s Office consider that 16 comments placed by the man on various Internet portals consciously incite interethnic hatred. In the comments, the author expressed support for national-socialistic and racist ideology, justified the Holocaust and insulted its victims, called for violence against sexual minorities, and argued for killing people because of their ethnic affiliation.

The Prosecutors Office of the Riga Court District brought charges against a young man who placed in the Internet comments hostile towards Jews, Russians and homosexuals. The Security Police and the Prosecutors Office consider that 16 comments placed by the man on various Internet portals consciously incite interethnic hatred. In the comments, the author expressed support for national-socialistic and racist ideology, justified the Holocaust and insulted its victims, called for violence against sexual minorities, and argued for killing people because of their ethnic affiliation. Chas

• Moscow Mayors Office granted RUB 5,000,000 (EUR 113,830) for protection of former Red Partisan Vasilijs Kononovs in the European Court of Human Rights

The Moscow Mayor’s Office granted RUB 5,000,000 (EUR 113,830) for protection of former “Red Partisan” Vasilijs Kononovs in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR.) As reported, in July 2008, the ECHR adopted a ruling in favour of Vasilijs Kononovs in his case against Latvia and obliged Latvia to pay to Mr. Kononovs EUR 30,000 as moral compensation. Latvia appealed the ruling and the case will be reviewed in the Grand Chamber.

The Moscow Mayors Office granted RUB 5,000,000 (EUR 113,830) for protection of former Red Partisan Vasilijs Kononovs in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR.) As reported, in July 2008, the ECHR adopted a ruling in favour of Vasilijs Kononovs in his case against Latvia and obliged Latvia to pay to Mr. Kononovs EUR 30,000 as moral compensation. Latvia appealed the ruling and the case will be reviewed in the Grand Chamber. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

• 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.