• 16 March events are taking place in the centre of Riga
• Three skinheads sentenced for desecration of Jewish cemetery

Unofficial public events commemorating Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires as well as protesting against the commemoration are taking place in the centre of Riga. Newspapers continue to publish articles about different aspects of Latvian history during the World War II and the history of the Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Latvian high officials previously stated that they will not take part in the events, while representatives of the radical nationalist union “All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM” (AL!FF/LNIM) stated that they will participate in the commemoration.

Unofficial public events commemorating Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires as well as protesting against the commemoration are taking place in the centre of Riga. Newspapers continue to publish articles about different aspects of Latvian history during the World War II and the history of the Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Latvian high officials previously stated that they will not take part in the events, while representatives of the radical nationalist union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (AL!FF/LNIM) stated that they will participate in the commemoration. Chas, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Riga Regional Court delivered its judgment in the case of desecration of the New Jewish Cemetery in December 2010: graves were painted with white swastikas and the cemetery fence was painted with the titles “Death to Jews” and “Jews to Buchenwald.” The offenders admitted their guilt and the court sentenced one offender (charged with incitement) to eight months of suspended sentence and probation, another offender (charged with the acts of desecration) to one year of suspended sentence, probation and paying more than LVL 3000 (EUR 4269) in damages, and the third offender (charged with non-reporting of crime) to 40 hours of forced labour.

Riga Regional Court delivered its judgment in the case of desecration of the New Jewish Cemetery in December 2010: graves were painted with white swastikas and the cemetery fence was painted with the titles Death to Jews and Jews to Buchenwald. The offenders admitted their guilt and the court sentenced one offender (charged with incitement) to eight months of suspended sentence and probation, another offender (charged with the acts of desecration) to one year of suspended sentence, probation and paying more than LVL 3000 (EUR 4269) in damages, and the third offender (charged with non-reporting of crime) to 40 hours of forced labour. Vesti Segodnya

• Newspapers report about preparations for 16 March

Newspapers report about preparations for 16 March events - unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Similarly to previous years, public events on 16 March will be held following court decisions, which overturned the refusal by the Riga City Council to allow the public events. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented its view, highlighting that from the point of view of international law, creation of these military units was a Nazi crime and that Latvia strongly condemns all totalitarian ideologies and the war crimes and crimes against humanity. Some newspapers also write about different aspects of Latvian history during the XX century and its interpretations.

Newspapers report about preparations for 16 March events - unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Similarly to previous years, public events on 16 March will be held following court decisions, which overturned the refusal by the Riga City Council to allow the public events. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented its view, highlighting that from the point of view of international law, creation of these military units was a Nazi crime and that Latvia strongly condemns all totalitarian ideologies and the war crimes and crimes against humanity. Some newspapers also write about different aspects of Latvian history during the XX century and its interpretations.

• MPs discussed Latvian language learning in minority kindergartens

The Parliamentary Education, Culture and Science Committee discussed Latvian language learning in minority kindergartens. At the moment, there are 602 kindergartens with Latvian language of instruction, 92 – with Russian, 65 – bilingual and 11 in other languages. According to the representative of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry developed educational programs and children from the age of two are learning Latvian. Upon inspecting Russian kindergartens, the Head of the Riga City Council’s Education, Culture and Sports Committee Eizenija Aldermane stated that children speak Latvian quite freely. Janina Kursite (Unity) is concerned that Latgale (region in the east of Latvia) could never be made ethnically Latvian as long as there are many kindergartens with Russian language of instruction there. The leader of radical nationalist union “All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM” (AL!FF/LNIM) Raivis Dzintars believes that the strategic aim should be the transition of all kindergartens into Latvian language.

The Parliamentary Education, Culture and Science Committee discussed Latvian language learning in minority kindergartens. At the moment, there are 602 kindergartens with Latvian language of instruction, 92 – with Russian, 65 – bilingual and 11 in other languages. According to the representative of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry developed educational programs and children from the age of two are learning Latvian. Upon inspecting Russian kindergartens, the Head of the Riga City Councils Education, Culture and Sports Committee Eizenija Aldermane stated that children speak Latvian quite freely. Janina Kursite (Unity) is concerned that Latgale (region in the east of Latvia) could never be made ethnically Latvian as long as there are many kindergartens with Russian language of instruction there. The leader of radical nationalist union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (AL!FF/LNIM) Raivis Dzintars believes that the strategic aim should be the transition of all kindergartens into Latvian language. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

• Court cancelled decision of the Riga City Council to ban Uldis Freimanis from holding a picket on 16 March
• Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Anhelita Kamenska: Riga City Council should take into account court decisions when considering applications for public events

Yesterday, the Administrative District Court cancelled decision of the Riga City Council to ban Uldis Freimanis from holding a public picket on 16 March. As reported, the City Council banned all the events planned to be held on 16 March – unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. The Court decided that it is not clear what specific threats to public security are posed by the picket planned by Mr.Freimanis, whether these theats could be averted and ruled that the decision to ban the picket is unjustified. The Court will also consider applications of other organisations affected by the Riga City Council’s ban.

Yesterday, the Administrative District Court cancelled decision of the Riga City Council to ban Uldis Freimanis from holding a public picket on 16 March. As reported, the City Council banned all the events planned to be held on 16 March – unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. The Court decided that it is not clear what specific threats to public security are posed by the picket planned by Mr.Freimanis, whether these theats could be averted and ruled that the decision to ban the picket is unjustified. The Court will also consider applications of other organisations affected by the Riga City Councils ban. Latvijas Avize

Diena interviews the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Anhelita Kamenska about freedom of assembly issues in the context of the events on 16 March banned by the Riga City Council. She refers to well established domestic case law, including Supreme Court decisions, in relation to similar banned events in previous years, and highlights courts arguments that should be taken into account by the city council. At the same time, A.Kamenska underlines that police should watch out for instances of incitement to ethnic or racial hatred, and that it has at its disposal all legal means to intervene in such cases.

• Ombudsman Juris Jansons: the question about the status of Russian language is closed

Chas prints interview with the Ombudsman Juris Jansons. Mr. Jansons believes that while Finland should be seen as a good example for Latvia in the sphere of education, Finlands approach to language policy should not be used in Latvia and thus Russian should not be granted the status of a regional language in Latgale (region in Eastern Latvia), where 55% of citizens voted in support of Russian at the last referendum. Mr. Jansons also highlights that overall, majority of citizens voted in favour of single state language, therefore, the question about the status of Russian language is closed.