• The Security Police closed the case of “the list of occupants”
• Former child slaves still lack citizenship and status
• Sarmite Elerte calls the opponents of the Concord Centre to register their residence in Riga

 

The Security Police closed its investigations of the case of the publication of “the list of occupants”. In February 2010, a Latvian nationalist internet site published personal data of “disloyal” individuals, or “occupants” - a list of names, surnames, addresses and personal codes (identity numbers) of owners of cars decorated with St.George ribbons or Russian symbols. The case was closed, because the Security Police could not identify the individual, who forwarded the personal information gathered by the state agencies, to the publisher. As reported, the journalists of the newspaper Telegraf conducted independent investigation and most likely identified the publisher - ethnic Latvian man nicknamed “Courlander”, who lives in the U.S. (Iowa) and maintains an internet site featuring songs of Latvian Waffen SS legion and information about Latvian national partisans. Vesti Segodnya

 

Since the restoration of independence of the country in 1991, the former child slaves of the WWII still do not have Latvian citizenship and do not have the status of repressed persons. During the war, the children were enslaved by the Nazis, trafficked to the Salaspils camp, and later exploited as slave labour by the farmers. After the war, the former slave children had nowhere else to go and stayed in Latvia, because the Nazis destroyed their homes and exterminated their relatives in Russia, Byelorussia and Ukraine. Vesti Segodnya

 

The candidate of the Unity to the post of the Mayor of Riga Sarmite Elerte calls the opponents of the Concord Centre to register their residence in Riga in order to ensure “the victory of the statist forces: … “Unity”, Reform Party and the National Union”. Vesti Segodnya

• Political scientist Kristians Rozenvalds: referendum on status of Russian language forced the government to pay attention to Latgale region

Political scientist Kristians Rozenvalds believes the referendum on the status of Russian language achieved one very good thing – it forced the government to elaborate a plan of support and development of the Latgale region (Eastern part of Latvia). According to Mr Rozenvalds, many of the Latgale residents who voted for granting Russian language the status of a state language in Latvia did it not because they really want such status for Russian language but did it as a protest for the poor economic situation in the region. Mr Rozenvalds also believes politicians are only talking about promotion of integration but actually don’t do anything to promote it. According to Mr Rozenvalds, the lack of actions in practice can also be seen as a positive factor, because acting on the basis of the existing integration plan, which does not foresee mutual process, would harm the society and promote greater ethnic tensions. Vesti Segodnya

• Vesti Segodnya reports about the first bilingual class in Riga
• Latvian libraries received a collection of books focusing on strengthening national identity and consolidation of the society
• Chief of State Police Ints Kuzis refused to review a claim submitted in Russian

Vesti Segodnya reports about the first bilingual class in Latvia in Riga. Children whose native languages are Latvian and Russian  study together in one class. Latvian speaking children learn Latvian according to the programme of schools with Latvian language of instruction and Russian speakers learn Russian according to programme of ethnic minority schools. Until  Grade 3, children study maths in their native language, while all other subjects are studied together. The bilingual class is a pilot project initiated by the Riga City Council.

In the framework of the society consolidation program, libraries in all Latvian regions received a collection of books focusing on the strengthening of national identity and consolidation of the society. The majority of the books are about the Latvian and the European history, but also include different research and collections of academic articles. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya reports about the complaint about the Chief of the State Police Ints Kuzis as he refused to review a claim submitted in Russian. The claim was submitted by the mother of a detainee. She complained about the actions of the police at the moment of detention and asked to compensate the damages caused by the members of special force upon entering their apartment. The complainant received a reply that the State Police has left the claim without consideration as it is written in Russian.

• Candidate to the post of the Mayor of Riga  Sarmite Elerte: President of Russia Vladimir Putin should apologise  for occupation of the Baltic States

The candidate of the Unity to the post of the Mayor of Riga  Sarmite Elerte believes that the result of the integration should be expressed in the following facts: all residents are proficient in Latvian language and use it; all residents acknowledge history of Latvia and its occupation by the Soviet Union based on true historical facts. Also, Mrs Elerte believes that it would be a nice gesture from the President of Russia Vladimir Putin to bring official apologies for occupation of the Baltic States during the WWII.  Vesti Segodnya

• Newspapers report about a conference on situation in the country a year after a referendum on status of Russian language

Newspapers report about a conference on situation in the country a year after a referendum on granting Russian language status of a state language in Latvia. According to the MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere, situation with the positions of Latvian language has not improved during this year. Mrs Vaidere stated that strengthening of the state language should begin in kindergartens and state funded schools in which children and young people should be educated in Latvian language only. The Minister of Culture Zanete Jaunzeme-Grende informed about activities aimed at promotion of integration mentioning free-of-charge state language courses which are highly demanded among residents. Contrary to the Minister’s opinion about the importance of the language courses, the MP Ina Druviete criticized the fact of spending money for the courses instead of granting funds for strengthening and development of the state language. Vesti Segodnya, Diena, Latvijas Avize