• Candidate to the post of the Mayor of Riga Sarmite Elerte compared attempts to prevent introduction of euro in Latvia with referendum on Russian language
• Newspapers report about a congress of a party “For Native Language”

 

Candidate to the post of the Mayor of Riga Sarmite Elerte (the Unity) compared attempts to prevent introduction of euro in Latvia with referendum on Russian language held in February 2012. Mrs Elerte stated that populists and “reds” try to split the society in order to stop development of the country. The MP Iveta Grigule (Union of Greens and Farmers) who collects signatures of the MPs for support the referendum on introduction of euro categorically object to such statement and believes that actions aimed at preservation of national currency cannot be considered as anti-national activities, but Mrs Elerte exploits propagandistic methods and image of enemy. Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers report about a congress of a party “For Native Language” The party has approved its program and nominated one of its leaders Illarions Girs as a candidate to the post of the Mayor of the Riga. According to the party program, its key points are: granting Russian language status of official language in Latvia and liquidation of state language inspection; liquidation of non-citizenship; support to the movement for autonomy of Latgale region; right of every Latvian resident to have its own opinion about history, while the “theory of occupation” which splits the society into “natives” and the “descendents of occupants” is unacceptable. The candidate to the post of Mayor Mr Girs believes that Riga could become a centre of “Russian world” abroad, while the museum of occupation should be renamed as the museum of the friendship of nations. The party also renamed its self “Party of Lindermans – For Native Langauge” Vesti Segodnya, Diena, Latvijas Avize

 

• Ministry of Finance: extra holiday for religious events would discriminate atheists and cost the state about LVL 10 millions
• Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks: Latvia will become more attractive to immigrants if it continues economic development

According to the Ministry of Finance, extra holiday for religious events could cost the state about LVL 10 millions (EUR 14 millions). Over the last 10 years several proposals to grant Russian Orthodox Christmas (7 January) status of a bank holiday were refused by the majority of the Saeima.  Therefore, the Reforms Party came with a proposal to grant Latvian residents one extra holiday a year to celebrate some important religious event of their choice. The Ministry of Finances warns not only about the high cost of such extra holiday but believes it would be unfair for those who do not belong to any religion. Neatkariga

The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muiznieks believes the main problems regarding human rights in Latvia are the large number of children non-citizens, problems in the judicial system, and discrimination of Roma. The Commissioner also believes Latvia will become more attractive to immigrants if it continues economic development. Mr Muiznieks also believes that Latvia will never be a mono-ethnic country and he would better like to see Latvia as the country to which people are coming, not leaving it. Vesti Segodnya 

• Voluntary ethnicity entry to be re-introduced in passports starting with 1 April 2013
• 1,051 persons received administrative citations  for violation of the State Language Law in 2012

 The Cabinet of Ministers adopted amendments to the Rules of the Cabinet of Minister on Personal Identification Documents which re-introduce voluntary record on person’s ethnic affiliation in Latvian passportsstarting with 1 April 2013. As reported, initiators of amendments the MPs from the nationalist union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM believe such record strengthens national identity of ethnic Latvians. The voluntary record on ethnic affiliation was allowed in passports in the past, but was stopped in spring 2012  following recommendations by ECRI and international practice. Vesti Segodnya

 The State Language Centre (SLC) issued  1,051 persons with administrative citations for violation of the State Language Law in 2012. In total, the SLC received 1,144 complaints on violations which is twice the number received in 2011. Vesti Segodnya

• Court cancelled fine imposed on journalist Andrejs Mamikins for „disrespect towards the state language”

The Administrative District Court cancelled the fine imposed by the State Language Centre on a host of a TV5’ show “Un-censored” Andrejs Mamikins for „disrespect towards the state language”. The incident took place in August 2010, when the Minister of Transport Kaspars Gerhards took part in the Russian language TV live broadcast “Un-censored” and refused to speak Russian. After the TV host Mr Mamikins appealed to Mr Gerhards’ “nobleness and tolerance” and asked to speak in Russian, the Minister left the studio. Previously, Mr. Gerhards on several occasions communicated with journalists of Russian-language broadcasts in Russian language. The head of the Control department of the Centre of the State Language, Antons Kursitis in his speech before the Parliament stated that the activity of the journalist Mamikins is “linguistic genocide”. The National Radio and Television Council also punished TV5 with LVL 1,500 for violation of the State Language Law in this episode. However, this decision also was cancelled by the court in December 2012. Vesti Segodnya

 

 

• Vesti Segodnya interviews an ethnologist Ilze Boldane about perception of ethnic Latvians about themselves and representatives of other ethnicities

Vesti Segodnya interviews an ethnologist Ilze Boldane about her PhD paper “Ethnic stereotypes of ethnic Latvians in the end of XX century - beginning of XXI century: influence of historical factors”. The aim of the study is to analyse perception of ethnic Latvians about themselves and representatives of other ethnicities. According to Mrs Boldane, the main criterion for ethnic Latvians for determination of their ethnicity is ethnic background. Thus, ethnic Latvians are ethnic nation and this factor can hinder establishment of political nation in Latvia. The study revealed that the majority of ethnic Latvians divide ethnic Russians into two groups – “real Russians” and “not real Russians.” “Real Russians” are those who live in Russia and Russians who reside in Latvia for long period of time and got included in ethnic environment of local community, for example, Old-believers. “Not real” Russians are “Soviet people”, representatives of various ethnicities who arrived to Latvia during Soviet era and speak Russian language. Russians who came to Latvia during Soviet era are perceived as “occupants”, “fortune seekers” and unlike ethnic Latvians or “real Russians” do not have their roots and traditions, sense of belonging to their country. Of one of the factors which characterizes Russian residents, in opinion of ethnic Latvians, is unwillingness to learn Latvian language.