• Days of Russian Culture in Latvia are transferred to the 2008

Latvijas Avize reports that the Days of the Russian Culture in Latvia which were planned to be held in 2007 are postponed to the 2008. Various cultural events are planned to be held in the framework of the Days of Russian Culture which probably will long for several months.

• Security Police opened a criminal process regarding threats made towards leaders of right wing organisations All for Latvia! Raivis Dzintars and Club 415 Janis Sils

The Security Police have opened a criminal process regarding threats made towards the leaders of ultra-right political organisations “All for Latvia!” Raivis Dzintars and “Club 415” Janis Sils. The Security Police is examining a person who threatened to kill Raivis Dzintars and Janis Sils on one of the internet forums.

The Security Police have opened a criminal process regarding threats made towards the leaders of ultra-right political organisations All for Latvia! Raivis Dzintars and Club 415 Janis Sils. The Security Police is examining a person who threatened to kill Raivis Dzintars and Janis Sils on one of the internet forums. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

• Valerijs Buhvalovs and Jakovs Pliners have presented a collection of articles Cultural Aspects in Improving Education Quality
• Security Police found a person who was selling a book ‘Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler in the Latvian language

Yesterday, MPs Valerijs Buhvalovs and Jakovs Pliners (both from FHRUL) have presented a collection of articles “Cultural Aspects in Improving Education Quality”. The authors believe that in-depth studies of the Russian culture as of the first grade throughout all education levels and freedom to choose a language of instruction and subjects would guarantee qualitative education.

Yesterday, MPs Valerijs Buhvalovs and Jakovs Pliners (both from FHRUL) have presented a collection of articles Cultural Aspects in Improving Education Quality. The authors believe that in-depth studies of the Russian culture as of the first grade throughout all education levels and freedom to choose a language of instruction and subjects would guarantee qualitative education. Chas

The Security Police found a person who was selling a book ‘Mein Kampf’ by Adolf Hitler in the Latvian language. Leonards Ikens, known for radical nationalistic views, sold the books on the internet for LVL 5 (EUR 7).  Yesterday, Leonards Inkens published a statement that he would continue distribution of the book despite that distribution of Nazi literature as well as propaganda of xenophobic views is prohibited by law in Latvia.

The Security Police found a person who was selling a book ‘Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler in the Latvian language. Leonards Ikens, known for radical nationalistic views, sold the books on the internet for LVL 5 (EUR 7). Yesterday, Leonards Inkens published a statement that he would continue distribution of the book despite that distribution of Nazi literature as well as propaganda of xenophobic views is prohibited by law in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

• Vesti Segodnya reports that the Security Police closed a criminal process on incitement to ethnic hatred opened in 2004
• Diena features an article on issues concerning EU integration and migration of labour force
• Chas reports on a press-conference for Russias mass media Russian Culture and Education in Latvia held in Riga

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Security Police closed a criminal process on incitement to ethnic hatred under Section 78 of the Criminal Law opened in 2004. The process was initiated on the basis of a complaint by MP Jakovs Pliners who argued that comments published on the nationalistic internet portal www.latvians.lv contain insulting statements towards Jews. However, recently, the Security Police have closed the criminal process arguing that a person who allegedly has placed a comment denied that it was his comment.

Diena features an article by the Director of the Economic Policy Research Centre in Brussels Daniel Gross and Director General of the business association and think tank in Rome Assonime Stefano Micossi on issues concerning EU integration and migration of labour force. According to the article, immigration is one of the biggest challenges in the EU countries. The authors believe that the so-called old EU member countries have to remove all restrictions concerning movement of the labour force from the new EU countries. The EU has to develop common procedures regarding guest workers from non-EU countries. The authors believe that setting common social minimum standards in the entire EU would be an effective security net for domestic workers whose work places might be endangered by EU integration, as well as a coordinated immigration policy would help EU citizens to feel more secure. Resultantly, it would decrease hatred towards guest workers and ensure their rights.

Chas reports on a press conference for Russias mass media Russian Culture and Education in Latvia held in Riga. Several academics shared their view on a situation and problems concerning the Russian culture and education in Latvia. Academic MP Jakovs Pliners (FHRUL) has stated that insufficient national support hinders development of the Russian culture.

• State Language Centre fines the head of the Matisa Prisons Investigation Department
• Latvijas Avize criticizes the initiative of the LASHOR to introduce a mandatory native language and literature examination in minority schools

The State Language Centre (SLC) has imposed a fine in the amount of LVL15 (~ EUR 20) on the head of the Investigation Department of the Matisa Prison and obligated her to improve her Latvian language proficiency till the next inspection. The prisons administration has expressed incomprehension about the decision noting that four months ago Latvian language proficiency of the official was already examined and qualified as sufficient. Head of the Control Department of the SLC Antons Kursitis explains that the decisions differ due to recent amendments in the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers which set higher state language proficiency level for prison staff. Diena

Latvijas Avize sharply criticizes an initiative of the Latvian Association for Support of Russian Language Schools (LASHOR in its Russian acronym) to introduce a mandatory native language and literature examination in educational programmes of minority secondary schools. The newspaper calls the initiative an attempt by the LASHOR to strengthen the positions of the Russian-language in society so in the future it would be granted the official status. According to the newspaper, minority schools already have a right to include these subjects in the list of mandatory examinations. Last week, the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers removed the proposal from its agenda arguing that the proposal has legal deficiencies.