• Constitutional Court postponed the review of the case on the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia and international norms
• Riga Centre District Court postponed taking decision on imposing the administrative penalty for disobedience to police
• Rigas Balss prints an article about the implementation of the minority education reform
• Final decision on the transfer of the Head of the Public Education Inspectorate will be taken next week
• Vesti Segodnya talks to the Foreign Affairs Minister
• Latvijas Vestnesis reports on migration in Latvia

The Constitutional Court postponed the review of the case on the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia and international norms till 12 April, because the Court received extra amount of supplementary materials.

The Constitutional Court postponed the review of the case on the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia and international norms till 12 April, because the Court received extra amount of supplementary materials. Diena, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Riga Centre District Court (Centra rajona tiesa) postponed taking decision on imposing administrative penalty on two activists of the union FHRUL and ‘Rodina,’ who participated in public disorders on 16 March (commemoration day of WWII Latvian Legionnaires) at the Freedom Monument. Both men argue that on 16 March police did not ask them to leave the place of meeting, therefore there were no grounds to draw up the protocol about disobedience to police. The court decided to hear explanations of policemen and then take the decision. As already reported on 16 March activists of FHRUL and ‘Rodina’ gathered to block a procession in commemoration of Latvian WW II legionnaires. The procession was organised by the national-radical youth organisation Klubs 415 (Club 415) and had received the legally required authorisation by the Riga City Council, while the opponent protestors had been denied authorisation on grounds of planning the event later, but for the same place and time, thus allegedly posing a risk of clashes.

Riga Centre District Court (Centra rajona tiesa) postponed taking decision on imposing administrative penalty on two activists of the union FHRUL and ‘Rodina, who participated in public disorders on 16 March (commemoration day of WWII Latvian Legionnaires) at the Freedom Monument. Both men argue that on 16 March police did not ask them to leave the place of meeting, therefore there were no grounds to draw up the protocol about disobedience to police. The court decided to hear explanations of policemen and then take the decision. As already reported on 16 March activists of FHRUL and ‘Rodina gathered to block a procession in commemoration of Latvian WW II legionnaires. The procession was organised by the national-radical youth organisation Klubs 415 (Club 415) and had received the legally required authorisation by the Riga City Council, while the opponent protestors had been denied authorisation on grounds of planning the event later, but for the same place and time, thus allegedly posing a risk of clashes. Diena, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Rigas Balss prints an article about the implementation of the minority education reform. The newspaper writes that ‘principles of Riga minority schools admit that the first year of the reform was complicated, however, students acquire subjects in the state language rather successfully and only few students, most often the laziest ones, have problems. The newspaper also provides the views of the Public Education Inspectorate ‘the Inspectorate does not rush with any conclusions. In April principles of minority schools will account for the implementation of the reform and it is possible that then various problems, such as, qualification of teachers, lack of text books, etc, will be revealed. The deputy Head of the Inspectorate Valda Puise states that ‘there are no big problems regarding the implementation of the reform. Maybe here and there is the issue of attitude. However, she does not exclude that the quality of education is getting lower because of the reform ‘we will make our conclusions on the quality of education only after few years – when todays 10th grade students will graduate the 12th grade.

Latvijas Avize writes that yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers discussed the decision of the Minister of Education Ina Druviete to transfer the Head of the Public Education Inspectorate Zigfrids Grinpauks to the Ministry of Defence. According to the newspaper the reason for Grinpauks transfer was his statements where he expressed doubts about the implementation of the minority education reform. However, the State Civil Service has established that Grinpauks has systematically violated legal norms ‘which proves his inability to manage the Inspectorate. Grinpauks objects to his transfer to the Ministry of Defence and believes that he will not be able to fulfil the new tasks because of the lack of experience and skills in the issues concerning state security and military. The Government will take its decision regarding the transfer of Zigfrids Grinpauks in its next session when Grinpauks returns from a business trip.

Vesti Segodnya talks to the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks about Latvian Russian relations. The Minister states that Latvia expects Russia to act pragmatically and sign the border agreement till 9 May. Artis Pabriks notes that he completely disagrees with the stance of his partys member Aleksandrs Kirsteins who stated that Latvia should agree with Russia on deportation of people who came to Latvia after the WWII. The Minister says that ‘it is too late to discuss this issue ...now these people are integrating into our society.

Latvijas Vestnesis reports that in 2003 Latvia experienced the lowest rate of migration since 1995, while in 2004 it has slightly increased. The newspaper also notes that there are more people who leave Latvia than those who come to Latvia. The majority of people arrive to Latvia from Russia, Lithuania, Germany, USA, Great Britain, Estonia, Ukraine, Israeli, Byelorussia and Denmark. In 2004 the ratio of non-citizens among immigrants was 0.9%, while among emigrants – 8.5%.

 

 

 

• Russian-language newspapers write about the revision of the minority education reform by the Constitutional Court today
• Vesti Segodnya claims that a high official of the Ministry of Education has been transferred to a post to another ministry because of his doubts regarding the implementation of the education reform
• Interview with the Minister of Culture
• Interview about the situation of the Russian literature in Latvia

Chas asks the member of Saeima Boris Tsilevich (the Peoples Harmony Party) to comment on the revision of the minority education reform by the Constitutional Court today. The MP states that the implementation of the minority education reform does not observe the interests of children and is an open violation of their rights: children whose mother tongue is not Latvian receive public education of much lower quality. Boris Tsilevich assures that they have a number of evidences, experts conclusions and cases, which proves that the quality of education has worsened since the implementation of the reform. The newspaper also prints arguments of lawyer Jelizaveta Krivcova, who argues that the implementation of the reform shows that there is no democracy in Latvia.

Vesti Segodnya reports that Zigfrids Grinpauks, Head of the Public Education Inspectorate, has been transferred to the Ministry of Defence. The newspaper claims that the Education Minister Ina Druviete issued a decree of the transfer of Grinpauks because he expressed his doubts about the implementation of the minority education reform just after the implementation of the reform was launched.

Latvijas Avize interviews the Minister of Culture Helena Demakova. When asked about the support of the Ministry for cultural activities of Latvias minorities, the Minister states that the Ministry of Culture has a special programme for the support of cultural activities of minorities. The Minister admits that the funding allotted for this programme is smaller than funding at the disposal of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration and the Society Integration Foundation. However, Helena Demakova notes that ‘life of minorities is very active. She strictly denies a possibility that Russians who live in Latvia could develop specific culture, which would differ from the culture of Russians living in Russia. Helena Demakova admits that she is disappointed in some EU processes, for instance, the EU broadcasting policy. The Minister is very dissatisfied that according to EU norms it is possible that the broadcast station from the United Kingdom airs its programmes to Latvia only in Russian. Helena Demakova expresses determination to achieve amendments in the EU broadcast policy so that a country, which receives broadcast, may determine its compliance with national norms.

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with writer Nikolaj Gudanc about the situation of the Russian literature in Latvia. The writer admits that the number of people who read in Russian is decreasing.

• Compliance of the minority education reform with Latvias Constitution and international norms will be reviewed tomorrow
• Supporters of Russian schools will held their congress on 17 April
• Riga City Council most likely will not issue a permission to organise protest activities in support of rights of Russian speakers on 4 May
• Members of the Russian community declare that the municipality elections were not democratic because non-citizens were not entitled to take part in the elections
• Newspapers comment on the visit of two members of FHRUL to the Riga Secondary School No 33
• Nils Muiznieks launches the project aimed at fostering the formation of integrated society
• American official: USA President's visit to Latvia should not be viewed as a signal to Russia

On Tuesday the Constitutional Court will review the application submitted by left-wing parties challenging the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia, international norms and practices. The lecturer of the Riga Graduate School of Law Kristine Kruma says that the Court will have to decide whether the principle of proportionality has been observed, that is, whether proportions of studies in the Latvian language and a native language set by the Education Law are adequate, whether the reform was necessary and whether the measures taken to implement the reform were adequate. The lawyer of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilvija Puce states that the involvement of minorities in the process of decision making and taking regarding these issues is arguable, however, she believes that to challenge the proportion of languages of instruction set by the Law is very difficult and even impossible.

On Tuesday the Constitutional Court will review the application submitted by left-wing parties challenging the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia, international norms and practices. The lecturer of the Riga Graduate School of Law Kristine Kruma says that the Court will have to decide whether the principle of proportionality has been observed, that is, whether proportions of studies in the Latvian language and a native language set by the Education Law are adequate, whether the reform was necessary and whether the measures taken to implement the reform were adequate. The lawyer of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilvija Puce states that the involvement of minorities in the process of decision making and taking regarding these issues is arguable, however, she believes that to challenge the proportion of languages of instruction set by the Law is very difficult and even impossible. Diena

Supporters of Russian schools will have their second congress on 17 April in Riga. About 500 people are expected to attend the congress.

Supporters of Russian schools will have their second congress on 17 April in Riga. About 500 people are expected to attend the congress. Telegraf

Rigas Balss writes that ‘people who protect rights of Russian-speakers are planning to organise protest actions on 4 May – the day of the re-establishment of Latvias independence. The newspaper reports that most probably organisers of the protest action will not receive the permission of the Riga City Council to organise a protest action. The Executive Director of the Riga City Council states that he will take decision on the basis of effective legal norms; however, he believes that amendments, which would ban mass activities on specific days, should be introduced.

A number of members of the Russian community have turned to the European Parliament and embassies of the EU member states with the application, which says that the municipality elections, which took place in Latvia on 12 March, were not democratic because Latvian non-citizens did not have the right to participate in the elections.

A number of members of the Russian community have turned to the European Parliament and embassies of the EU member states with the application, which says that the municipality elections, which took place in Latvia on 12 March, were not democratic because Latvian non-citizens did not have the right to participate in the elections. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers comment on the visit of two FHRUL’s members to the Riga Secondary School No 33. FHRUL’s members claimed that they had come to school to protect a student, who refused to take off a T-shirt with the slogan ‘Yes to Russian Schools!’ and therefore experienced repressions from the school administration. According to

Newspapers comment on the visit of two FHRULs members to the Riga Secondary School No 33. FHRULs members claimed that they had come to school to protect a student, who refused to take off a T-shirt with the slogan ‘Yes to Russian Schools! and therefore experienced repressions from the school administration. According to Latvijas Avize, the members of FHRUL simply wanted to disharmonise schools work, because the school supports the implementation of the minority education reform. While Russian-language newspapers provide a detailed description of the visit and expresses their incomprehension at the schools major argument that ‘T-shirts with the symbols of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools destabilise the whole system. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports that the former Social Integration Minister Nils Muiznieks has launched a project ‘Personalities in Latvias Democracy. The main activity of the project is to recognise those personalities who have contributed to the development of democracy in Latvia. The key goal of the project is to foster formation of integrated society, based on common values.

The representative of the USA State Department Robert Zoelick paid a visit to Latvia and discussed a number of issues, including the upcoming visit of the USA President to Latvia. When asked about the interpretation of the visit, the official stated that the USA President’s visit should not be interpreted as a signal to Moscow ‘Frankly speaking, the President’s visit to Latvia should not be viewed as a signal to Russia, these are relations between the States and Latvia.’

The representative of the USA State Department Robert Zoelick paid a visit to Latvia and discussed a number of issues, including the upcoming visit of the USA President to Latvia. When asked about the interpretation of the visit, the official stated that the USA Presidents visit should not be interpreted as a signal to Moscow ‘Frankly speaking, the Presidents visit to Latvia should not be viewed as a signal to Russia, these are relations between the States and Latvia. Diena, Telegraf

• Latvijas Avize talks to sociologist Aigars Freimanis about the results of the municipal elections and next Saeima elections
• Members of FHRUL go to a school to protect a student whois againstthe minority education reform
• Vesti Segodnya comments on the Latvian Presidents statements made in her visit to Sweden
• Minister of Culture turns down the attempts of the Russian Embassy to reconstruct the Salaspils Memorial

Latvijas Avize talks to sociologist Aigars Freimanis, director of the company ‘Latvijas Fakti, which conducts various opinion polls in Latvia. Aigars Freimanis states that ethnic voting took place in these municipal elections and is convinced that people will vote on the grounds of ethnicity also in the next Saeima elections. When asked to comment why the Latvian First Party which invested serious funding in its pre-election campaign hardly overcame the 5% barrier, sociologist states that the party does not have its voter ‘the party wanted to get through by trying to get both Latvian and Russian voters – and it has never been a road to success. When asked to comment on the results of the left-wing parties, Aigars Freimanis says that the union ‘Dzimtene attracted a part of FHRULs electorate because FHRUL had clung to the minority education reform for too long and it is not the top priority issue for many Russian-speakers. While Dolgopolovs (The New Centre) and Jurkans (The Peoples Harmony Party) oriented towards more ‘intelligent, liberal and integrated electorate, which includes a majority of new citizens. Regarding the next Saeima elections, he says that ‘it is difficult to say how strong will be the desire to keep the opposition [Latvians against Russians]. However, Russians have extra safety net because naturalisation is an open channel and the number of voters among them is increasing. Latvians have additional concern what will happen with these new-comers.

Vesti Segodnya comments on statements of the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga about Latvian non-citizens made during her visit to Sweden. The newspaper stresses that the members of the Swedish Parliament were very interested why there is such a number of non-citizens in Latvia. The President responded that the big number of non-citizens is the result of USSRs migration policy and noted that the future of these people depend on them: in their ability to accept Latvia as their own country and Vaira Vike-Freiberga as their president. The newspaper reproaches the President for the lack of understanding.

Chas reports that members of the union FHRUL came to the Riga Secondary School No 33 to protect an 8th grade student from attacks of the school administration. In March student Andrey Kovalsky came to school with a T-shirt ‘Yes to Russian-language schools! The school administration asked the student to take off the T-shirt, when he refused, he was asked to leave the school. Members of FHRUL had discussions with the school administration. Vesti Segodnya

The Minister of Culture Helena Demakova turned down the attempts of the Russian Embassy to Latvia to start reconstruction of the Salaspils Memorial, which in the WWII was a Nazi concentration camp. The Russian Embassy had provided USD 250,000 for the reconstruction of the Memorial. The Latvian Minister of Culture believes that Russia’s intentions are related to the recently published book of the Latvian history and stated that the reconstruction is under strong state control.

The Minister of Culture Helena Demakova turned down the attempts of the Russian Embassy to Latvia to start reconstruction of the Salaspils Memorial, which in the WWII was a Nazi concentration camp. The Russian Embassy had provided USD 250,000 for the reconstruction of the Memorial. The Latvian Minister of Culture believes that Russias intentions are related to the recently published book of the Latvian history and stated that the reconstruction is under strong state control. Diena

 

• Russia hopes that the US President George W.Bush will not avoid discussions of Russian-speakers problems in his visit to Riga
• Vesti Segodnya prints excerpts of an article about the implementation of the minority education reform in Latvia published by the BBC World Service

‘Russia expects that in his visit to Riga the US President George W.Bush as the leader of a democratic state will not avoid discussions about issues concerning Russian-speakers in Latvia,’ stated the Spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Russia Alexander Yakovenko. The Russian official emphasised that democratic changes imply observation of international norms, including human rights. Yakovenko expressed a hope that ‘Latvia’s attempts to idealise SS soldiers will not be ignored either.’

‘Russia expects that in his visit to Riga the US President George W.Bush as the leader of a democratic state will not avoid discussions about issues concerning Russian-speakers in Latvia, stated the Spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Russia Alexander Yakovenko. The Russian official emphasised that democratic changes imply observation of international norms, including human rights. Yakovenko expressed a hope that ‘Latvias attempts to idealise SS soldiers will not be ignored either. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya prints excerpts of an article about the implementation of the minority education reform published by the BBC World Service. The article reflects the opinion of teacher of history of the Riga Secondary School Nr.22 Natalia Skestere. She believes that the Russian language has been gradually squeezed out of schools in Latvia and soon it will be spoken only at home. The teacher admits that she conducts her subject only in Russian and recognizes that it is a violation of the Law on Education. She argues that Latvian language proficiency of Russian students is not sufficient to comprehend complicated ideas, for instance, Greek democracy. The BBC journalist also quotes the Foreign Affairs Minister of Latvia Artis Pabriks who believes that the minority education reform provides minority children an opportunity to speak very well two languages – one spoken at home and the state language.