• MP Juris Sokolovskis asks the Security Police to initiate a criminal process on incitement to ethnic hatred in statements published on the internet discussion

MP Juris Sokolovskis (FHRUL) has asked the Security Police (SP) to evaluate the statements published on the discussion forum on the internet portal

MP Juris Sokolovskis (FHRUL) has asked the Security Police (SP) to evaluate the statements published on the discussion forum on the internet portal www.delfi.lv. The disputed comment called to shoot all Russian-speaking residents or expel them. Juris Sokolovskis believes that the Security Police have to initiate a criminal process, because the comments incite to ethnic hatred. Diena

• National radicals: commemorative processions of Latvian WWII legionaries will take place even without official permission
• Advisor to the OSCE Higher Commissar on National Minorities visited Latvia

Nationalistic radical organization “The National Power Union” (NNS in its Latvian acronym) stated that the commemorative processions of Latvian WWII legionaries will be organized on 16 March even if the Riga City Council will not authorise the procession. “The history of Latvian legionaries is an integral part of Latvian ethnic identity,” stated the leader NNS.

Nationalistic radical organization The National Power Union (NNS in its Latvian acronym) stated that the commemorative processions of Latvian WWII legionaries will be organized on 16 March even if the Riga City Council will not authorise the procession. The history of Latvian legionaries is an integral part of Latvian ethnic identity, stated the leader NNS. Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the Advisor of Rolf Ekeus (OSCE Higher Commissar on National Minorities) has visited Latvia and met with representatives of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration. The aim of the advisor’s visit was a preparation for Higher Commissar’s instant visit to Latvia.

Yesterday, the Advisor of Rolf Ekeus (OSCE Higher Commissar on National Minorities) has visited Latvia and met with representatives of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration. The aim of the advisors visit was a preparation for Higher Commissars instant visit to Latvia. Latvijas Avize

• Weekly magazine discusses racism in Latvia

Weekly magazine

Weekly magazine Nedēļa publishes interviews with several people about expressions of intolerance and racism in Latvia. An Asian American man, who preferred to stay anonymous, stated that while living in Latvia he has faced many episodes of racial hatred and intolerance addressed towards him. He argued that Latvians compared to other nations are the most intolerant people in the world. The member of the Afro Latvian Organization Salahs Sarifs announced that there is discrimination in employment on the grounds of skin colour. However, Salahs Sarifs believed that intolerance and violence against people of different colour of skin are not wide spread phenomena in Latvia.Roma project coordinatorof the International Organization for Migration Vanda Zamicka-Bergendale argued that although there are problems with tolerance, in general Latvians are not racists. While the Head of the Latvias office of the International Organization for MigrationIlmars Mezs stated that there are no big differences between Latvians and other East Europeans regarding racism, however, he also argued that manifestations of intolerance may be partly explained by soviet mentality acquired during the Soviet times.

 

• Supreme Court Senate has excluded Aleksandr Kazakov from the list of persons who are denied entrance in Latvia
• Discussion about the results of ethnic policy in Latvia

On Friday 24 February, the Supreme Court Senate abolished the decision of the Minister of Interior about the inclusion of Aleksandr Kazakov in the list of persons who are denied entrance in Latvia. As reported, activist of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools in Latvia Aleksandr Kazakov was expelled from Latvia in September of 2004, because of his activities against the implementation of the minority education reform.

On Friday 24 February, the Supreme Court Senate abolished the decision of the Minister of Interior about the inclusion of Aleksandr Kazakov in the list of persons who are denied entrance in Latvia. As reported, activist of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools in Latvia Aleksandr Kazakov was expelled from Latvia in September of 2004, because of his activities against the implementationof the minority education reform. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena, NRA

Chas reports on a discussion about developments in Latvias policies in ethnic issues during 10 years. Latvian intellectuals, who 10 years ago sent an open letter to the President of Latvia stating that Latvias ethnic policies are not democratic, took part in the discussion. There are several stereotypes in society: (… )Latvians consider that they are the minority in this country… there is also an opinion that those who have arrived to Latvia during the Soviet times should not be treated as national minorities.., stated journalist and publicist Viktors Avotins. Political scientist Maija Krumina argued that state should be hold responsible for the rise of nationalistic views in society during past five years. I do not know if the forum between Latvians and national minorities is possible, because I do not see those who are able to hold a discussion, said the Head of the Russian Culture Community in Latvia.

• 28% of Latvian citizens consider Russian language as their mother tongue
• Russian Policy Centre has awarded honorary diplomas for strengthening relations and friendship between Russians and Latvians
• Ministry of Education and Science is planning to implement a program in primary schools on the prevention of racism
• Administrative Regional Court turned down a complaint by a former teacher of Russian challenging the decision of the State Language Centre

According to the latest poll of the European Commission’s Public Opinion Analysis “Eurobarometer” 28 % of Latvian citizens consider Russian language as their native language, an increase by 4 % compared to the previously conducted official polls. The poll also showed that only 1% of citizens have native language other than Russian or Latvian.

According to the latest poll of the European Commissions Public Opinion Analysis Eurobarometer 28 % of Latvian citizens consider Russian language as their native language, an increase by 4 % compared to the previously conducted official polls. The poll also showed that only 1% of citizens have native language other than Russian or Latvian. Chas

Yesterday, the delegation of the Russian Policy Centre awarded Janis Urbanovics, the Head of the NGO “Baltic Forum” and several representatives from the Russian community in Latvia with honorary diplomas for strengthening relations and friendship between Russians and Latvians. The representative of the Russian Foreign Policy Centre Tatyana Poloskova stated that Russia knows about the problems of Russian speaking residents in Latvia and will continue to assist them. “Russians in Latvia have helped to build this country and they have the right to live here”, said Tatyana Poloskova.

Yesterday, the delegation of the Russian Policy Centre awarded Janis Urbanovics, the Head of the NGO Baltic Forum and several representatives from the Russian community in Latvia with honorary diplomas for strengthening relations and friendship between Russians and Latvians. The representative of the Russian Foreign Policy Centre Tatyana Poloskova stated that Russia knows about the problems of Russian speaking residents in Latvia and will continue to assist them. Russians in Latvia have helped to build this country and they have the right to live here, said Tatyana Poloskova. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The Ministry of Education and Science is planning to implement a program in primary schools on the prevention of racism. The Ministry considers that racism, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism can be prevented in the Latvian society only when students will study more history, literature, philosophy, ethics, culture, religion, and other arts subjects.

The Ministry of Education and Science is planning to implement a program in primary schools on the prevention of racism. The Ministry considers that racism, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism can be prevented in the Latvian society only when students will study more history, literature, philosophy, ethics, culture, religion, and other arts subjects. Chas

Yesterday, the Administrative Regional Court turned down the complaint of the Jurmala City Council deputy and ex-teacher of the Russian language and literature Zanna Kupcika challenging the decision of the State Language Centre on filing an administrative protocol and imposing a fine. As reported, in November 2004 during the Latvian language proficiency inspection in one of the Jurmala city Russian language schools, the inspectors of the State Language Centre filed an administrative protocol on Zanna Kupcika for refusal to speak with the inspectors. Kupcika is confident that the inspectors did not have the right to test her language proficiency skills and is planning to appeal the decision to a higher court.

Yesterday, the Administrative Regional Court turned down the complaint of the Jurmala City Council deputy and ex-teacher of the Russian language and literature Zanna Kupcika challenging the decision of the State Language Centre on filing an administrative protocol and imposing a fine. As reported, in November 2004 during the Latvian language proficiency inspection in one of the Jurmala city Russian language schools, the inspectors of the State Language Centre filed an administrative protocol on Zanna Kupcika for refusal to speak with the inspectors. Kupcika is confident that the inspectors did not have the right to test her language proficiency skills and is planning to appeal the decision to a higher court. Chas, Vesti Segodnya