• Saeima does not adopt proposed amendments to the Citizenship Law
• Intergroup for the Defence of Traditional National Minorities, Constitutional Regions and Regional Languages of the European Parliament discussed integration in Latvia yesterday
• National Radio and TV Council imposes a fine on the Russian-language Radio PIK
• Author of several books on the Holocaust Leonids Kovals reproaches the Latvian President for being Russophobic
• Ratings of political parties

Yesterday Saeima turned down proposed amendments to the Citizenship Law, submitted by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia. The proposed amendments stipulated that persons who have completed elementary or general secondary education at state or municipal educational institutions after 1 September 1999 may acquire Latvian citizenship through registration. The amendments also stipulated that Latvian citizenship may be granted to persons who have completed elementary or general secondary education at private educational institutions, which provide at least a half of all classes, including foreign languages, in the state language.

Yesterday Saeima turned down proposed amendments to the Citizenship Law, submitted by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia. The proposed amendments stipulated that persons who have completed elementary or general secondary education at state or municipal educational institutions after 1 September 1999 may acquire Latvian citizenship through registration. The amendments also stipulated that Latvian citizenship may be granted to persons who have completed elementary or general secondary education at private educational institutions, which provide at least a half of all classes, including foreign languages, in the state language. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Yesterday the Intergroup for the Defence of Traditional National Minorities, Constitutional Regions and Regional Languages of the European Parliament discussed integration issues in Latvia. Majority of Intergroup’s members admitted that the implementation of the minority education reform is legitimate and argued that Russian-speakers who live in Latvia should speak Latvian. However, MPs also noted that it is not normal that about 450,000 permanent residents of Latvia do not have Latvian citizenship.

Yesterday the Intergroup for the Defence of Traditional National Minorities, Constitutional Regions and Regional Languages of the European Parliament discussed integration issues in Latvia. Majority of Intergroups members admitted that the implementation of the minority education reform is legitimate and argued that Russian-speakers who live in Latvia should speak Latvian. However, MPs also noted that it is not normal that about 450,000 permanent residents of Latvia do not have Latvian citizenship. Latvijas Vestnesis, Latvijas Avize

The opinion poll conducted by the company

The opinion poll conducted by the company Latvijas fakti shows that the New Era has remained the most popular political party in February – 11.7% citizens would vote for the party in municipal elections. Ratings of other parties are the following: the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia – 10%, the Peoples Party – 9.7%, the Union of Farmers and Greens – 7.5%, the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM – 5.7%, the Latvias First Party – 3.9%. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

The National Radio and TV Council imposed a fine in the amount of LVL 700 (EUR 996) on the Russian-language Radio PIK for violating rules of the state language usage. According to the broadcasting programme of the Radio PIK, at least 75% of broadcast should be in the Latvian language. Nevertheless, the two-day monitoring of the radio’s broadcast revealed that during the first day the radio followed the rules, while the next day there was no programmes in Latvian at all.

The National Radio and TV Council imposed a fine in the amount of LVL700 (EUR996) on the Russian-language Radio PIK for violating rules of the state language usage. According to the broadcasting programme of the Radio PIK, at least 75% of broadcast should be in the Latvian language. Nevertheless, the two-day monitoring of the radios broadcast revealed that during the first day the radio followed the rules, while the next day there was no programmes in Latvian at all. Chas

Latvijas Avize, referring to the national news agency LETA, reports on the letter of the author of several books on the Holocaust Leonids Kovals to the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. In his letter Leonids Kovals points out that the Presidents personal experience of being a refugee after World War II has resulted in intolerance towards the Russian nation. The writer sharply criticizes the attitude of the President as well as the Latvian society towards events of the World War II. He states that for 14 years since Latvia re-established independence Russians have been objects of irrational hatred in the country.

• Administrative District Court cancels decision of Ludza Election Commission which prohibited candidates from the Latvia Socialist Party to stand for municipal elections in Ludza
• Neatkariga Rita Avize features a commentary on usage of the minority education reform as a political instrument during the pre-election campaign
• Russian-language newspapers print large interviews with three members of FHRUL standing for municipal elections in Riga
• Konstantin Kosatchev: situation of Russian-speakers in Estonia is better than in Latvia
• Liepaja City Council authorises organisation of the procession on the Commemoration day for the Latvian Legion

Administrative District Court has satisfied a claim of two former activists of the Soviet Union’s Communist Party Fridijs Bokiss and Filips Strogonovs, cancelling  decision of the Ludza Election Commission prohibiting them to stand for municipal elections in Ludza from the Latvian Socialist Party. Election Commission based their decision upon the previous judgements of the Riga Central Court, which in 1995 established that both deputy candidates have collaborated with the Communist Party of Latvia after 13 January 1991 and hence cannot stand for Saeima elections. The Administrative District Court ruled that the fact of these persons’ collaboration with the Communist Party after the 13 January 1991 was not fully proven, and hence there are no restrictions for Fridijs Bokiss and Filips Strogonovs to stand for municipal elections.

Administrative District Court has satisfied a claim of two former activists of the Soviet Unions Communist Party Fridijs Bokiss and Filips Strogonovs, cancelling decision of the Ludza Election Commission prohibiting them to stand for municipal elections in Ludza from the Latvian Socialist Party. Election Commission based their decision upon the previous judgements of the Riga Central Court, which in 1995 established that both deputy candidates have collaborated with the Communist Party of Latvia after 13 January 1991 and hence cannot stand for Saeima elections. The Administrative District Court ruled that the fact of these persons collaboration with the Communist Party after the 13 January 1991 was not fully proven, and hence there are no restrictions for Fridijs Bokiss and Filips Strogonovs to stand for municipal elections. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Neatkariga Rita Avize features a commentary on the usage of minority education reform by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia as a political instrument during the pre-election campaign. According to columnist Viktors Avotins, FHRUL (party Equality) and the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language schools have abandoned the initial goal of protecting the quality of education, turning the issue of education reform into an instrument of political manipulation in favour of a particular party. The journalist also stresses that it is not possible to talk neither about the unitary position of the opposition parties nor about consolidate attitude of Russian community towards the education reform.

Chas and Vesti Segodnya print large interviews with two journalists of Russian-language media, Elina Cujanova and Jurijs Aleksejevs, who stand for municipal elections in Riga from the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL), as well as with one of the leaders of the FHRUL Jurijs Petropavlovskis. According to Elina Cujanova, the deputies of the Riga City Council have a possibility to minimise losses caused by the ill-prepared minority education reform to the Russian-language schools. The journalist also believes that Riga City Council should form a working group to carry out an objective and independent appraisal of the minority students knowledge of subjects taught in Latvian. Cujanova also believes that there is a necessity to provide additional lessons in minority languages for students who are not able to acquire a subject in Latvian, as well as necessity of improvement of the Latvian language teaching in minority kindergartens. At the same time, Jurijs Petropavlovskis stresses that the FHRULs goal is not to achieve the status of second state language for Russian, but rather a status of a second official language.

‘The situation of Russian-speakers in Estonia is better than in Latvia’ stated the chairman of the Russia State Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosatchev. The Russian official mentions granting of the rights for foreigners permanently living in this state to participate in municipal elections, as well as ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and deliberated implementation of the minority education reform in Estonia as prerequisites of better relationship between Russia and Estonia.

‘The situation of Russian-speakers in Estonia is better than in Latvia stated the chairman of the Russia State Councils Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosatchev. The Russian official mentions granting of the rights for foreigners permanently living in this state to participate in municipal elections, as well as ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and deliberated implementation of the minority education reform in Estonia as prerequisites of better relationship between Russia and Estonia. Telegraf

Liepaja City Council has authorised organisation of the procession on the Commemoration day for the Latvian Legion on 16 March despite warnings about possible violence during the event expressed by the representatives of left-wing political parties. Latvian National Democratic party and For Human Rights in the United Latvia in collaboration with the Russian Community of Liepaja and other organisations are planning to ask Liepaja City Council to recall the authorisation of the procession, otherwise they will organise protest actions on 16 March.

Liepaja City Council has authorised organisation of the procession on the Commemoration day for the Latvian Legion on 16 March despite warnings about possible violence during the event expressed by the representatives of left-wing political parties. Latvian National Democratic party and For Human Rights in the United Latvia in collaboration with the Russian Community of Liepaja and other organisations are planning to ask Liepaja City Council to recall the authorisation of the procession, otherwise they will organise protest actions on 16 March. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

• Former Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Nils Muiznieks welcomes the decision of the State Security Police to initiate a criminal case against the newspaper DDD
• Vesti Segodnya continues to write about difficulties to register newborn children whose one parent is a Latvian non-citizen and the other is a citizen of a foreign country
• Group of minority students and their parents will visit the European Parliament
• Constitutional Court reviews the claim challenging the prohibitions for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia to hold certain offices

The Former Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Nils Muiznieks welcomes the decision of the State Security Police to initiate a criminal case against the national radical newspaper

The Former Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Nils Muiznieks welcomes the decision of the State Security Police to initiate a criminal case against the national radical newspaper DDD for incitement of national hatred. Nils Muiznieks hopes that this decision will motivate politicians to stay away from any collaborations with representatives of national radical organisations. Diena

Vesti Segodnya continues to write about difficulties to register newborn children whose one parent is a Latvian non-citizen and the other is a citizen of a foreign country with the Register of Residents. According to the effective legislation, officials of the Citizenship and Migration Office refuse to register these newborn children in any status but as citizens of the country whose subject is one of childs parents. The newspaper stresses that the legislation of Latvia does not define an exact status of a child, born in family of a non-citizen and a foreigner.

Following the invitation of the deputy of the European Parliament Tatjana Zdanoka, a group of minority students and their parents will visit Strasbourg this week. According to the leader of the For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners, students are planning to visit the European Parliament and meet its deputies. The newspaper also reports that tomorrow Latvia’s integration issues will be discussed in the Intergroup for the Defence of Traditional National Minorities, Constitutional Regions and Regional Languages of the European Parliament.

Following the invitation of the deputy of the European Parliament Tatjana Zdanoka, a group of minority students and their parents will visit Strasbourg this week. According to the leader of the For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners, students are planning to visit the European Parliament and meet its deputies. The newspaper also reports that tomorrow Latvias integration issues will be discussed in the Intergroup for the Defence of Traditional National Minorities, Constitutional Regions and Regional Languages of the European Parliament. Telegraf

Yesterday the Constitutional Court of Latvia reviewed a claim submitted by MPs of left-wing parties (the People’s Harmony Party, For Human Rights in the United Latvia and the Latvia’s Socialist Party). The application challenges the decision of Saeima to prolong prohibitions for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia to hold certain offices and naturalize within 10 years. MPs believe that the Saeima’s decision does not comply with the Constitution of Latvia. The Court will issue its decision in a month.

Yesterday the Constitutional Court of Latvia reviewed a claim submitted by MPs of left-wing parties (the Peoples Harmony Party, For Human Rights in the United Latvia and the Latvias Socialist Party). The application challenges the decision of Saeima to prolong prohibitions for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia to hold certain offices and naturalize within 10 years. MPs believe that the Saeimas decision does not comply with the Constitution of Latvia. The Court will issue its decision in a month. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

• Article about the education reform
• State Security Police initiate a criminal case on violating national and racial equality and restricting human rights
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Russia attempts to draw attention of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to the minority situation in Latvia
• Russian publicist and political analyst Vitaly Tretiakov talks about social integration in Latvia

Neatkariga Rita Avize features an article about the education reform. The Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete believes that parties should not manipulate with the education reform in their pre-election programs and adds that she is always ready to discuss any problems as well as pseudo-problems concerning the implementation of the reform. The Head of the Education State Inspection Zigfrids Grinpauks argues that all preconditions for successful implementation of the reform were ensured, however, he notes that teachers Latvian language skills could have been better. The official reports that thorough inspections in minority schools will be conducted in April and May. The researcher of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Svetlana Djackova notes that issues concerning the minority education reform have piled up within last years. She believes that the governments readiness to establish a dialogue, depoliticise the reform and increase the involvement of schools, parents and students in the implementation of the reform are the prerequisites for reaching a compromise.

The State Security Police has initiated a criminal case against the national radical newspaper

The State Security Police has initiated a criminal case against the national radical newspaper DDD on violating national and racial equality and restricting human rights. As reported, the former Parliamentary Secretary of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Aleksandrs Brandavs asked the General Prosecutors Office to evaluate few articles printed by the newspaper as according to Aleksandrs Brandavs the articles contained anti-Semitic statements. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize prints an article about ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The article provides the analyses of experiences of other European countries.

In the session of the Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Russia tried to draw attention of the organisation to the minority situation in Latvia. Russia pointed to the plans of the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia to implement the primary education reform, which foresees the reduction of classes in a native language, and argued that it would bring new protest actions against the education reform. Russia called the OSCE to intervene in this situation.

In the session of the Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Russia tried to draw attention of the organisation to the minority situation in Latvia. Russia pointed to the plans of the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia to implement the primary education reform, which foresees the reduction of classes in a native language, and argued that it would bring new protest actions against the education reform. Russia called the OSCE to intervene in this situation. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with Russian publicist and political analyst Vitaly Tretiakov about social integration in Latvia. Vitaly Tretiakov criticizes Latvia for the implementation of the education reform. He states that Latvia implements discriminating policies towards Russian-speakers and that Latvia does not observe even minimal standards of human rights.

• Latvias integration issues will be discussed in the Intergroup for the Defence of Traditional National Minorities, Constitutional Regions and Regional Languages of the European Parliament
• Association of the Slavic Cultures (Monpelie, France) blames Latvia for the implementation of assimilating integration policies
• Union of Belorussian Societies in Latvia: the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities should be ratified without reservations
• Statistics on foreigners living in Latvia

The advisor of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ilmars Mezs and the advisor of the Minister of Education Andris Geizans will visit Strasbourg this week to discuss the minority education reform and non-citizens issue with representatives of the Intergroup for the Defence of Traditional National Minorities, Constitutional Regions and Regional Languages of the European Parliament.

The advisor of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ilmars Mezs and the advisor of the Minister of Education Andris Geizans will visit Strasbourg this week to discuss the minority education reform and non-citizens issue with representatives of the Intergroup for the Defence of Traditional National Minorities, Constitutional Regions and Regional Languages of the European Parliament. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya reports on the correspondence between the Association of the Slavic Cultures (Monpelie, France) and the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The organisation calls the Latvian authorities to stop assimilating integration policies and to give the Russian language the status of the second state language. The authors of the letter also express support for opponents of the minority education reform. The association also reveals its plans to organise several international conferences about Russophobia in Latvia. In her response the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga states that there is no reason for concern and argues that associations statements are based on false information. The President stresses that Latvia implements the minority education reform, which is not the elimination of secondary education in the Russian language.

Chas prints an article about the conference ‘Latvia – Belorussia: the Dialogue of the Cultures, organised by the Union of Belorussian Societies in Latvia. The conferences participants from Riga, Daugavpils, Liepaja, Kraslava and other places stressed the significance of the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. They argued that no reservations should be introduced. Belorussians are the second largest minority in Latvia, however, only 30% of them have Latvian citizenship.

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 23,000 out of 34,500 foreigners or persons, who live in Latvia but have citizenship of another country, are Russian citizens. There are also 2,400 Ukrainian citizens, approximately the same number of Lithuanian citizens, 1,600 Belorussian citizens, 600 Estonian citizens and 400 USA citizens.

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 23,000 out of 34,500 foreigners or persons, who live in Latvia but have citizenship of another country, are Russian citizens. There are also 2,400 Ukrainian citizens, approximately the same number of Lithuanian citizens, 1,600 Belorussian citizens, 600 Estonian citizens and 400 USA citizens. Chas