• Chairman of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly René van der Linden talks about the situation of minorities in Latvia
• Chas continues to write about the court debates in the case of compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international standards
• Article about the European Commissioner for Human RightsAlvaro Gill-Robles

‘The Council of Europe is paying attention to the situation of Russian-speaking minority in Latvia,’ stated the Chairman of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) René van der Linden. He also noted that the PACE might take steps if the situation gets worse.

‘The Council of Europe is paying attention to the situation of Russian-speaking minority in Latvia, stated the Chairman of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) René van der Linden. He also noted that the PACE might take steps if the situation gets worse. Chas

Chas continues to write about the court debates in the case of compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international standards. Referring to statements of the MP Boris Cilevics, representative of the plaintiffs, the newspaper states that the implementation of the minority education reform was not a democratic process. The newspaper refers to the arguments of Boris Cilevics, who believes that the dialogue between minority representatives and the state was replaced by providing explanations about decisions taken; the establishment of the Advisory Board on Minority Education Issues under the Ministry of Education and Science was only an attempt to imitate an intensive dialogue. The MP also points out that proposals of the left-wing politicians regarding liberalisation of the reform has been refused eight times by the present Saeima.

Latvijas Avize prints an article in which the newspaper comments work of the European Commissioner for Human RightsAlvaro Gill-Robles. The newspaper states that Commissioners conclusions about the situation of minorities in the Baltic States depend on the position of Russia on these issues.

• Second Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools will take place in Riga this Sunday
• Articles about the criminal investigation of violation of ethnic and racial equality principles by Chas

The second Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools will take place in Riga this Sunday, 17 April. During the congress it is planned to discuss minority education issues as well as the status of Russian language in Latvia, and ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. According to the organisers, representatives of 36 NGOs and 50 Russian-language Schools are planning to participate in the congress.

The second Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools will take place in Riga this Sunday, 17 April. During the congress it is planned to discuss minority education issues as well as the status of Russian language in Latvia, and ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. According to the organisers, representatives of 36 NGOs and 50 Russian-language Schools are planning to participate in the congress. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers continue to write about the criminal investigation of violation of ethnic and racial equality, and restriction of human rights in publications of the Russian-language newspaper

Newspapers continue to write about the criminal investigation of violation of ethnic and racial equality, and restriction of human rights in publications of the Russian-language newspaper Chas. Complaint about five publications of Chas allegedly inciting ethnic hatred was submitted to the State Security Committee by Saeima MP Aleksandrs Kirsteins. The author of three out of five publications is the newspapers columnist Leonid Fedoseyev. The authors of other two publications are the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs, last year expelled from Latvia, and the students of Russian-language school. The editor-in-chief of the newspaper Ksenija Zagovorskaja allows for a possibility that that the real reason behind Kirsteins complaint is several publications of Chas about the MPs private real estate transactions. Chas prints opinions of Saeima MPs on this issue. Diena, Chas

• Continuing debates in the Constitutional Court on the minority education reform
• Saeimas committees discuss minority issues with a delegation of the Assembly of Western European Union
• Interview with the head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane
• Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee proposes amendments to the Immigration Law
• Chas reports on results of the study ‘Ethnopolitical Tensions in Latvia: Looking for the Conflict Solution
• Proceedings of the criminal case against the Russian-language newspaper Chas for incitement to national hatred

Newspapers continue to report on court debates in the case of compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international standards. Advisor to the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration Ilmars Mezs opposed statement of  the plaintiffs’ representative MP Boris Cilevics that implementation of minority education reform will not allow non-Latvian students to continue studies at secondary school. According to Mezs, amount of minority students continuing studies at secondary schools increased last year in comparison with the previous years. Education expert Valerijs Buhvalovs in his turn claimed that the reform lacks scientific grounds, and suggested amending the Law on Education in order to give schools a right to teach all lessons bilingually instead of observing language proportions. Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands Kehris was critical about the quality of dialogue between decision-makers and minority representatives. She also pointed to the fact that it still remains unclear, whether present language proportion is a temporary or a permanent norm.

Newspapers continue to report on court debates in the case of compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international standards. Advisor to the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration Ilmars Mezs opposed statement of the plaintiffs representative MP Boris Cilevics that implementation of minority education reform will not allow non-Latvian students to continue studies at secondary school. According to Mezs, amount of minority students continuing studies at secondary schools increased last year in comparison with the previous years. Education expert Valerijs Buhvalovs in his turn claimed that the reform lacks scientific grounds, and suggested amending the Law on Education in order to give schools a right to teach all lessons bilingually instead of observing language proportions. Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands Kehris was critical about the quality of dialogue between decision-makers and minority representatives. She also pointed to the fact that it still remains unclear, whether present language proportion is a temporary or a permanent norm. Lavijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegaf

Newspapers report on meeting of the representatives of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee and the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee with the delegation of the Assembly of Western European Union (AWEU). Among other topics, granting of voting rights for non-citizens in municipal elections, naturalisation process and implementation of the minority education reform were discussed during the meeting. Representatives of the AWEU pointed to the significance of ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Newspapers report on meeting of the representatives of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee and the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee with the delegation of the Assembly of Western European Union (AWEU). Among other topics, granting of voting rights for non-citizens in municipal elections, naturalisation process and implementation of the minority education reform were discussed during the meeting. Representatives of the AWEU pointed to the significance of ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Latvijas Vestnesis, Vesti Segodnya

Neatkariga Rita Avize prints an interview with the head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane. The official states that 16,064 persons passed naturalisation process last year, while 940 persons received Latvian citizenship in order of registration. There were also 1795 children of naturalised persons registered as Latvian citizens. Eizenija Aldermane foresees that present intensity of naturalisation, at the rate of more than 2,000 naturalisation applications per month, could stay unchanged for the next 12 – 18 months. When commenting on the results of the recent municipal elections, the chairperson disagrees with the commonly accepted statement about an explicitly ethnic voting, and points to the fact that in Daugavpils and Ventspils, where minorities live in substantial numbers, the so called ‘Russian parties did not received the largest amount of votes.

Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins proposed amendments to the Immigration Law to the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee. According to Kirsteins’s proposal, foreigners arriving in Latvia for permanent residence, employment or internship should sign a declaration of loyalty to the Latvian state, as well as undertake obligations to respect Latvian culture and traditions. Furthermore, Kirsteins believes that foreigners should pass a Latvian language examination.

Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins proposed amendments to the Immigration Law to the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee. According to Kirsteinss proposal, foreigners arriving in Latvia for permanent residence, employment or internship should sign a declaration of loyalty to the Latvian state, as well as undertake obligations to respect Latvian culture and traditions. Furthermore, Kirsteins believes that foreigners should pass a Latvian language examination. Vesti Segondnya

Chas reports on results of the study ‘Ethnopolitical Tensions in Latvia: Looking for the Conflict Solution by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences. Referring to the results of focus-group discussions conducted during the study, the newspaper states that residents of older and middle age allow for a possibility of an open ethnic conflict.

Russian-language newspaper

Russian-language newspaper Chas informs that its editor-in-chief Ksenija Zagovorskaya was interrogated by the State Security Police as a part of the criminal investigation of incitement to ethnic hatred by Chas, initiated after complaint of the MP Aleksandrs Kirsteins. The newspaper regards the investigation as an attempt of restricting freedom of speech and opinion. Chas also sent a letter to the Prosecutors General Office, asking to initiate a criminal case against Aleksandrs Kirsteins for his statements about the necessity of ‘face punches when talking to Russians.

• Constitutional Court reviews a claim about compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international standards
• A study ‘Ethnopolitical Tensions in Latvia: Looking for the Conflict Solution
• Articles about naturalisation process in Latvia
• Latvijas Avize about possibilities for maintenance of cultural identity foreseen by the minority schools curricular

Yesterday the Constitutional Court started reviewing a claim of 20 left-wing MPs challenging compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international standards. MP Boris Cilevics, who represents all plaintiffs, stated that by implementing the minority education reform the state discriminates against minorities, as quality of education is deteriorating because of the reform. A representative of Saeima Gunars Kusins responded that Cilevics’s claim is based on selective facts and subjective observations, as it is not possible to speak about any consequences of the reform before the end of the school year.  The president of the Latvian Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature (LATRLL) and a member of the Advisory Board on Minority Education Issues under the Ministry of Education and Science Tatjana Liguta stressed that the state does not want to listen to the opinion of Russian-speakers.  According to Liguta, not a single proposal of the LATRLL and the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools regarding minority education has been taken into account. Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands Kehre believes that there is no proof of discrimination, but that degree of minorities’ participation in political decisions on the reform could be questioned.

Yesterday the Constitutional Court started reviewing a claim of 20 left-wing MPs challenging compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international standards. MP Boris Cilevics, who represents all plaintiffs, stated that by implementing the minority education reform the state discriminates against minorities, as quality of education is deteriorating because of the reform. A representative of Saeima Gunars Kusins responded that Cilevicss claim is based on selective facts and subjective observations, as it is not possible to speak about any consequences of the reform before the end of the school year. The president of the Latvian Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature (LATRLL) and a member of the Advisory Board on Minority Education Issues under the Ministry of Education and Science Tatjana Liguta stressed that the state does not want to listen to the opinion of Russian-speakers. According to Liguta, not a single proposal of the LATRLL and the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools regarding minority education has been taken into account. Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands Kehre believes that there is no proof of discrimination, but that degree of minorities participation in political decisions on the reform could be questioned. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

‘The split between Latvians and Russian-speakers is increasing, and at the moment both communities are on edge of an ethnic conflict,’ writes Russian-language newspaper

‘The split between Latvians and Russian-speakers is increasing, and at the moment both communities are on edge of an ethnic conflict, writes Russian-language newspaper Telegraf referring to the results of the study ‘Ethnopolitical Tension in Latvia: Looking for the Conflict Solution by Baltic Institute of Social Sciences (BISS). According to the study, the main source of the conflict is a lack of agreement between ethnic majority and minorities on ethnic policies implemented by the state. For example, a significant majority of Latvians (77%) support minority education reform, while only 26% of Russians and 35% of representatives of other ethnic groups do so. On the other hand, 87% of Russians and 75% of representatives of other ethnic groups believe that Russian should be made a second official language in Latvia, while only 19% of Latvians support this idea. However, 84% of Latvians and 79% of Russian-speakers believe that in future Latvian society should be multinational, and 65% of Russians, as well as 75% of Latvians have never planned to leave Latvia forever. For the full text of the study, click here. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers feature articles about naturalisation process in Latvia.

Newspapers feature articles about naturalisation process in Latvia. Telegraf continues discussion on planned amendments to the Citizenship Law, featuring statements of different MPs about necessity of opening the law. The deputy head of Peoples Harmony Party parliamentary group Andrejs Agesins believes that naturalisation of persons older than 55 years should be facilitated, while chairman of the Unions of Farmers and Greens parliamentary group Augusts Brigmanis believes that the law should not be opened. Vesti Segodnya reports on meeting of the Saeima Subcommittee on Social Integration. According to the newspaper, head of Saeimas Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins proposed a moratorium on the naturalisation process.

Latvijas Avize prints an article about the everyday life of the Riga Estonian Secondary School, and an article on possibilities for minority students to maintain their cultural traditions foreseen by the minority schools curricular. The head of the Union of Latvias Poles Vanda Krukovska, as well as the chairman of the Riga Jewish Community Arkadijs Suharenko confirm that Polish and Jewish students learn about their national traditions during the school lessons. The chairman of Romany NGO Nevo drom Anatolijs Berezovskis draws attention to the fact that ethnic studies previously available for Romany students of the Tukums Secondary School Nr.3 are not offered anymore due to the lack of funds.

• State officials comment on necessary amendments to the Citizenship Law
• Opinions about the naturalisation process in Latvia
• Interview with the professor of the Moscow State Institute of International Affairs Vitaly Tretiakov on relationship between Latvia and Russia
• Academician Janis Freimanis talks about the possible ways of decolonisation and deoccupation of Latvia

Saeima could review the amendments to the Citizenship Law already this autumn, foresees Latvian daily

Saeima could review the amendments to the Citizenship Law already this autumn, foresees Latvian daily Diena. The newspaper also features the statements of several state officials about the necessary amendments to this law. The head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane points to the necessity to make amendments to define, the citizenship of which state should be conferred to child whose one parent is non-citizen of Latvia, but other – the citizen of foreign country. Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration Ainars Latkovskis believes that there is a necessity to include a universal norm banning a possibility that persons acting against the state and its security could acquire Latvian citizenship. The Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis has supported the opening of the law in order to define more precisely the prohibitions for persons disloyal to Latvia to acquire Latvian citizenship and to facilitate the naturalisation process of several groups of children. Diena

Latvijas Avize features the statements of the Saeima MPs Andris Berzins (Union of Farmers and Greens) and Dzintars Rasnacs (For Fatherland and Freedom.LNIM), and the representative of the NGO ‘Civic Initiative XXI Vjaceslavs Vasins about the naturalisation process in Latvia. Dzintars Rasnacs stresses that it is necessary to change the naturalisation process in order to make sure that naturalised persons are loyal to Latvia citizens. He also believes that the new Society Integration Conception should also be developed. While Andris Berzins believes that it would not be correct to change the naturalisation provisions in the middle of the way. When commenting of loyalty aspect, Vjaceslavs Vasins stresses that it is a private business of the person, at the same time recognising that the largest part of Russians in Latvia live in the some kind of ‘virtual Russia, not identifying themselves with Latvia and regarding the Latvian state as some ad hoc structure. He believes that the large support to the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia among recently naturalised persons could be attributed to the failure of the society integration policy as such as well as to the fact that at the moment the persons, who have protractedly waited for the zero citizenship option, are naturalise.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the professor of the Moscow State Institute of International Affairs Vitaly Tretiakov on relationship between Latvia and Russia. According to Vitaly Tretiakov, from the Russias point of view the granting of Latvian citizenship to the Russian-speakers without any additional political requirements for this group is the only serious problem to be solved.

Neatkariga Rita Avize features an article by an academician Janis Freimanis on possible ways towards unified society in Latvia. The academician believes that states realised integration policy is failed and that the complete integration of two communities (Latvian and Russian) on Latvian grounds is impossible. He stresses that in such situation it is necessary to regular weaken one of these communities, or at least, the most radical part of it. The author discusses the forcible decolonisation and deoccupation recognising it as unreal for Latvia as the EU state. At the same time Janis Freimanis states that the promotion of the voluntary emigration is also unacceptable for Latvia as it would require a financial support from the state budget. Hence, believes the author, the only possibility to attain the formation of the unified society is to promote the emigration of Russian minority to the European countries.