• Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij pays a visit to the Occupation Museum of Latvia
• Seven persons sought asylum in Latvia last year
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga talks about Latvian Russian relations

In response to the invitation of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks, the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij paid a visit to the Occupation Museum of Latvia. Although Latvian state officials hoped that the visit will help the Ambassador to look at the history from Latvia’s perspective, the Ambassador did not recognise occupation of Latvia and stated that in the Occupation Museum the history is presented in a ‘illiterate way.’ Viktor Kaluznij expressed his incomprehension about placement of the Adolf Hitler’s portrait  next to the portrait of Joseph Stalin. The Ambassador noted that ‘their activities are not comparable.’ Viktor Kaluznij is the first Russian ambassador who has visited the Occupation Museum.

In response to the invitation of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks, the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij paid a visit to the Occupation Museum of Latvia. Although Latvian state officials hoped that the visit will help the Ambassador to look at the history from Latvias perspective, the Ambassador did not recognise occupation of Latvia and stated that in the Occupation Museum the history is presented in a ‘illiterate way. Viktor Kaluznij expressed his incomprehension about placement of the Adolf Hitlers portrait next to the portrait of Joseph Stalin. The Ambassador noted that ‘their activities are not comparable. Viktor Kaluznij is the first Russian ambassador who has visited the Occupation Museum. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Seven persons coming from Egypt, Belorussia, Azerbaijan, Rumania and Georgia sought asylum in Latvia last year. Nobody has been granted a refugee status.

Seven persons coming from Egypt, Belorussia, Azerbaijan, Rumania and Georgia sought asylum in Latvia last year. Nobody has been granted a refugee status. Vesti Segodnya

Neatkariga Rita Avize reprints the excerpts of the interview of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, published by the Austrian newspaper Die Presse. When commenting on Latvian Russian relations, the President states that now Latvian Russian relations are at the lowest possible point and nothing can be worse. The President categorically refuses a possibility to sign a border agreement with Russia on 10 May.

• 85,352 Latvian non-citizens have naturalised since 1995
• Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks apologises to the Holocausts victims

According to the information of the Naturalisation Board, 85,352 non-citizens, among them 10,770 minors, have received Latvian citizenship through the naturalisation process within last 10 years. Naturalisation process in Latvia was launched on 1 February 1995.

According to the information of the Naturalisation Board, 85,352 non-citizens, among them 10,770 minors, have received Latvian citizenship through the naturalisation process within last 10 years. Naturalisation process in Latvia was launched on 1 February 1995. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

In his speech at the event in memory of the Holocaust’s victims in Salaspils the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks on the behalf of the state apologised to the Holocaust’s victims. The Minister apologised for inability of Latvia, which did not have the status of state at that time, to protect people in Latvia from the Holocaust.

In his speech at the event in memory of the Holocausts victims in Salaspils the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks on the behalf of the state apologised to the Holocausts victims. The Minister apologised for inability of Latvia, which did not have the status of state at that time, to protect people in Latvia from the Holocaust. Latvijas Vestnesis, Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

• Newspapers report on commemoration of the Holocaust

Newspapers report on today’s events planed in memory of Holocaust victims. The Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks, state officials, representatives of the diplomatic corpus and members of the Jewish community will participate in the events at the Salaspils and Rumbula memorials. During the Holocaust in Latvia at least 30, 000 people were murdered in the Salaspils concentration camp and more than 25,000 Jews were shot in the Rumbula forest in 1941. The National Television will broadcast a premiere of the documental film

Newspapers report on todays events planed in memory of Holocaust victims. The Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks, state officials, representatives of the diplomatic corpus and members of the Jewish community will participate in the events at the Salaspils and Rumbula memorials. During the Holocaust in Latvia at least 30, 000 people were murdered in the Salaspils concentration camp and more than 25,000 Jews were shot in the Rumbula forest in 1941. The National Television will broadcast a premiere of the documental film Incineration of the Victims about the Holocaust in Latvia today. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas

• Diena: the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools attempts to cause social instability
• Professor, dr.jur.habil. Juris Bojars comments on ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Latvian government appoints the ECHR special judge from Latvia in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka
• Peoples Harmony Party proposes amendments to the Law on Politically Repressed Persons
• Left-wing parties call teachers and parents of minority students to submit any information on the influence of the minority education reform on the level of academic success of minority students
• Russian-language newspaper reproach authors of a new text book for distortion of the Latvian history
• Russian language school teachers from all Baltic States meet in Riga
• Former Minister of Economics Juris Lujans (Latvias First Party) comments the stance of the party on social integration issues

The daily

The daily Diena argues that the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools, after their failure to stop the implementation of the minority education reform, probably, attempts to cause social instability by encouraging employees of several industries (for example, nurses and bus drivers) to start strikes. According to the daily the Headquarters is acting through the recently formed organisation Latvian Council of Labour Unions (LCLU). Activists of the Headquarters as well as the LCLU refuse reproaches and state that these two organisations do not have anything in common. However, Diena states that there is a link between the two organisations – the leader of the LCLU Janis Kuzins together with members of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) fought against the minority education reform. The Minister of Health Gundars Berzins and the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis announced that the plans of LCLU to organise a strike in February is a pre-election campaign. Neatkariga Rita Avize prints an article of Aigars Lavrinovics, the President of the Latvian Union of Nurses, who is one of LCLU members. Aigars Lavrinovics denies any assumptions that the FHRUL and LCLU are co-operating. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an article by the professor, dr.jur.habil. Juris Bojars on ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Juris Bojars believes that it is very important that Latvia adopts its own minority definition. According to the professor, in case of Latvia national minorities should be defined on citizenship, historical and numerical criteria. Juris Bojars argues that the state will not be able to provide primary education in minority languages for about 100 ethnic minorities living in Latvia.

Professor of International Law of the Lund University Ineta Ziemele is appointed by the Latvian Government to the post of a special judge of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka. As reported, Latvia has appealed the verdict of Small Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights which ruled that the state of Latvia has violated the right of Zdanoka to free elections and obligated to pay EUR 10,000 for moral damages and to compensate the court and travel expenses.

Professor of International Law of the Lund University Ineta Ziemele is appointed by the Latvian Government to the post of a special judge of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka. As reported, Latvia has appealed the verdict of Small Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights which ruled that the state of Latvia has violated the right of Zdanoka to free elections and obligated to pay EUR10,000 for moral damages and to compensate the court and travel expenses. Diena

The Parliamentary Faction of the People’s Harmony Party issued an official statement calling to introduce amendments to the Law on Politically Repressed Persons. The effective law foresees giving the status of a politically repressed person to those who suffered from Nazi activities in 1942-1943 and Latvian citizens who were deported from Latvia to forced labour camps in other countries. While the PHP suggests that the status of a politically repressed person should be granted to all those persons who were sent to labour camps in Germany and other countries from 22 June 1941 till 8 May 1945, as well as to those permanent residents who were inmates of prisons, ghettos and concentration camps located in Latvia, Germany and other countries. The Party stresses that Latvian non-citizens should be the subjects of the Law on Politically Repressed Persons.

The Parliamentary Faction of the Peoples Harmony Party issued an official statement calling to introduce amendments to the Law on Politically Repressed Persons. The effective law foresees giving the status of a politically repressed person to those who suffered from Nazi activities in 1942-1943 and Latvian citizens who were deported from Latvia to forced labour camps in other countries. While the PHP suggests that the status of a politically repressed person should be granted to all those persons who were sent to labour camps in Germany and other countries from 22 June 1941 till 8 May 1945, as well as to those permanent residents who were inmates of prisons, ghettos and concentration camps located in Latvia, Germany and other countries. The Party stresses that Latvian non-citizens should be the subjects of the Law on Politically Repressed Persons. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Constitutional Court of Latvia announced that the claim challenging the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia and international norms will be reviewed in a public hearing. Therefore MPs of the three opposition parties, who are the authors of the claim, call parents of minority students and teachers to participate in this case and submit any information on how the implementation of the education reform has influenced the level of academic success of minority students.

The Constitutional Court of Latvia announced that the claim challenging the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia and international norms will be reviewed in a public hearing. Therefore MPs of the three opposition parties, who are the authors of the claim, call parents of minority students and teachers to participate in this case and submit any information on how the implementation of the education reform has influenced the level of academic success of minority students. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday the presentation of the book ‘The Latvian History: XX Century’ took place.  The Russian language newspapers note that the book is published in two languages, however, they state that the authors of the book ‘have carefully avoided talking about atrocious events committed during the Nazi regime in Latvia.’

Yesterday the presentation of the book ‘The Latvian History: XX Century took place. The Russian language newspapers note that the book is published in two languages, however, they state that the authors of the book ‘have carefully avoided talking about atrocious events committed during the Nazi regime in Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Chas reports on the meeting of teachers of Russian-language schools from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The meeting took place in Riga. Teachers agreed to organise regular meetings to support each in their efforts to develop and protect Russian schools.

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the former Minister of Economics Juris Lujans (Latvia's First Party) running for post of Riga Mayor in the forthcoming municipal elections. When asked to comment the stance of his party on social integration issues, Juris Lujans states that Latvian First Party will not support granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. The Party will not support the cancellation of the minority education reform either. Juris Lujans states that the draft Law on Minority Education, initiated by the former Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, has not received the support of the governing coalition and hence it is not forwarded for its revision in Saeima. He states: ‘We hope that loyal Russian speakers who have moderate political views will vote for us. However, he notes that there is a lack of choices of political parties for Russian speakers and that leads to rather monolithic support for the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia.

• Left-wing politicians challenge the Law on Education
• Member of the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Boris Tsilevitch will survey CoE member states that have not ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Union For Human Rights in the United Latvia launches a campaign ‘FHRUL does the job of the Central Election Commission

20 MPs of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia, the People’s Harmony Party and the Latvian Socialist Party signed a petition and filed it with the Constitutional Court. MPs call the court to recognise a norm, which stipulates the prohibition on state and municipalities to finance private schools that provide education in foreign languages, in breach with the Constitution of Latvia and international norms. The MPs believe that the effective norm discriminates against private schools, which provide education in minority languages.

20 MPs of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia, the Peoples Harmony Party and the Latvian Socialist Party signed a petition and filed it with the Constitutional Court. MPs call the court to recognise a norm, which stipulates the prohibition on state and municipalities to finance private schools that provide education in foreign languages, in breach with the Constitution of Latvia and international norms. The MPs believe that the effective norm discriminates against private schools, which provide education in minority languages. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The member of Saeima and the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Boris Tsilevitch (the People’s Harmony Party) will survey those CoE member states that have not ratified a Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The goal of the survey is to find out reasons for non-ratification of the Convention. Boris Tsilevitch will use this information in his rapport. As reported, Boris Tsilevitch is nominated a key rapporteur on the implementation of ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in a number of European countries.

The member of Saeima and the Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Boris Tsilevitch (the Peoples Harmony Party) will survey those CoE member states that have not ratified a Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The goal of the survey is to find out reasons for non-ratification of the Convention. Boris Tsilevitch will use this information in his rapport. As reported, Boris Tsilevitch is nominated a key rapporteur on the implementation of ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in a number of European countries. Latvijas Avize

Responding to the decision of the Head of the Central Election Commission Arnis Cimdars to stop a broadcast of municipal election campaign’s clips which provide information about voting procedure in the Russian language, the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) has launched a public awareness campaign ‘FHRUL does the job of the Central Election Commission.’ According to representatives of the union, approximately 30 persons have already received information about the voting procedure. The majority are interested in possibilities of Latvian non-citizens to participate in the forthcoming municipal elections.

Responding to the decision of the Head of the Central Election Commission Arnis Cimdars to stop a broadcast of municipal election campaigns clips which provide information about voting procedure in the Russian language, the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) has launched a public awareness campaign ‘FHRUL does the job of the Central Election Commission. According to representatives of the union, approximately 30 persons have already received information about the voting procedure. The majority are interested in possibilities of Latvian non-citizens to participate in the forthcoming municipal elections. Chas