• Latvia will not respond to the statements made a representative of Russia’s Ministry of Foreign regarding attacks on Russian language and Russophobia in Baltic States
• Neatkariga interviews political scientist Ilze Ostrovska about geopolitical changes

Commenting recent statements made by a representative of the Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Russia will not tolerate attacks on Russian language and Russophobia in Baltic States including Latvia, a representative of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that such statement cannot be viewed as a personal opinion of a state official but it is official Russia’s position. However, the Ministry is not planning to respond on such provocative statement. According to the representative of the Ministry, by accusing other countries Russia’s officials try to hide unsatisfactory human rights situation in own country, to suppress criticism of international society towards Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and to hinder integration process in Latvia. Diena

Neatkariga interviews political scientist Ilze Ostrovska about geopolitical changes. According to her, the worst developments that can happen in Latvia is that after next 4-6 years, Latvia might receive is a proposal to establish a government of so-called pro-Russian parties in exchange for not being occupied. Mrs Ostrovska also believes that Russian will propose Latvia to join the Eurasian Union promising cheep oil and gas and such proposal will be hard to resist. Thus Latvia might take fatal errors. The only factor able to stop such developments is insight of politically active ethnic non-Latvians and Latvians that only occupants would benefit from the occupation.

• Russia’s Embassy protested against LTV1 accusations that the Embassy assists volunteers to join the separatists in East Ukraine
• Neatkariga interviews the MP Raivis Dzintars
• Days of Belorussian Culture start in Latgale

The Russia’s Embassy to Latvia submitted a protest to the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding a TV story broadcasted on LTV 1 according to which Russia’s Embassy assists persons willing to take part in the military actions in the Eastern Ukraine on the side of separatists. In the TV story, journalists interviewed anonymous persons who claimed to be residents of Latgale (region in the eastern part of Latvia) and planned to travel to the Eastern Ukraine as mercenaries. According to anonymous persons, Russia’s Embassy assists in processing with documents and promises to pay. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not approve credibility of such information arguing that such issue is in the competence of the security services. Vesti Segodnya

Neatkariga interviews the MP, one of the leaders of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM Raivis Dzintars. As one of the strategic actions aimed at strengthening of sense of belonging to Latvia among its residents, Mr Dzintars proposes the state to define a national order for commercial media as well as complete implementation of national order in public media. The order should be oriented towards ethnic Latvians and representatives of other ethnicities, says Mr Dzintars. Mr Dzintars also says that if the Concord Centre, who has signed the co-operation agreement with Putin’s party and supported granting Russian language status of official language in Latvia,  comes into the government after the upcoming parliamentary elections it would be a signal to the world that allegedly Latvia also wants to become Russia’s subordinate country.

Vesti Segodnya reports about the launch of Days of Belorussian Culture in Latgale region named “Love Latvia, Remember your Roots.” The aim of the event is to acquaint Latvian residents with Belorussian culture and to remind that Belorussian diaspora is integral part of Latvia.

• The Saeima’s Committee supported the proposal to forbid foreign language proficiency requirements in the work contracts, unless such proficiency is necessary for the fulfilment of job duties
• Conference “Russian World in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia” conducted in the House of Moscow in Riga

The Saeima’s Committee on Social and Labour Affairs supported draft amendments to the Labour Law proposed by the MP from the nationalists’ union Vineta Porina stipulating that a work contract shall not include foreign language proficiency requirement unless such proficiency is necessary for the fulfilment of job duties. As reported, such proposal did not gain support of the Latvian Employer’s Confederation. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports about a conference “Russian World in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia” conducted in the House of Moscow in Riga this weekend. The participants discussed options how to unite Russians in different countries and criticized the alleged growth of Russophobia in the EU countries and neo-Nazi and fascist sentiments, as well as double standards regarding these issues. Representative of the Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs compared the recently adopted Preamble to the Constitution of Latvia with a Nazi slogan “Germany for Germans”.

• Saeima refused the draft amendments to the Immigration Law, which envisioned a ban on the issuing of residence permits to Russian investors
• Latvijas Avize: Nils Usakovs met with representatives of the U.S. Department of State to discuss the situation of ethnic minorities and integration issues in Latvia

Yesterday, the Saeima refused the draft amendments to the Immigration Law, which envisioned a ban on the issuing of residence permits to Russian investors and owners of expensive real estate. The proposal was submitted by the nationalists’ union All for Latvia/FF-LNIM with an aim to restrict the influx into Latvia of Russian citizens who possess certain economic influence. The nationalists proposed to restrict issuing of residence permits as long as Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine continues. Diena, Vesti Segodnya 

Latvijas Avize reports about a visit of the leader of the party “Concord” and the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs to the U.S.A. In the framework of the visit, Mr Usakovs met with representatives of the U.S. Department of State to discuss the situation and rights of ethnic minorities as well integration issues in Latvia.  The newspaper notes that Mr Usakovs visited the U.S.A as representative of the party. Shortly before this visit he also visited Russian Federation, but next week he plans to meet the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz.

• Latvijas Avize prints an article about action plan of the Guidelines of National Identity, Civil Society and Integration Policy for 2014-2016
• Protestors against language reform 2004 discussed their previous activities
• Latvijas Avize reports about a film “Russian Schools to exist” created to remind about the protests against language reform 2004 and to activate residents for new protests

Latvijas Avize prints an article about action plan of the Guidelines of National Identity, Civil Society and Integration Policy 2012-2018 elaborated by the Ministry of Culture. The action plan was announced at the meeting of State Secretaries and foresees actions for 2014-2016. The plan foresees different activities aimed at development of civil society including support to NGOs, strengthening of national identity, and promoting common social memory. The activities engage different ministries and state institutions: the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Culture, National Council on Electronic Mass Media, Society Integration Foundation, and State Chancellery. The newspapers notes that for activities to be done in 2014 it is foreseen to allocate about 2,5 millions euros, for 2015 – more than 11 millions, and for 2016 – 10,6 millions. However, the funding planned by the Guidelines were not granted yet for implementation of all the activities. The newspaper also questions whether all the planned activities are effective and require such funding. The director of the Education Department of the Ministry of Education also doubts the activities written in the plan, because those activities duplicate activities listed in policy documents of other ministries.

Vesti Segodnya reports about a discussion of persons who took part in the protest actions against language reform in ethnic minority schools 2004. The discussion was organised in the framework of the conference of Russian compatriots in connection with a new language reform in ethnic minority schools scheduled for 2018. According to the discussion, one of the most difficult aspects taking actions against the reform was establishment of a dialogue between schools representatives and state authorities.

Latvijas Avize reports about a film “Russian Schools to exist” created by an activist for protection of the Russian language schools, member of the Congress of Non-citizens Aleksandrs Gaponenko. According to the newspaper, the film reminds about the protests against language reform in ethnic minority schools 2004. The film asserts that the aim of the reform was assimilation of Russian children and that only mass protest actions, hunger strikes, conferences and other actions helped to soften the government’s plans, which was forced to introduce the 60/40 proportion in minority secondary schools, thus allowing to teach up to 40% in native language, as well as forced to leave minority basic education intact. The aim of the film is to activate Russian language residents in Latvia to protest against government plans to transfer almost all education content in minority schools into Latvian language starting with 2018.