Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Ministry of Education and Science proposes amendments to the Law on Education
• FHRULs proposals to the Law on Education have been rejected by the Saeimas Education, Culture and Science Committee
• Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry expresses incomprehension on the expressions of the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Shadurskis
• Prohibition to stand for European Parliament elections for ex-officials of the State Security Committee may be incompliant with the Latvian Constitution and EU standards

Ministry of Education and Science is preparing amendments to the Law on Education, which foresee granting the civil servants’ status to the school directors from September 1, 2004. The same would apply to the deputy directors from the year 2007. Approximately 20% of school directors are non-citizens today.

Ministry of Education and Science is preparing amendments to the Law on Education, which foresee granting the civil servants status to the school directors from September 1, 2004. The same would apply to the deputy directors from the year 2007. Approximately 20% of school directors are non-citizens today. Diena, Rigas Balss, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Vechernaya Riga, Telegraf

Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee have rejected all proposals of the parliamentary group For Human Rights in the United Latvia to the Law on Education. The FHRUL has suggested granting the right for schools’ administration, students and parents to define the language of instruction, and the rights for minority students to present their theses in the mother tongue.

Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee have rejected all proposals of the parliamentary group For Human Rights in the United Latvia to the Law on Education. The FHRUL has suggested granting the right for schools administration, students and parents to define the language of instruction, and the rights for minority students to present their theses in the mother tongue. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Vechernaya Riga

Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry has expressed incomprehension of the expressions of the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Shadurskis, who blamed the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools and the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools for motivating minority representatives to join in the destructive actions.

Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry has expressed incomprehension of the expressions of the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Shadurskis, who blamed the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools and the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools for motivating minority representatives to join in the destructive actions. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Yesterday Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has not made a decision on the possible prohibition to stand for European Parliament elections for ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991. According to the Saeima Bureau of Legal Affairs, the prohibition is controversial and can be recognized as incompatible with the Latvian Constitution and the EU standards. Final decision may be made within two weeks.

Yesterday Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has not made a decision on the possible prohibition to stand for European Parliament elections for ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991. According to the Saeima Bureau of Legal Affairs, the prohibition is controversial and can be recognized as incompatible with the Latvian Constitution and the EU standards. Final decision may be made within two weeks. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Cabinet of Ministers confirms Latvias Commissioner of the European Commission
• Naturalization Board receives the second largest amount of naturalization applications since the beginning of naturalization process
• Campaign to promote the naturalization of non-citizens children planned
• Russian-language school defenders request the resignation of the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis
• Parliamentary faction FHRUL plans to challenge results of the elections of European Parliament if proposed amendments of election laws will not be accepted
• Saeima MP Vladimir Buzajev about the planned actions against education reform

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers unanimously confirmed the Foreign Affairs Minister Sandra Kalniete as the Commissioner of the European Commission from Latvia.

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers unanimously confirmed the Foreign Affairs Minister Sandra Kalniete as the Commissioner of the European Commission from Latvia. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Chas

Last year the Naturalization Board received 11 268 naturalization applications, which is the second largest yearly amount of naturalization applications received by the Board since the beginning of naturalization process. Until now, 70 038 non-citizens have been naturalized since 1995.

Last year the Naturalization Board received 11268 naturalization applications, which is the second largest yearly amount of naturalization applications received by the Board since the beginning of naturalization process. Until now, 70038 non-citizens have been naturalized since 1995. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas

Telegraf writes about a campaign to promote the naturalization of the non-citizens children who are entitled to become citizens of Latvia by registration, planned by the Secretariat of the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration Affairs and the Secretariat of the Minister for Special Assignments for Children and Family Affairs. According to the information from the Naturalization Board there are more than 17000 children in Latvia who are eligible for registration as citizens. Telegraf

Yesterday the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR) and the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools issued a statement calling for the resignation of the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis. According to these organizations, the latest expressions of the Minister making a connection between the defenders of Russian-language schools to the recent extremist perpetrated vandalism against the Ministry of Education shows the Minister’s inability to properly evaluate previous constructive proposals by the organizations regarding the minority education reform.

Yesterday the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR) and the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools issued a statement calling for the resignation of the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis. According to these organizations, the latest expressions of the Minister making a connection between the defenders of Russian-language schools to the recent extremist perpetrated vandalism against the Ministry of Education shows the Ministers inability to properly evaluate previous constructive proposals by the organizations regarding the minority education reform. Vesti Segodnya, Vechernaya Riga, Telegraf, Chas

The Saeima parliamentary group FHRUL (For Human Rights in United Latvia) plans to challenge the results of the elections of the European Parliament if amendments to the election laws will not be accepted.  The faction has proposed removing the prohibition to stand for elections for ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991. FHRUL spokesperson Miroslav Mitrofanov also calls attention to the pending case of Equality leader Tatjana Zhdanok before the European Court for Human Rights, in which the prohibition is challenged. Tatjana Zhdanok also plans to bring a complaint to the Constitutional Court in case the FHRUL proposed amendments to the Law on elections of the European Parliament are not accepted in parliament.

The Saeima parliamentary group FHRUL (For Human Rights in United Latvia) plans to challenge the results of the elections of the European Parliament if amendments to the election laws will not be accepted. The faction has proposed removing the prohibition to stand for elections for ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991. FHRUL spokesperson Miroslav Mitrofanov also calls attention to the pending case of Equality leader Tatjana Zhdanok before the European Court for Human Rights, in which the prohibition is challenged. Tatjana Zhdanok also plans to bring a complaint to the Constitutional Court in case the FHRUL proposed amendments to the Law on elections of the European Parliament are not accepted in parliament. Latvijas Avize, Vesti segodnya, Vechernaya Riga, Telegraf, Chas

Vechernaya Riga interviews Saeima deputy and representative of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools Vladimir Buzajev (FHRUL) about the planned actions to protest against the education reform.

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Opposition-party parliamentarians criticize statements by the Minister of Educations and Science Karlis Sadurskis
• Diena commentator Askolds Rodins about protest actions against education reform
• FHRUL proposes granting voting rights at municipal elections for non-citizens
• Establishment of new deputies group of Riga City Council Cita politika

Russian-language newspapers feature politicians’ criticism of statements of the Minister of Educations and Science Karlis Sadurskis the responsibility of such political organizations as Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR) and Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools for promoting destructive actions, such as the recent vandalism against the Ministry of Education allegedly perpetrated by National Bolsheviks. The MP of People’s Harmony Party Boris Tsilevich views the expressions of the Minister as incitement to hostility. Head of the Saeima FHRUL parliamentary group Jakov Pliner stresses that the act of vandalism was caused by the Ministry’s openly discriminating policy against the minority children and not by the activities of the defenders of Russian Schools. The politicians also criticize the Minister’s view on Latvia’s compliance with the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in the area of minority education.

Russian-language newspapers feature politicians criticism of statements of the Minister of Educations and Science Karlis Sadurskis the responsibility of such political organizations as Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR) and Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools for promoting destructive actions, such as the recent vandalism against the Ministry of Education allegedly perpetrated by National Bolsheviks. The MP of Peoples Harmony Party Boris Tsilevich views the expressions of the Minister as incitement to hostility. Head of the Saeima FHRUL parliamentary group Jakov Pliner stresses that the act of vandalism was caused by the Ministrys openly discriminating policy against the minority children and not by the activities of the defenders of Russian Schools. The politicians also criticize the Ministers view on Latvias compliance with the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in the area of minority education. Telegraf, Vechernaya Riga, Chas

Diena features a commentary of Askolds Rodins about the protest actions against the education reform 2004. He believes that the organizers of such actions first of all are more troubled about their own future not about the future of Russian-language school students.

For Human Rights in the United Latvia has drawn up amendments to the Constitution of Latvia and the laws of Saeima elections and municipal elections, which stipulate the granting of voting rights at municipal elections to non-citizens. According to the consultant of the Saeima FHRUL parliamentary group Miroslav Mitrofanov, the faction also calls for removing the prohibition to stand for Saeima elections and municipal elections for ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991.

For Human Rights in the United Latvia has drawn up amendments to the Constitution of Latvia and the laws of Saeima elections and municipal elections, which stipulate the granting of voting rights at municipal elections to non-citizens. According to the consultant of the Saeima FHRUL parliamentary group Miroslav Mitrofanov, the faction also calls for removing the prohibition to stand for Saeima elections and municipal elections for ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday a new deputies’ group of Riga City Council “Cita politika” (Other Policy) was established, uniting Riga Vice-Mayor Sergey Dolgopolov and three other councilors, who have also discontinued their membership to the People’s Harmony Party after the exclusion of Sergey Dolgopolov.

Yesterday a new deputies group of Riga City Council Cita politika (Other Policy) was established, uniting Riga Vice-Mayor Sergey Dolgopolov and three other councilors, who have also discontinued their membership to the Peoples Harmony Party after the exclusion of Sergey Dolgopolov. Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Chas, Telegraf

 

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Statement of the Minister of Education and Science about act of vandalism
• Article by Dace Kokarevicha about the number of non-citizens working in Latvian schools
• Tatyana Day competition Russian culture in Latvia

Latvijas Avize publishes the statement of the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis about the vandalism act when the doors of the Ministry of Education and Science were put on fire, allegedly in a protest against the education reform. Karlis Sadurskis states that this vandalism act shows the existence of the political extremism in Latvia. According to the Minister such organizations as the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools and the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools are motivating minority representatives to join destructive actions. He is also blaming some Members of Parliament and Riga City council deputies -- J. Pliner, V. Buzajev, N. Kabanov, A. Gilman and others -- for supporting such activities. Mr Sadurskis stresses that he has always appealed for a dialogue on the implementation of the education reform and claims that now all his efforts are once more ridiculised. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Rigas balss, Vechernaya Riga, Telegraf, Vesti segodnya, Neatkariga rita avize

Lauku Avize features an article by Dace Kokarevicha about the number of non-citizens working in Latvian schools. According to the information provided by the Ministry of Education and Science 3000 of 33 000 teachers working in Latvia do not have Latvian citizenship while 2% of school directors are non-citizens. Referring to Peteris Tabuns and Inese Vaidere, MPs from For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK, the author stresses that the party will continue to demand that non-citizens not have the right to work as teachers or school directors. The author also points to an opinion poll in which 65% of 800 teachers who are non-citizens stated that they are willing to acquire Latvian citizenship, but approximately half of them believe that they should have the right to obtain the citizenship automatically. Dace Kokarevicha voices concern over the fact despite the obligation of all teachers to have third-level language proficiency certificates, 11 from 100 teachers non-citizens admit that they can say only a few sentences in Latvian. She agrees that school directors could reasonably be asked to meet civil servant requirements, one of which is Latvian citizenship. She stresses that there should be state budget allocations in order to ensure the meeting of these requirements.

Pupils and students from around 40 education institutions participated in the Tatyana Day competition “Russian culture in Latvia.”

Pupils and students from around 40 education institutions participated in the Tatyana Day competition Russian culture in Latvia. Vesti segodnya, Chas

 

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Vandalism act as protest against the 2004 education reform
• European Parliament (EP) Deputy from Germany Elisabeth Schroedter about the preparedness of Latvia to join the EU
• Most common motives for naturalization
• Meeting of Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre with the President of the European Parliament (EP) Pat Cox
• Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis about the possible denying of the rights for non-citizens to be teachers and school directors

The doors of the Ministry of Education and Science were set on fire yesterday early in the morning, allegedly in order to protest against the education reform 2004. The National Bolsheviks have taken responsibility for this vandalism act by sending electronic mail in which they warn about the possibility to continue such protest actions if the education reform will not be abolished. The representatives of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools and the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools have criticized the action of the National Bolsheviks, stating that it discredits the defense of Russian language schools.

The doors of the Ministry of Education and Science were set on fire yesterday early in the morning, allegedly in order to protest against the education reform 2004. The National Bolsheviks have taken responsibility for this vandalism act by sending electronic mail in which they warn about the possibility to continue such protest actions if the education reform will not be abolished. The representatives of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools and the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools have criticized the action of the National Bolsheviks, stating that it discredits the defense of Russian language schools. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize prints a draft report of the European Parliament (EP) Deputy from Germany Elisabeth Schroedter about the preparedness of Latvia to join the European Union. Elizabeth Schroedter mentions the slow pace of naturalization and calls for the consideration of the linguistic rights of the Russian-speaking minority when implementing the education reform. The EP deputy also calls on the government of Latvia to grant voting rights at municipal elections for non-citizens who are permanent residents of Latvia and to ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities as soon as possible.

According to a survey conducted by the Naturalization Board 58% of naturalization applicants have stated that the most important motive for naturalization is a desire to become a full-fledged member of society and a desire to belong to the state. Other important reasons motivating non-citizens to naturalize are job and traveling opportunities, as well as Latvia’s accession to the EU. 40% of applicants have mentioned uncertainty about their competence to pass the naturalization tests as the main impediment to naturalization.

According to a survey conducted by the Naturalization Board 58% of naturalization applicants have stated that the most important motive for naturalization is a desire to become a full-fledged member of society and a desire to belong to the state. Other important reasons motivating non-citizens to naturalize are job and traveling opportunities, as well as Latvias accession to the EU. 40% of applicants have mentioned uncertainty about their competence to pass the naturalization tests as the main impediment to naturalization. Diena, Chas, Vesti segodnya

Latvijas Avize features an article about the meeting of Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre with the President of the European Parliament (EP) Pat Cox. Among other issues the officials discussed the status of Martinjan Bekasov, recently recalled from the status of the EP observer by the Saeima.

Russian-language newspapers report on the statements of the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis at the TV discussion “S pozitsii vlasti” (“From the positions of power”) about the education reform and the possible denying of the rights for non-citizens to occupy positions of teachers and school directors. According to the Minister, the school directors should have the status of civil servants. Karlis Sadurskis states that about 20% of school directors are not citizens of Latvia at the moment.

Russian-language newspapers report on the statements of the Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis at the TV discussion S pozitsii vlasti (From the positions of power) about the education reform and the possible denying of the rights for non-citizens to occupy positions of teachers and school directors. According to the Minister, the school directors should have the status of civil servants. Karlis Sadurskis states that about 20% of school directors are not citizens of Latvia at the moment. Chas, Vesti segodnya