• Protest action against the education reform in Riga
• Peoples Harmony Party challenges amendments to the law On the Status of Former USSR Citizens Who are not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State
• Chairperson of the board of the Latvian Integration Movement ‘Runa Marina Romanenko criticises FHRUL activities
• Interview with the leader of the Jewish Survivors of Latvia George Schwab
• Newspapers write about establishment of the European Unions Russian Party

Newspapers write about the protest action against the education reform in Riga, which, according to the representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language schools, will continue until 12 June, the day of the European Parliament elections. In the course of the protest action, young representatives of the Headquarters are inviting all interested persons to join the Headquarters’ Guard and to register with the Russian community in Latvia.

Newspapers write about the protest action against the education reform in Riga, which, according to the representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language schools, will continue until 12 June, the day of the European Parliament elections. In the course of the protest action, young representatives of the Headquarters are inviting all interested persons to join the Headquarters Guard and to register with the Russian community in Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

People’s Harmony Party (PHP) has submitted a claim to the Constitutional Court, challenging amendments to the law ‘On the Status of Former USSR Citizens Who are not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State’. The amendments stipulate that persons, who have obtained a residence permit in another country after 1 May 2004, can be deprived of their non-citizen status in Latvia. PHP representatives believe that the amendments violate the Constitution of Latvia, as well as the European conventions.

Peoples Harmony Party (PHP) has submitted a claim to the Constitutional Court, challenging amendments to the law ‘On the Status of Former USSR Citizens Who are not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State. The amendments stipulate that persons, who have obtained a residence permit in another country after 1 May 2004, can be deprived of their non-citizen status in Latvia. PHP representatives believe that the amendments violate the Constitution of Latvia, as well as the European conventions. Vesti Segodnya

Leader of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) Tatjana Zdanoka exploits national and patriotic feelings of Russians living in Latvia in order to achieve selfish political goals, which have nothing to do with the defence of Russians’ interests, says the chairperson of the board of the Latvian Integration Movement ‘Runa’ (The Speech) Marina Romanenko. “We understand that education problems should be solved by a dialogue, not at the barricades, as Zdanoka suggests,” stresses Marina Romanenko.

Leader of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) Tatjana Zdanoka exploits national and patriotic feelings of Russians living in Latvia in order to achieve selfish political goals, which have nothing to do with the defence of Russians interests, says the chairperson of the board of the Latvian Integration Movement ‘Runa (The Speech) Marina Romanenko. We understand that education problems should be solved by a dialogue, not at the barricades, as Zdanoka suggests, stresses Marina Romanenko. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize features an interview with Prof. George Schwab, Holocaust survivor from Latvia and one of the leaders of the US-based organisation Jewish Survivors of Latvia. Prof. Schwab speaks about activities of his organisation, about the Holocaust past and the present situation of Jews in Latvia, as well as about society integration aspects.

Newspapers write about establishment of the European Union’s Russian Party. Commentator of

Newspapers write about establishment of the European Unions Russian Party. Commentator of Latvijas Avize Aija Calite, referring to the Latvian representative of this party Tatjana Zdanoka, names the main tasks of the party as achieving status of the official language for Russian in the EU, and developing the idea of establishing the EU Committee of Minority Nationalities, so that Russians and other minorities could be directly represented in the EU. Vesti Segodnya, referring to the other representative from Latvia, Jurijs Sokolovskis, writes that the main tasks of the movement are to maintain education in the native language, to support Russian culture and Russian-language mass media, and to ensure the legal status of Russians, who are residents of the EU countries. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

• 354 children born in Latvia after 21 August 1991 are registered as Latvian citizens during May
• Discussion on the study about intolerance in Latvian and Russian-language media
• Approximately 200 people participate in the unapproved protest walk against the education reform
• Interview with the Minister for Interior Eriks Jekabsons
• Director of the Sociological Institute of the Russia Academy of Science Renald Simonyan about the situation of Russians in Latvia
• Commentary on the expressions of the Foreign Affairs Minister Rihards Piks that not all Russian-speakers living in Latvia can be regarded as a minority
• Celebration of the Africa Day in Latvia

354 children born in Latvia after 21 August 1991 were registered as Latvian citizens in May, following the appeal of the Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks and the Special Task Minister for Children and Family Affairs Ainars Bastiks.  Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks regards it as a good result, because only 356 children were registered during the twelve months of the last year.

354 children born in Latvia after 21 August 1991 were registered as Latvian citizens in May, following the appeal of the Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks and the Special Task Minister for Children and Family Affairs Ainars Bastiks. Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks regards it as a good result, because only 356 children were registered during the twelve months of the last year. Diena, Latvijas Vestnesis, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize features discussion on the study about intolerance in Latvian- and Russian-language media, conducted by the PR agency Mediju Tilts. According to the study, Russian-language newspapers frequently stress that economic situation of the non-citizens is worse than that of the citizens. The researchers have also found that both Latvian- and Russian-language media reflect a lack of trust between Russians and Latvians. While Russian-language media frequently express negative attitude towards the Latvian politicians, naming them ‘representatives of the titular nation, Latvian-language newspapers use such expressions as ‘Russian chauvinists, ‘occupants, ‘the forces of Russia and ‘descendants of our torturers. Intolerance most frequently manifests itself when newspapers write about the society integration, naturalisation and education reform.

Yesterday approximately 200 persons participated in the unapproved protest walk against the education reform.

Yesterday approximately 200 persons participated in the unapproved protest walk against the education reform. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Crisis in the Latvian society has ripened, and the main cause of it is the education reform implementation, says Minister for Interior Eriks Jekabsons in the interview to

Crisis in the Latvian society has ripened, and the main cause of it is the education reform implementation, says Minister for Interior Eriks Jekabsons in the interview to Vesti Segodnya. Minister has pointed to the necessity of the dialogue with the opponents of the education reform, stressing that political disagreements cannot be solved by the Ministry of Interior. Commenting on the Peoples Party proposal to expel Aleksandrs Kazakovs, organiser of the protest actions against the education reform, the minister states that the ministry will act in line with the law. According to Eriks Jekabsons, Aleksandrs Kazakovs, as well as the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools leader Jurijs Pertopavlovskis, have placed themselves on a very dangerous path of confrontation inciting children to the mass protest actions.

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the director of the Sociological Institute of the Russia Academy of Science Renald Simonyan about the situation of Russians in Latvia.

Latvijas Avize features an article by the commentator Maris Antonevics about the statement of the Foreign Affairs Minister Rihards Piks, expressed during his meeting with the honorary consuls of Latvia. Rihards Piks has stated that not all so-called Russian-speakers living in Latvia can be viewed as a minority, as a big part of them came to Latvia because of the Russification policy of the USSR. Maris Antonevics points to the necessity of introducing a legal definition of the term ‘minority in Latvia.

Vesti Segodnya writes about the celebration of the Africa Day in Latvia.

• Approximately 250 people participated in the working meeting of the United Congresss of the Russian community in Latvia
• MP from Peoples Party Anta Rugate about the dual citizenship and state highest positions
• Interview with the mayor of Ventspils Aivars Lembergs
• Telegraf writes about agreement on establishment of the European Unions Russian Party
• Reunion of the World Latvian Jewry

Approximately 250 people have participated in the working meeting of the United Congress’s of the Russian community in Latvia. The goals of the upcoming congress are to ensure cultural, social, political and economical interests of the Russian community. In order to attain these goals, several tasks have been formulated: to achieve the full-fledged participation of the Russian-speaking community in the state administration, to maintain and develop education in the Russian language, to resolve the situation of non-citizenship, to ensure status of the official language for the Russian language.

Approximately 250 people have participated in the working meeting of the United Congresss of the Russian community in Latvia. The goals of the upcoming congress are to ensure cultural, social, political and economical interests of the Russian community. In order to attain these goals, several tasks have been formulated: to achieve the full-fledged participation of the Russian-speaking community in the state administration, to maintain and develop education in the Russian language, to resolve the situation of non-citizenship, to ensure status of the official language for the Russian language. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Diena features an article by the MP from the Peoples Party Anta Rugate about the draft law, which stipulates prohibition for the dual citizens to occupy highest positions in the state.

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the mayor of Ventspils Aivars Lembergs about the education reform implementation. He believes that individual approach to each school is important, and points to the fact that while the Ministry of Education and Science has mostly used purely administrative, commanding approach to the reforms implementation, many important aspects, like publishing of textbooks and methodological aids, and training of teachers, were neglected.

Telegraf writes about the agreement of the Russian minority representatives from the six European countries about establishment of the European Unions Russian Party.

Latvijas Avize writes about the Reunion of the World Latvian Jewry, which closes in Riga this week. Reunion is organised by the Latvian Jewish Community and the organisation Jewish Survivors of Latvia.

• Agreement on establishment of the European Unions Russian Party
• Discussion Decision-making and participation in the minority education policy
• Vesti Segodnya writes about proposal of the Peoples Party to expel Aleksandrs Kazakovs, organiser of the protest actions against the education reform
• Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics about the education reform
• Historian Leo Dribins about the situation of ethnic minorities in the EU and the necessity to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia
• Sociologist Aleksejs Snitnikovs on the future of Russians in Latvia
• Internet portal providing information about minority rights issues
• Commentary about the Saeima decision to authorise incrimination of administrative charges against the deputies Andris Tolmacovs, Jakovs Pliners and Vladimirs Buzajevs

Representatives of Russian diasporas from six European countries have signed an agreement on establishing of the European Union’s Russian Party. According to the leader of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka, who has also signed the agreement, the new party will be established by the Russian minority representatives from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Cyprus and Norway.

Representatives of Russian diasporas from six European countries have signed an agreement on establishing of the European Unions Russian Party. According to the leader of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka, who has also signed the agreement, the new party will be established by the Russian minority representatives from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Cyprus and Norway. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize writes about discussion Decision-making and participation in the minority education policy, organised by the Public Policy Centre PROVIDUS with the support of the embassy of Norway.

Vesti Segodnya writes about proposal of the Peoples Party to expel Aleksandrs Kazakovs, organiser of the protest actions against the education reform and assistant to Dmitry Rogozin, from Latvia. The newspaper quotes Russia State Councils deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin, who believes that Kazakovss expulsion would result in a claim to the European Human Rights Court.

Vesti Segodnya features statements of the Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics about the education reform during discussion at the newspaper office. Juris Radzevics says that the ministry will provide special help for minority schools which are not ready for the reform implementation, and that at present ministrys professionals are working on the idea of creating terminology dictionaries on specific subjects. According to the minister, he is also planning to initiate state budget allocation for the Latvian language studies at the kindergartens. The ministry expects to open a centre of bilingual education in September 2004.

Diena prints an article by the Dr. hist. Leo Dribins about the situation of ethnic minorities in the EU and the necessity of ratifying the Councils of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Author points to the complicated minorities situation in Latvia and Estonia, because only in these European states minority population share exceeds 20%. Leo Dribins believes that Russian diplomatic tactics of dramatising issues of minority rights in the Baltic States and making it one of the main elements of the dialogue between Russia and the EU do not reflect real minority situation in the Baltic States. The author stresses that ratification would decrease pressure from Russias side, reinforce the EU position in the dialogue with Russia, and that at the same time it would be perceived positively by 40% of Latvian residents.

Chas features an article by sociologist Aleksejs Snitnikovs about the future of Russians in Latvia. The author analyses possibilities of emigration, assimilation or formation of the new Russian diaspora in Latvia. According to Snitnikovs, majority of Latvian Russians evaluates the possibility of emigrating from Latvia as negative, and that the big numbers of Russians living in Latvia (approximately 700, 000 people) as well as extended usage of the Russian language among other Latvian ethnic groups makes possibility of their assimilation unlikely. Aleksejs Snitnikovs concludes that most likely Russians in Latvia will form a new, somehow different cultural identity.

Vesti Segodnya informs about the internet portal, created by the European Commission, which provides information on minority rights issues.

Latvijas Avize features a commentary on the Saeima decision to authorise incrimination of administrative charges against the deputies Andris Tolmacovs, Jakovs Pliners and Vladimirs Buzajevs.

• Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Walter Schwimmer about minorities rights to get education in their native language
• Saeima authorizes incrimination of administrative charges against the FHRUL deputies
• MPs of the Peoples Party call to expel the organizer of the protest actions against the education reform Aleksandrs Kazakovs from Latvia
• MPs submit proposals to the law which stipulates making files on former agents of the State Security Committee publicly available
• Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry condemns amendments to the Latvian Constitution which allow EU citizens permanently living in Latvia to participate at municipal elections
• Administrative Court recognizes Executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmakss refusal to authorize a protest meeting against the education reform as illegitimate

Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Walter Schwimmer has stated that any ethnic minority has rights to get education in the native language, and in the state language, during the meeting with the Russian and French participants of the forum Youth Crossroads. Walter Schwimmer has stressed that these principles are binding for all EU states, including the Baltic States.

Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Walter Schwimmer has stated that any ethnic minority has rights to get education in the native language, and in the state language, during the meeting with the Russian and French participants of the forum Youth Crossroads. Walter Schwimmer has stressed that these principles are binding for all EU states, including the Baltic States. Chas, Telegraf

Saeima has authorized incrimination of administrative charges against the deputies Andris Tolmacovs, Jakovs Pliners and Vladimirs Buzajevs (For Human Rights in the United Latvia(FHRUL) for organization of the unapproved protest actions against the education reform.

Saeima has authorized incrimination of administrative charges against the deputies Andris Tolmacovs, Jakovs Pliners and Vladimirs Buzajevs (For Human Rights in the United Latvia(FHRUL) for organization of the unapproved protest actions against the education reform. Diena, Rigas Balss, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

MPs from the People’s Party have called the Minister for Interior Eriks Jekabsons to consider the possibility of expelling Aleksandrs Kazakovs, organizer of the protest actions against the education reform and assistant to the Russia State Council’s deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin, from Latvia. MPs reason that Aleksandrs Kazakovs is engaged in activities damaging for the interests of Latvia.

MPs from the Peoples Party have called the Minister for Interior Eriks Jekabsons to consider the possibility of expelling Aleksandrs Kazakovs, organizer of the protest actions against the education reform and assistant to the Russia State Councils deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin, from Latvia. MPs reason that Aleksandrs Kazakovs is engaged in activities damaging for the interests of Latvia. Diena, Rigas Balss, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Two parliamentary groups have submitted proposals to the law on making files of former agents of the State Security Committee’s of the Soviet Republic of Latvia publicly available. People’s Party proposes to open the files on 1 October, thus allowing the files’ keepers to make all necessary preparations. People’s Harmony Party (PHP) believes that files should stay confidential for at least another 75 years, with access granted to a limited number of officials. PHP and FHRUL have also submitted a claim to the Constitutional Court, challenging Saeima’s decision to prolong prohibitions for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia to hold certain offices and naturalize for the next 10 years.

Two parliamentary groups have submitted proposals to the law on making files of former agents of the State Security Committees of the Soviet Republic of Latvia publicly available. Peoples Party proposes to open the files on 1 October, thus allowing the files keepers to make all necessary preparations. Peoples Harmony Party (PHP) believes that files should stay confidential for at least another 75 years, with access granted to a limited number of officials. PHP and FHRUL have also submitted a claim to the Constitutional Court, challenging Saeimas decision to prolong prohibitions for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia to hold certain offices and naturalize for the next 10 years. Diena, Latvijas Avize

Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry has evaluated draft amendments to the Constitution of Latvia which foresee possibility for the EU citizens permanently living in Latvia to participate at the municipal elections as discriminating towards the non-citizens of Latvia.

Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry has evaluated draft amendments to the Constitution of Latvia which foresee possibility for the EU citizens permanently living in Latvia to participate at the municipal elections as discriminating towards the non-citizens of Latvia. Latvijas Avize

Administrative Court satisfied the claim of the MP Juris Sokolovskis (FHRUL) and recognized that refusal of the Executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks to authorize a protest meeting against the education reform at  Ratslaukums on 1 June had been illegitimate.

Administrative Court satisfied the claim of the MP Juris Sokolovskis (FHRUL) and recognized that refusal of the Executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks to authorize a protest meeting against the education reform at Ratslaukums on 1 June had been illegitimate. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Chas