• Representatives of state security institutions and state officials about the possible escalation of violence during the protest actions against the education reform
• Interview with Riga Vice-Mayor Sergejs Dolgopolovs
• Fragments of a Los Angeles Times article about minorities rights in Latvia
• Approximately 300 Russian school students participate at protest meeting against the education reform in Rezekne
• Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics meets minority students parents in Liepaja

Rigas Balss features opinion of the state security institutions and state officials about the possible escalation of violation during the protest actions against the education reform. According to the representative of the Constitutional Protection Bureau Dainis Mikelsons, a working group under the leadership of the Prime Minister keeps track of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools activities. Saeima MP Andrejs Klementevs (Peoples Harmony Party) believes that its necessary to establish a moratorium on education reform until 2007 in order to preclude the escalation to violence, because neither the Ministry of Education and Science nor the teachers are ready for the implementation of the reform. The Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics believes that protest actions against the education reform become less and less connected with the education reform, but are events in which people demonstrate in order to provoke the state security officials.

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with Riga Vice-Mayor Sergejs Dolgopolovs, who points to a positive tendency regarding education reform, stating that a dialogue in society has started. Vice-mayor believes that if the moratorium on the education reform is not established de jure, it will work de facto, because many schools are not ready for the reform.

Neatkariga Rita Avize reprints fragments of an article published in the Los Angeles Times about minorities rights observation in Latvia. The author writes about the relationship between Latvia and Russia and the minority education reform in Latvia, pointing out that discussion on the reform is political. The article also mentions restrictions on non-citizens rights, but allegedly does not include any mention about the possibilities to naturalize.

Yesterday approximately 300 Russian school’s students from Rezekne, Riga, Daugavpils and Ludza participated at protest meeting against the education reform in Rezekne.

Yesterday approximately 300 Russian schools students from Rezekne, Riga, Daugavpils and Ludza participated at protest meeting against the education reform in Rezekne. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics met with minority students’ parents in Liepaja in order to discuss the education reform.

Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics met with minority students parents in Liepaja in order to discuss the education reform. Chas

• Interview with Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks about the protest actions against the education reform
• Leader of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis fined for violation of Law on Social Organizations and Associations
• About creation of a Russian community register in Latvia
• Interview with professor and expert on minority issues of Russia Foreign Affairs Ministrys Diplomatic Academy Tatyana Poloskova

Latvijas Avize features an interview with Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks about the protest actions against the education reform in Latvia. The Minister stresses that there will not be a moratorium on the education reform, but at the same time notes that the most aggressive of the education reforms opponents are not interested in the reform or education as such, but have simply political goals. The minister regards the strengthening of the Latvian language teaching in minority schools as the means for society integration.

Riga Vidzeme Court has imposed a fine of 100 lats on the leader of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis. The leader of the Headquarters was found guilty in violation of the law “On Social Organizations and Associations”, since he is a member of several social organizatios, which organize protest actions, while the Headquarters is not registered as a social organization. Although Jurijs Petropavlovskis stated that the Headquarters can not be regarded as a non-governmental organization but should be seen rather as an ‘interest club’ and that he is not its leader, the court recognized him as a leader of the Headquarters.

Riga Vidzeme Court has imposed a fine of 100 lats on the leader of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis. The leader of the Headquarters was found guilty in violation of the law On Social Organizations and Associations, since he is a member of several social organizatios, which organize protest actions, while the Headquarters is not registered as a social organization. Although Jurijs Petropavlovskis stated that the Headquarters can not be regarded as a non-governmental organization but should be seen rather as an ‘interest club and that he is not its leader, the court recognized him as a leader of the Headquarters. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize

Chas informs about initiative of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools to create a register of the Russian community in Latvia. According to the representative of the Headquarters working group for convocation of the United Congress of the Russian community Mihails Tjasins, registration is possible using internet or through a phone call, or through the students committees as well as during the mass actions of the Headquarters. Mihails Tjasins believes that the main task of Russian community is not to deal with social and cultural issues, but to focus on political problems, including education, the status of the Russian language in Latvia and citizenship issues.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with professor and expert on minority issues of Russia Foreign Affairs Ministrys Diplomatic Academy Tatyana Poloskova about society integration in Latvia and relationship between Latvia and Russia. The Russian social scientist denies her alleged connection to the organization of protest actions against the education reform, stating that the causes of protest actions must be searched inside of Latvia. According to Tatyana Poloskova, there is not much information in Russia about the education reform in Latvia.

• Saeima rejects opposition party proposal to ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools foresees a turn to aggressive protest actions against the education reform
• About extend welcome to 70 new citizens of Latvia
• Increasing inquiries to the Naturalization Board about possibilities to register non-citizen children after ministers invitation
• Professor of Russia Foreign Affairs Ministrys Diplomatic Academy Tatyana Poloskova suggests a moratorium on education reform
• State Security Police points to the connection of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools with the National Democratic Party
• Police carries out a search in the apartment of the activist of Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools
• Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies annual human rights report criticized
• Four students from Preilu Secondary Schools Nr.9 about education reform
• Interview with writer Ludmila Azarova-Vaciete
• Planned appeal of national extremist organization Visu Latvijai!

Yesterday the Saeima majority rejected the opposition party proposal to ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Only 20 MPs form People’s Harmony Party, For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) and Latvia’s Socialist Party) voted to submit the proposed law for review to the Saeima commissions. MPs from Latvia’s First Party and Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre (union of Greens and Farmers) abstained. All other deputies voted against.  Right-wing deputies allegedly believe that submission of the convention to Saeima is a roundabout attempt to try to achieve the cancellation of the education reform. Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks said that the ratification of the convention cannot affect the education reform as the latter conforms to the requirements of the convention, but it is another question of how reporm opponents may try to use the convention in their political rhetoric.

Yesterday the Saeima majority rejected the opposition party proposal to ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Only 20 MPs form Peoples Harmony Party, For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) and Latvias Socialist Party) voted to submit the proposed law for review to the Saeima commissions. MPs from Latvias First Party and Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre (union of Greens and Farmers) abstained. All other deputies voted against. Right-wing deputies allegedly believe that submission of the convention to Saeima is a roundabout attempt to try to achieve the cancellation of the education reform. Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks said that the ratification of the convention cannot affect the education reform as the latter conforms to the requirements of the convention, but it is another question of how reporm opponents may try to use the convention in their political rhetoric. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Telegraf

Peaceful protest actions against the education reform will turn aggressive because Russian-speaking residents of Latvia allegedly want vindication for the disregard of Russian-speakers’ rights and interests during last 13 years, threatens the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools.  According to the representative of the Headquarters Genadijs Kotovs, the main emphasis is still on mass actions, the next of which will take place on 1 June, the Child Protection Day, and on 12 June, the day of the European Parliament election.

Peaceful protest actions against the education reform will turn aggressive because Russian-speaking residents of Latvia allegedly want vindication for the disregard of Russian-speakers rights and interests during last 13 years, threatens the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools. According to the representative of the Headquarters Genadijs Kotovs, the main emphasis is still on mass actions, the next of which will take place on 1 June, the Child Protection Day, and on 12 June, the day of the European Parliament election. Diena, Rigas Balss, Neatkariga Rita Aviz, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Today President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars and chairman of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane will participate in a ceremony for 70 new citizens of Latvia.

Today President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars and chairman of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane will participate in a ceremony for 70 new citizens of Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Latvijas Vestnesis

During the last two days approximately 150 non-citizens have turned to the Naturalization Board in order to clarify the possibilities to register their children born in Latvia after 21 August 1991 as Latvian citizens. The Head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane states that the number of non-citizens interested in their children’s registration has increased remarkably. Eizenija Aldermane believes that it is due to the letters of invitation to register their children as citizens which the Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks and the Special Task Minister for Children and Family Affairs Ainars Bastiks have sent to families with eligible children. The Naturalization Board head also indicates that there are delays in registering the children due to lines forming, but promises that if the heightened interest continues, there will a an especially assigned person in each Naturalization Board department to deal only with the registration of these children.

During the last two days approximately 150 non-citizens have turned to the Naturalization Board in order to clarify the possibilities to register their children born in Latvia after 21 August 1991 as Latvian citizens. The Head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane states that the number of non-citizens interested in their childrens registration has increased remarkably. Eizenija Aldermane believes that it is due to the letters of invitation to register their children as citizens which the Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks and the Special Task Minister for Children and Family Affairs Ainars Bastiks have sent to families with eligible children. The Naturalization Board head also indicates that there are delays in registering the children due to lines forming, but promises that if the heightened interest continues, there will a an especially assigned person in each Naturalization Board department to deal only with the registration of these children. Diena

Professor and expert on minority issues of Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Diplomatic Academy Tatyana Poloskova suggested a moratorium on the minority education reform for at least one year and proposes that Latvian officials should consult Russian experts as well about the implementation of the reform.

Professor and expert on minority issues of Russia Foreign Affairs Ministrys Diplomatic Academy Tatyana Poloskova suggested a moratorium on the minority education reform for at least one year and proposes that Latvian officials should consult Russian experts as well about the implementation of the reform. Chas, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday Court of Liepaja decided to keep National Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jevgenijs Osipovs in detention for the next two months. J.Osipovs is accused of attacking a policeman in organized group during the unapproved protest action against the education reform in Liepaja. State Security Police has concluded that the NDP is connected with the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools, which ‘involves organizations with extremist tendencies in its activities and thus raising the risk of provocations during the public events. The compliance of the NDP to the law On Civic Organizations and Their Unions will also be evaluated.

Yesterday Court of Liepaja decided to keep National Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jevgenijs Osipovs in detention for the next two months. J.Osipovs is accused of attacking a policeman in organized group during the unapproved protest action against the education reform in Liepaja. State Security Police has concluded that the NDP is connected with the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools, which ‘involves organizations with extremist tendencies in its activities and thus raising the risk of provocations during the public events. The compliance of the NDP to the law On Civic Organizations and Their Unions will also be evaluated. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas

A search has been carried out in the apartment of the activist of Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools Aleksandrs Samrovs, suspected of connection to the blowing up of rails at one of Riga’s railway station. Russian-language newspapers refers to one of the leaders of the Headquarters Jurijs Petropavlovskis, evaluated this incident, as well as the statement of the State Security Police about the Headquarters’ connection with National Democratic Party and the illegitimate functioning of the Headquarters due to the fact that the organization is not registered, as a campaign against this grouping. According to the leader, in case the Headquarters would be registered as a social organization, it would be very easy for authorities to find excuses to prohibit it.

A search has been carried out in the apartment of the activist of Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools Aleksandrs Samrovs, suspected of connection to the blowing up of rails at one of Rigas railway station. Russian-language newspapers refers to one of the leaders of the Headquarters Jurijs Petropavlovskis, evaluated this incident, as well as the statement of the State Security Police about the Headquarters connection with National Democratic Party and the illegitimate functioning of the Headquarters due to the fact that the organization is not registered, as a campaign against this grouping. According to the leader, in case the Headquarters would be registered as a social organization, it would be very easy for authorities to find excuses to prohibit it. Diena, Chas, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize features a critical article by commentator Maris Antonevics about the Annual human rights report of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies (available on-line at www.humanrights.org.lv). The journalist draws attention to the fact that the LCHRES report criticizes the non-ratification of the Council of Europe Framework Convention, and only a few days later ratification was proposed in parliament by opposition parliamentarians. The commentator also compares other aspects of the report with expressions of MPs from Peoples Harmony Party (PHP) and For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL), stating that there are almost no differences among these views. The commentator also draws attention to the possible role of the multimillionaire George Soros in this coincidence of opinions.

Latvijas Avize features an article about the violence of 10 Russian youth against 20-year-old Aleksandrs Vaganovs. The fight allegedly ended with the phrase form the side of violators ‘Now you will respect Russians!. Aleksandrss mother believes that the youth were inspired by the protest meetings of education reforms opponents. State Security Police has promised to not leave this incident unnoticed.

Diena features an article about the attitude of four students from Preilu Secondary Schools Nr.9 towards education reform. The girls stated that the education reform is not frightening them as there are two programs in their school offering opportunities to learn either bilingually and only in Latvian. Students believe that its necessary to know Latvian, while at the same time maintaining the native language and culture. Hence the students, together with their teacher, have for already four years been studying the traditions of Old Believers in Latgale, the Eastern part of Latvia.

Latvijas Avize features an interview with writer Ludmila Azarova-Vaciete about protest actions against the education reform. The writer believes that the education reform is only the ostensive motive for making noise, while the real meaning of the hostile protests is a desire to create political pressure, and that children who participate at protest actions are only ‘unthinking marionettes. According to Ludmila Azarova-Vaciete, lessons in Latvian in minority schools must be taught by Latvian teachers.

National extremist organization “Visu Latvijai!” is preparing to collect residents’ signatures for an appeal to the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and all governments of western countries in order to achieve the repatriation of non-citizens from Latvia. According to the deputy chairman of the organization Aksels Sadovskis, “it’s necessary to start the discussion with Russia immediately about voluntary and civilized repatriation of Russians to their native country’. Aksels Sadovskis also states that the state of Latvia should ensure support for the repatriation.

National extremist organization Visu Latvijai! is preparing to collect residents signatures for an appeal to the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and all governments of western countries in order to achieve the repatriation of non-citizens from Latvia. According to the deputy chairman of the organization Aksels Sadovskis, its necessary to start the discussion with Russia immediately about voluntary and civilized repatriation of Russians to their native country. Aksels Sadovskis also states that the state of Latvia should ensure support for the repatriation.

 

• Prime Minister Indulis Emsis about possible initiation of administrative cases against organizers of protest actions against the education reform
• About the interview of the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to the BBC about observation of minority rights in Latvia
• On extension for ten years of prohibition to stand as candidate for the Saeima and local government elections for ex-staff of the State Security Committee
• Seminar Anti-discrimination in Europe and Latvia: from legislation to practice
• Latvian authorities revoke the denial of entry into Latvia for Russian expert on minorities issues Tatyana Poloskova
• Interview with the Ambassador of Poland to Latvia Tadeusz Fiszbach
• Article about further protest actions against the education reform
• Latvian and minority students from Ventspils schools participate at Latvian language festival

Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, after meeting with President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, has stated that several administrative cases will be initiated about disturbances of order and violation of rights during protest actions against the education reform. According to the Prime Minister, state security institutions continue to clarify the organizers of the protest actions. Vaira Vike-Freiberga has stressed that it is unacceptable that students are involved in protest actions during scheduled  lessons. 

Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, after meeting with President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, has stated that several administrative cases will be initiated about disturbances of order and violation of rights during protest actions against the education reform. According to the Prime Minister, state security institutions continue to clarify the organizers of the protest actions. Vaira Vike-Freiberga has stressed that it is unacceptable that students are involved in protest actions during scheduled lessons. Telegrafs, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers write about the interview of the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to the BBC about observation of minority rights in Latvia.

Newspapers write about the interview of the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to the BBC about observation of minority rights in Latvia. Latvijas Avize reprints fragments of this interview. Diena, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday Saeima Legal Affairs Committee supported amendments to the law, adopted by Saeima in second reading, which stipulates the prohibition to stand as candidate for the Saeima and local government elections and to head nationally important institutions for ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia. The amendments to the law were not submitted to Saeima for review in the third reading due to the lack of quorum for a binding vote in the Committee meeting, because representatives of the People’s Harmony Party refused to vote on the amendments, considering them undemocratic.

Yesterday Saeima Legal Affairs Committee supported amendments to the law, adopted by Saeima in second reading, which stipulates the prohibition to stand as candidate for the Saeima and local government elections and to head nationally important institutionsfor ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia. The amendments to the law were not submitted to Saeima for review in the third reading due to the lack of quorum for a binding vote in the Committee meeting, because representatives of the Peoples Harmony Party refused to vote on the amendments, considering them undemocratic. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize features an article about the seminar Anti-discrimination in Europe and Latvia: from legislation to practice, organized by the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies with financial support of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Netherlands. According to the director of the centre Ilze Brands-Kehre, discussions about discrimination in Latvia has become more audible, which is connected both with the issue of the application of the EU directives and with increasing comprehension of this issue in society. Although the concept of discrimination in Latvia is often automatically associated with discrimination of ethnic minorities, the conference stressed that anti-discrimination is in the interest of all actors in society and discrimination can be experienced by anyone, including ethnic majority representatives. The conference touched on issued of migration and anti-discrimination in the employment sector and included views from both employer and employee sides.

Yesterday an entrance visa to Latvia for professor and expert on minority issues of Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Diplomatic Academy Tatyana Poloskova was renewed. On Tuesday, Latvian border guars had not allowed her entrance into Latvia, with the motivation that her name is included in a list of undesirable persons. Ministry of Interior spokespersons describe this incident as a technical failure which caused the entrance visa to be annulled. Tatyana Poloskova associates the initial denial of entrance by the Latvian authorities with the broadcast of Latvian TV, in which she was mentioned as an organizer of the protest actions against education reform in Latvia. The social scientist stresses that the goal of her visit was to analyze the efficiency of Russia’s police concerning its compatriots. Russian-language newspapers feature a statement of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia about this incident.

Yesterday an entrance visa to Latvia for professor and expert on minority issues of Russia Foreign Affairs Ministrys Diplomatic Academy Tatyana Poloskova was renewed. On Tuesday, Latvian border guars had not allowed her entrance into Latvia, with the motivation that her name is included in a list of undesirable persons. Ministry of Interior spokespersons describe this incident as a technical failure which caused the entrance visa to be annulled. Tatyana Poloskova associates the initial denial of entrance by the Latvian authorities with the broadcast of Latvian TV, in which she was mentioned as an organizer of the protest actions against education reform in Latvia. The social scientist stresses that the goal of her visit was to analyze the efficiency of Russias police concerning its compatriots. Russian-language newspapers feature a statement of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia about this incident. Telegraf refers to the head of Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Artis Pabriks, who points to the radical expressions of Tatyana Poloskova about violation of Russians rights in Latvia and her active collaboration with the minorities political organizations in Latvia and stresses that she cannot be regarded as a neutral scientist. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The official newspaper

The official newspaper Latvijas Vestnesis features an interview with the Ambassador of Poland to Latvia Tadeusz Fiszbach, who states that Polish schools in Latvia have already adapted to the conditions of the education reform and teach their children in Latvian and Polish. According to the ambassador, this is the principle that has strengthened a sense among Polish youth of common belonging to Latvia. Latvijas Vetsnesis

Chas informs about further protest actions against the education reform planned by the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools.

Today students from Ventspils schools participate at Latvian language festival, whose purpose is to develop and improve student’s language skills and to promote the integration of minority schools’ students in a Latvian environment.

Today students from Ventspils schools participate at Latvian language festival, whose purpose is to develop and improve students language skills and to promote the integration of minority schools students in a Latvian environment. Latvijas Avize

 

• Approximately 15000 – 20000 people participated in the protest actions against the education reform
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga about the protest actions against the education reform
• Ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of Vasilijs Kononovs
• More than 500 children participated at Minorities Children and Youth Sport Festival
• Riga City Councils deputy Aleksandrs Gilmans on the role of Russian language in Latvia in the context of possible accession of Russia to the EU
• Russias State Council deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin about the status of Russian language

According to police information, approximately 15 000–20 000 minorities’ representatives participated at the protest action against the education reform in Riga, and 500 – in Liepaja, on 1May. A conflict between National Democratic Party, who organized the unauthorized walk against the education reform in Liepaja, and the municipal police developed when policemen asked the leader of the party Jevgenijs Osipovs to discontinue the unauthorized activities. Two activists of the party have been detained and put under administrative arrest from 7 till 8 days, but Jevgenijs Osipovs has escaped. Protest action took place also in Daugavpils.

According to police information, approximately 15000–20000 minorities representatives participated at the protest action against the education reform in Riga, and 500 – in Liepaja, on 1May. A conflict between National Democratic Party, who organized the unauthorized walk against the education reform in Liepaja, and the municipal police developed when policemen asked the leader of the party Jevgenijs Osipovs to discontinue the unauthorized activities. Two activists of the party have been detained and put under administrative arrest from 7 till 8 days, but Jevgenijs Osipovs has escaped. Protest action took place also in Daugavpils. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas

Chas features statements of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga about the protest actions against the education reform. During the interview to the Latvian Radio the president has said that the goal of the protest actions is to project a negative image of Latvia to its neighborhood in the European community.

The verdict of the Supreme Court in the case of Vasilijs Kononovs was that he is guilty of the war crimes committed in 1944 as accused, sentencing him to 1 year and 8 months imprisonment, which is equivalent to the time he has already spent in prison during the pre-trial investigation.

The verdict of the Supreme Court in the case of Vasilijs Kononovs was that he is guilty of the war crimes committed in 1944 as accused, sentencing him to 1 year and 8 months imprisonment, which is equivalent to the time he has already spent in prison during the pre-trial investigation. Latvijas Avize

More than 500 children participated at Minorities’ Children and Youth Sport Festival, organized by the Latvian Olympic Academy. Previously Russian-language newspapers printed the article of the representative of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools Tatjana Favorska calling to boycott the festival. She motivated her call by the fact that the government continuously ignores claims of the education reform’s opponents.

More than 500 children participated at Minorities Children and Youth Sport Festival, organized by the Latvian Olympic Academy. Previously Russian-language newspapers printed the article of the representative of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools Tatjana Favorska calling to boycott the festival. She motivated her call by the fact that the government continuously ignores claims of the education reforms opponents. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize reprints fragments of the article by Riga City Councils deputy Aleksandrs Gilmans, published in the Latvian internet portal delfi.lv. The deputy discusses the role of Russian language in Latvia in the context of the future possible EU enlargement towards Russia, stating that the bureaucratic system of the EU tends to expand and that Russia is one of the most attractive states for it. According to Aleksandrs Gilmans, the role of Russian language in Latvia will increase significantly when the inevitability of this event will become obvious.

Russia’s State Council deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin during the Russian language festival Russian Word, which took place in St. Petersburg, has stated that the Baltic States are afraid to grant a status of the state language to Russian, and promised that Russian shortly would become and official language of the EU.

Russias State Council deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin during the Russian language festival Russian Word, which took place in St. Petersburg, has stated that the Baltic States are afraid to grant a status of the state language to Russian, and promised that Russian shortly would become and official language of the EU. Latvijas Avize