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

• Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly rejects the appeal of the Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre to postpone the visit of two rapporteurs to Latvia
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga announced amendments to the law On meetings, walks and pickets
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga comments on Vladimir Zhirinovskys threats of terrorist attacks in Latvia
• Report Ethnic structure, inequality and the Governance of the Public Sector in Latvia
• Interview with the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics
• Comments on the appeal of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia to the European Parliament to grant Russian status of the EU official language
• Upcoming regulations for foreigners applying for the permanent residence in Latvia
• FHRUL MP Vladimirs Buzajevs about problems related to the registration of children of Latvain non-citizens and foreigners
• Commentary on the European Week against Racism
• Interview with the MP of RussiaState Council Konstantin Zatulin
• Celebration of the Muslim New Year, organized by the Uzbek cultural society Nur

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) has rejected the appeal of the Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre to postpone the visit to Latvia of two rapporteurs, who will evaluate the issues of education reform and observation of minority rights. President of the CEPA Peter Schieder in his letter to Ingrida Udre has stated that CEPA regards the visit of two rapporteurs to Latvia on 29 and 30 March as necessary.

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) has rejected the appeal of the Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre to postpone the visit to Latvia of two rapporteurs, who will evaluate the issues of education reform and observation of minority rights. President of the CEPA Peter Schieder in his letter to Ingrida Udre has stated that CEPA regards the visit of two rapporteurs to Latvia on 29 and 30 March as necessary. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has announced amendments to the law “On meetings, walks and pickets”, stipulating that outdoor meetings of Saeima and municipality deputies and deputy candidates with their electorate, as well as organized and publicly announced pickets and walks, must be coordinated with the municipality.

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has announced amendments to the law On meetings, walks and pickets, stipulating that outdoor meetings of Saeima and municipality deputies and deputy candidates with their electorate, as well as organized and publicly announced pickets and walks, must be coordinated with the municipality. Chas

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has evaluated expressions of the vice-speaker of the Russia State Council Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who has declared his intentions to exterminate Latvian people, as unacceptable for the elected official. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, protesting against Latvia’s accession to the NATO and implementation of the education reform, has promised to organize terrorist attacks in Latvia, if the state ‘will touch Russians or Russian schools’. Commentator of the

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has evaluated expressions of the vice-speaker of the Russia State Council Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who has declared his intentions to exterminate Latvian people, as unacceptable for the elected official. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, protesting against Latvias accession to the NATO and implementation of the education reform, has promised to organize terrorist attacks in Latvia, if the state ‘will touch Russians or Russian schools. Commentator of the Latvijas Avize points to the necessity of taking these threats seriously, given the fact that 11,45% of Russian electorate, i.e., approximately 7,000,000 people, have voted for Zhirinovsky and his party. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Chas

‘Latvia should form a unified, integrated and liberal-democratic society with the wide rights for minorities’, says Artis Pabriks, author of the research study “Ethnic structure, inequality and the Governance of the Public Sector in Latvia” and a newly appointed head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee. According to the study, ethnic Latvians dominate in the state sector, in spite of the fact that they comprise 58% of total population, and ethnic Russians, for example, comprise 28%. In the Saeima, minorities’ representation is 20%, but in the government they are not represented. Artis Pabriks regards the large amount of non-citizens, not willing to naturalize, and lack of Latvian language knowledge among many Latvian residents,  as the main cleavages in the society. 

‘Latvia should form a unified, integrated and liberal-democratic society with the wide rights for minorities, says Artis Pabriks, author of the research study Ethnic structure, inequality and the Governance of the Public Sector in Latvia and a newly appointed head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee. According to the study, ethnic Latvians dominate in the state sector, in spite of the fact that they comprise 58% of total population, and ethnic Russians, for example, comprise 28%. In the Saeima, minorities representation is 20%, but in the government they are not represented. Artis Pabriks regards the large amount of non-citizens, not willing to naturalize, and lack of Latvian language knowledge among many Latvian residents, as the main cleavages in the society. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Chas features an interview with the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics about the implementation of the education reform. Juris Radzevics believes that communication between the Ministry and the society has not been effective up to now, and wants to create a bridge between the power structures and the public at least in the field of education.

Latvijas Avize features an article about the appeal of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia to the European Parliament to provide official status to the Russian language in the EU. According to the officials of the EU institutions, interviewed by the journalist, decision lies with Latvia, not with the EU. In order to claim the status of the EU official language, Russian should be first recognized as the state language in Latvia, and then also get an approval from the other 24 member states, which is not likely.

Cabinet of Ministers Committee has approved the draft regulation stipulating that foreigners applying for permanent residence in Latvia should pass the Latvian language examination.

Cabinet of Ministers Committee has approved the draft regulation stipulating that foreigners applying for permanent residence in Latvia should pass the Latvian language examination. Telegraf

Chas publishes a commentary of FHRUL MP Vladimirs Buzajevs on the situation with a 6-month old child of the Latvian non-citizen and the Lithuanian citizen. According to Buzajevs, the child cannot be registered as a Latvian non-citizen and acquire a personal code on the grounds that one of the parents has a valid citizenship of the other country.

Latvijas avize comments on the European Week against Racism, which is being organized in Latvia for a second year in the row. According to the journalist Aija Calite, public attention had been again drawn to the fact that racism exists in Latvia, and studies claiming to prove it have been published. Aija Calite believes that Latvian people are not obliged to prove all the time that they are not racists. Although Aija Calite cannot guarantee that there are no racists in Latvia, she believes that according to the principle of individual responsibility in the liberal democratic society, community at large cannot bear responsibility for someones racist attitudes.

Telegraf features an interview with the MP of Russia State Council Konstantin Zatulin (Jedinaya Rossia) about the relationship between Latvia and Russia.

Chas writes about the celebration of the Muslim New Year, organized by the Uzbek cultural society Nur.

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

• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga returns to Saeima the law On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga discusses recent protest actions against the education reform with the chairpersons of the state security institutions
• Call of Saeima Citizenship Law Implementation Committee to resolve the problem of Latvian and Russian dual citizens entering Latvia
• For Human Rights in the United Latvia requests European Parliament to change the language policy in the enlarged EU
• Russia agrees to apply the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the European Union to the new member states
• Conference Ethnic structure, inequality and the Governance of the Public Sector
• Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre discusses the society integration issues with the representatives of the largest religious confessions
• Commentary by Aleksandrs Malnacs about the increasing amount of naturalization applications

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has returned to Saeima the law “On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State” for review. The president regards amendments to the law allowing for depriving persons who have obtained a residence permit in another country of the non-citizen status of Latvia as ungrounded.

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has returned to Saeima the law On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State for review. The president regards amendments to the law allowing for depriving persons who have obtained a residence permit in another country of the non-citizen status of Latvia as ungrounded. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga met the chairpersons of the state security institutions. According to the chairman of the State Security Police Janis Reinis, during this meeting issue of protest actions against the education reform, organized by the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools was also discussed.  

Yesterday the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga met the chairpersons of the state security institutions. According to the chairman of the State Security Police Janis Reinis, during this meeting issue of protest actions against the education reform, organized by the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools was also discussed. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Saeima Citizenship Law Implementation Committee has asked Foreign Affairs Ministry to draw up proposals on resolving the problem concerning persons with dual Latvian and Russian citizenship. According to the head of this committee Anta Rugate, Russia regards those persons as citizens of Russia, and requires them to have a Latvian visa before traveling to Latvia, but Latvian laws do not foresee possibility of issuing an entry visa delivery to the citizens of Latvia.

Saeima Citizenship Law Implementation Committee has asked Foreign Affairs Ministry to draw up proposals on resolving the problem concerning persons with dual Latvian and Russian citizenship. According to the head of this committee Anta Rugate, Russia regards those persons as citizens of Russia, and requires them to have a Latvian visa before traveling to Latvia, but Latvian laws do not foresee possibility of issuing an entry visa delivery to the citizens of Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya features an appeal of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) to members of the European Parliament for developing a public discussion about the cardinal shift in the language policy of the enlarged EU. According to the FHRUL, it is illogical that status of the EU official language is not granted to several languages, each used by at least five million speakers, i.e., Russian, Turkish, Arabian and Catalonian.

Russia Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Chizhov during the negotiations with the European Commission has agreed to apply the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the European Union also to the new member states of the EU. Previously Russia stated that the treaty could not been applied to Latvia and Estonia as these states allegedly do not observe Russian-speakers’ rights.

Russia Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Chizhov during the negotiations with the European Commission has agreed to apply the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the European Union also to the new member states of the EU. Previously Russia stated that the treaty could not been applied to Latvia and Estonia as these states allegedly do not observe Russian-speakers rights. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize

Today the three-day conference “Ethnic structure, inequality and the Governance of the Public Sector”, organized by the UN Research Institute for Social Development  , the UN Development Program and the Latvian Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Society Integration begins in Riga.

Today the three-day conference Ethnic structure, inequality and the Governance of the Public Sector, organized by the UN Research Institute for Social Development,the UNDevelopmentProgram and the Latvian Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Society Integration begins in Riga. Latvijas Vestnesis

Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre has met with the representatives of the largest religious confessions in order to discuss the integration issues. Archbishop of the Lutheran Church Janis Vanags believes that Russia holds  the key to the society integration in Latvia. According to him, the integration process in Latvia will be hindered until Russia agrees to bear responsibility for the crimes of the communist regime.

Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre has met with the representatives of the largest religious confessions in order to discuss the integration issues. Archbishop of the Lutheran Church Janis Vanags believes that Russia holds the key to the society integration in Latvia. According to him, the integration process in Latvia will be hindered until Russia agrees to bear responsibility for the crimes of the communist regime. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Chas features a commentary by Aleksandrs Malnacs about the increasing amount of naturalization applications during the last months. He holds an opinion that the main reason behind it is that the non-citizens finally realized that by withdrawing from the active civil participation they actually help the far right political forces to implement nationalistic and russophobic policy, as well as understood that no one else will fight for their and their childrens rights.

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

• Former Prime Minister Andris Berzins blames former Minister for Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis for complications with the education reforms implementation
• Article questioning credibility of the non-governmental organizations Rietumu krievi and Pilsoniska iniciativa XXI
• Results of the survey Ukrainians in Latvia

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the former Prime Minister Andris Berzins about the education reform and Latvias accession to the European Union. Andris Berzins claims that all present complications with the education reform are the consequences of the unprofessional actions of the former minister for education and science. According to the former prime minister, his government has completed the monitoring of minority schools preparedness to the reform, and next Minister for Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis just had to develop a dialogue with all the stakeholders based on the monitoring results, but he chose a different way, and now it will be very difficult to achieve a compromise.

Chas features a critical article about the non-governmental organizationsRietumu krievi (Western Russians)and Pilsoniska iniciativa XXI (Civic initiative XXI)in response to the recent publications in the Latvian-language newspapers Diena and Latvijas Avize, where representatives of these organizations criticize activities of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools. Chas claims that organizations in question cannot represent the opinion of the Russian community and Russian intelligentsia on the education reform because total number of their staff is 5 persons. According to the newspaper, organization Rietumu Krievi is ‘substantially financed by the government, as they receive funding from the EU PHARE society integration program, which is administrated by the Society Integration Foundation.

Public policy portal

Public policy portal www.politika.lv features an article by the sociologist Natalija Lisogorova about results of the survey Ukrainians in Latvia about the attitude of the Ukrainian minority towards the issues of naturalization and Latvias accession to the EU. According to Natalija Lisogorova, Ukrainians join in the integration process very slowly – only 16, 3% of them have naturalized until now, which is the lowest naturalization level among Latvian minorities. At the same time, 46% of Ukrainians support integration, but 61% believe that the process of integration has not started yet. The sociologist believes it proves that there are different views on integration aims and principles within the society, and that formalization of the state integration structures has possibly distanced them from the Ukrainian minoritys needs and interests.

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

• Peoples Harmony Party discusses recent amendments to the law On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State with the representatives of the Presidents Chancery
• Statements of the Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics
• Peoples Harmony Party announces their candidate lists for the European Parliament
• Observer from Latvia to the European Parliament Boris Tsilevich on the necessity to recognize minorities rights to cultural and language diversity
• Interview with the leader of the non-governmental organization Rietumu krievi Dmitrijs Nikolajevs
• Leader of the For Human Rights in the United Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka is not planning to withdraw her claim to the European Court for Human Rights
• Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools invite to participate in the protest actions
• Celebration of the Muslim New Year in Latvia

Yesterday representatives of the People’s Harmony Party (PHP) and representatives of the President Chancery have met to discuss amendments to the law “On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State”, which PHP asks not to announce. MP Aleksandrs Bartasevics has stated that these amendments will cause an avalanche of lawsuits against Latvia, because the amendments allow for depriving persons who have  lived outside Latvia for an extended period of time, obtained a residence permit in another country, or have registered  domicile in the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States after 1 July 1992, of the non-citizen status of Latvia, According to the MP, many people register domicile in Russia in order to get a job in that country. Former chairperson of the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee Solvita Aboltina believes that the true goal of PHP is not cancellation of the amendments, but rather calling attention to the status of non-citizens in Latvia.

Yesterday representatives of the Peoples Harmony Party (PHP) and representatives of the President Chancery have met to discuss amendments to the law On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State, which PHP asks not to announce. MP Aleksandrs Bartasevics has stated that these amendments will cause an avalanche of lawsuits against Latvia, because the amendments allow for depriving persons who have lived outside Latvia for an extended period of time, obtained a residence permit in another country, or have registered domicile in the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States after 1 July 1992, of the non-citizen status of Latvia, According to the MP, many people register domicile in Russia in order to get a job in that country. Former chairperson of the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee Solvita Aboltina believes that the true goal of PHP is not cancellation of the amendments, but rather calling attention to the status of non-citizens in Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics in his interview to the Russian news agency

Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics in his interview to the Russian news agency Regnum has said that reform of the Russian schools in Latvia is a problem not only for Latvia, but for the whole EU. According to Radzevics, the Prime Minister Indulis Emsiss request to form a work group for developing a dialogue with the non-governmental organizations about implementation of the education reform is a response to the formation of the discussion group during the Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools. Vesti Segodnya

People’s Harmony Party has announced their candidate lists for the European Parliament elections. MP Boris Tsilevich is leading the list, the head of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools and member of Latvia’s Socialist Party Igors Pimenovs is running number three. According to Igors Pimenovs, simultaneous inclusion of his name in the candidate list of Latvia’s Socialist Party is against his will, and therefore against the law. He stressed that he is honored to candidate from the PHP, the party which cares for minority interests and is against the two-community state in Latvia.

Peoples Harmony Party has announced their candidate lists for the European Parliament elections. MP Boris Tsilevich is leading the list, the head of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools and member of Latvias Socialist Party Igors Pimenovs is running number three. According to Igors Pimenovs, simultaneous inclusion of his name in the candidate list of Latvias Socialist Party is against his will, and therefore against the law. He stressed that he is honored to candidate from the PHP, the party which cares for minority interests and is against the two-community state in Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Chas

Vesti Segodnya prints statements of the Latvian observer to the European Parliament (EP) Boris Tsilevich about preservation of the minority rights to maintain their cultural and language diversity after Latvian accession to the EU, and possible increase in Brussels pressure on Latvia and other accession countries to implement European anti-discrimination legislation.

Latvijas Avize features an interview with Dmitrijs Nikolajevs, leader of the non-governmental organization Rietumu krievi (Western Russians), which has expressed support of the education reform. Dmitrijs Nikolajevs believes time has come for Russian-speakers who are loyal towards the Latvian state to speak up; otherwise they are all being automatically identified with the activities of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools. Dmitrijs Nikolajevs believes that the Headquarters failed to unite promised 10% of Russian-speakers in their protest actions against the education reform, and that those protest actions is the last hope for the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia, who has driven themselves against the wall with their ungrounded promises for zero (i.e. automatic for all) alternative of citizenship.

The leader of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka is not planning to withdraw her claim against Latvia at the Court for Human Rights despite the fact that Latvian European Parliament election law allows her to stand as a candidate.

The leader of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka is not planning to withdraw her claim against Latvia at the Court for Human Rights despite the fact that Latvian European Parliament election law allows her to stand as a candidate. Vesti Segodnya

Russian language newspapers feature appeal of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools for participation in the protest actions against the education reform.

Russian language newspapers feature appeal of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools for participation in the protest actions against the education reform. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Latvijas Avize writes about the celebration of the Muslim New Year on 21 March, organized by the Uzbek cultural society of Latvia. Latvijas Avize

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

• Opponents of the education reform preparing new protest activities
• Interview with the Education and Science Minister Juris Radzevics
• European Parliament German Deputy Elisabeth Schroedter about the new Latvian Prime Minister
• Igors Pimenovs is planning to run for the European Parliament
• Article by student of Ghent University about the education reform
• Commentary on the article of Sigita Zankovska-Odina, researcher of the Latvian Universitys Centre for ethnic studies
• Article about the pedagogy issues of the education reform

Opponents of the education reform are preparing a new protest activity – students’ strikes on 15th and 16th of April. According to

Opponents of the education reform are preparing a new protest activity – students strikes on 15th and 16th of April. According to Chas, students from60 Rigas schools, as well as students from Liepaja, Ventspils and Daugavpils may join in the strike. Latvijas Avize reports about the meeting of the Minister for Education and Science and the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Igor Studennikov about the implementation of the education reform. The newspaper ponders if this meeting may indicate that Latvian government has recognized that minority education reform is not only an interior issue of Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Rigas Balss features an interview with the Education and Science Minister Juris Radzevics. Minister comments that the education reform in the schools with Russian language of instruction has become more of a political than a pedagogic issue. He believes that it is necessary to analyze the situation and understand what causes problems. It is evident to the minister that reforms goals have not been thoroughly explained to the public, and no discussion has been attempted with the reforms opponents. Juris Radzevics thinks there is no reason to change the Education law, and that moratorium would not resolve the issue either. He believes that it is possible to achieve a reasonable, balanced compromise, once the reforms opponents will understand that the main goal is to prepare young people for the employment market or the system of higher education.

Latvijas Avize writes about the comment of the European Parliament German Deputy, who submitted the report on Latvias preparedness to join the European Union, about the new Prime Minister of Latvia. Elisabeth Schroedter states that she puts a lot of hope on Indulis Emsis, who supports the integration policy and is ready for compromise. According to Schroedter, it had been appreciated by the Russian minority MPs who voted for his candidature.

The head of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools Igors Pimenovs is planning to run for the European Parliament in order to represent the interests of the Russian-speaking minority. However, if his name appears on the election lists of two parties – Latvian Socialist party and the People’s Harmony party (who have both listed him as a candidate), he will be deleted from both.  Pimenovs is planning to organize a press conference to explain this situation.

The head of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools Igors Pimenovs is planning to run for the European Parliament in order to represent the interests of the Russian-speaking minority. However, if his name appears on the election lists of two parties – Latvian Socialist party and the Peoples Harmony party (who have both listed him as a candidate), he will be deleted from both. Pimenovs is planning to organize a press conference to explain this situation. Telegraf

Diena prints an article by Maxim Kovalenko, student of Ghent University, about the education reform. He stresses that language policy is one of the components of the integration policy, which aims to integrate young people into the system of higher education and the employment market. Maxim Kovalenko also indicates two critical success factors for the reform implementation: first of all, minority schools and teachers should be ready for it; second, there is a certain lack of trust between Latvian- and Russian language communities, which has been intensified by the recent political conflict in the area of education. M. Kovalenko concludes that in order to accomplish the reform, a series of supportive activities, which can minimize or even prevent the negative factors influence, is necessary: additional training for teachers on bilingual methods in practice; effective public relations program to minimize the negative attitude of the teachers and students; help to the socially vulnerable groups, like additional language tutorials when needed.

Vesti Segodnya publishes commentary on the article of Sigita Zankovska-Odina, researcher of the Latvian Universitys Centre for ethnic studies, who believes that Latvias accession to the EU can further complicate the society integration process in Latvia, as non-citizens will receive additional rights and therefore their motivation to naturalize will decrease. The researcher evaluates the possible choice of the part of non-citizens to adopt the Russian citizenship, which in her opinion would create a two-community society, as well as would give Russia a possibility of interfering in Latvian internal affairs.

Vesti Segodnya prints an article by Jakovs Pliners, MP from For Human Rights in United Latvia and Valerijs Buhvalovs, doctor of pedagogy, who believe that in order to successfully implement the ‘western model of bilingual education in Latvia, it should be scientifically analyzed and adapted to the local conditions, which, according to them, had not been the case. Pliners and Buhvalovs call to ‘professional pedagogical debate on the issue.