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

• Russian language newspapers about the protest campaign against education reform
• Vladimir Linderman, the leader of the Russias National Bolshevik party and the liquidated National Bolshevik extremist organization Victory has been missing
• Mashida Fatio, the official representative of the Bahai International Community in the United Nations points to the necessity to include subjects on human unity in education programs in Latvia

Russian language newspapers publish articles about the protest campaign against education reform in Latvia, including the visit of Russian language school students to the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Parliament.

Russian language newspapers publish articles about the protest campaign against education reform in Latvia, including the visit of Russian language school students to the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Parliament. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Russian language newspapers report about the missing of Vladimir Linderman, the leader of the Russia’s National Bolshevik party and the liquidated National Bolshevik extremist organization “Victory” in Latvia, since September 24th. 

Russian language newspapers report about the missing of Vladimir Linderman, the leader of the Russias National Bolshevik party and the liquidated National Bolshevik extremist organization Victory in Latvia, since September 24th. Vechernaya Riga, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Mashida Fatio, the official representative of the Bahai International Community in the United Nations, believes that subjects on human unity should be included in education programs in Latvia thus promoting better mutual understanding between the two communities.

Mashida Fatio, the official representative of the Bahai International Community in the United Nations, believes that subjects on human unity should be included in education programs in Latvia thus promoting better mutual understanding between the two communities. Neatkariga Rita Avize

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

• Dmitry Rogozin, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Russias State Council: Russia maintains on the monitoring observation of minority rights in Latvia
• Media on the visit of Russian school students from Latvia to the institutions of the European Parliament
• Maris Antonevics, columnist of Lauku Avize, commentsthe expressions of Eleonora Mitrophanova, the first deputy minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia and other Russian officials
• Leonid Fedoseyev, Chas columnist, criticizes the proposal of the Minister of Education and Science about organizing a referendum on education reform
• Draft law on education reform in Estonia

Chas reports aboutthe expressions of Dmitry Rogozin, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Russias State Council about intent of the Russian delegation at Parliamentarian Assembly of European Parliament to achieve the resumption of monitoring observation of minority rights in Latvia. Newspapers feature articles about the visit of Russian school students from Latvia to the institutions of the European Parliament. Students and their companions from the Headquarters for the defense of Russian schools visited the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights and met the Peter Sheder, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Parliament, and the diplomats from Russia, Switzerland and Denmark. Lauku Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Maris Antonevics, the columnist of

Maris Antonevics, the columnist of Lauku Avize comments the expressions of Eleonora Mitrophanova, the first deputy minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Russia about the status of the Russian language in post-soviet states and also the recent statements of other officials from Russia. The columnist believes that Russia attempts to maintain its influence in this area and considers appealing to international institution as the most effective means to achieve this.

Leonid Fedoseyev, the columnist of

Leonid Fedoseyev, the columnist of Chas criticizes the proposal of Karlis Shadurskis, the Minister of Education and Science, to organize referendum on the issue of education reform. According to the columnist, it would be a needless spending money and would cause ethnic tensions. Chas

The Fatherland’s Union Party, the opposition party in Estonia has submitted to the Estonian Parliament a draft law stipulating that 60% of education programmes in minority secondary schools should be taught in Estonian starting from 2007. The party believes that it is important to adopt the law to ensure the transition of the secondary education in Estonian since the previous ruling coalition delegated the issues related to the language of instruction to schools and municipalities.

The Fatherlands Union Party, the opposition party in Estonia has submitted to the Estonian Parliament a draft law stipulating that 60% of education programmes in minority secondary schools should be taught in Estonian starting from 2007. The party believes that it is important to adopt the law to ensure the transition of the secondary education in Estonian since the previous ruling coalition delegated the issues related to the language of instruction to schools and municipalities. Lauku Avize

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

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia is verifying the accuracy of news concerning the statement by the first deputy minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia about granting official status to the Russian language in all post-soviet states
• Dmitry Rogozin, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Russias State Council about the observation of minority rights of Russian speaking people in Latvia
• Ethnologist and geographer Ilmars Mezs: ethnic differences in voting in EU referendum could be explained by different information spaces

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia is verifying the accuracy of news as reported by RIA NOVOSTI/ LETA, the Latvian national news agency, concerning the statement of Eleonora Mitrofanova, the first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, in order to express the official opinion of Latvia. According to the news agencies, in her address at the International University of Moscow, the Deputy Minister stated that Russia will strive to achieve that official status be granted to the Russian language in all the post-soviet states with significant Russian-speaking populations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia is verifying the accuracy of news as reported by RIA NOVOSTI/ LETA, the Latvian national news agency, concerning the statement of Eleonora Mitrofanova, the first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, in order to express the official opinion of Latvia. According to the news agencies, in her address at the International University of Moscow, the Deputy Minister stated that Russia will strive to achieve that official status be granted to the Russian language in all the post-soviet states with significant Russian-speaking populations. Telegraf features the opinions of left-wing politicians in Latvia about Mitrofanova statement. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Telegraf, Chas

Dmitry Rogozin, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma (State Council), comments on the picket of Russian school students from Latvia against current education reform near the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. In the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe he has drawn attention to the fact that Latvia’s policy is not in line with the democratic standards of the European Union in the realm of minority languages, education and voting rights. 

Dmitry Rogozin, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma (State Council), comments on the picket of Russian school students from Latvia against current education reform near the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. In the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe he has drawn attention to the fact that Latvias policy is not in line with the democratic standards of the European Union in the realm of minority languages, education and voting rights. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Diena features an article by ethnologist and geographer Ilmars Mezs about ethnic factors of No vote in the EU referendum. He stresses that ethnic differences are more distinct in voting in Latvia than in the other two Baltic States. Mezs argues that social factors play less significant role in the negative attitude towards Latvias accession to the EU than ethnic factors. Mezs cites many examples of rural parishes with the same level of socio-economic development in Daugavpils and several other Latgale districts with much higher percentage of Yes votes among ethnic Latvians and No votes among ethnic Russians. The analyst believes that ethnic differences in voting could be explained by the fact that Russian-speaking citizens had access to information about the referendum only in their isolated information space.

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

• The Latvian Association for the Support for Russian Schools submits signatures against education reform to the Minister of Education and Science
• The Enterprise Register postpones registration of the new party BITE
• The Cabinet of Ministers postpones the discussion about the establishment of the new State Language Agency
• Differing opinions of two Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia about the application of economic sanctions for ensuring the observance of human rights of compatriots in the Baltic States
• The Cabinet of Ministers allocates 10,000 Lats to the Latvian Association of National Cultural Societies
• Interview with Michael Kuznyetsov, a Russian expert from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Committee
• Clarification of the opinion expressed by Nils Muiznieks, the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration, about granting of voting rights to non-citizens at municipal elections

Yesterday the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian Schools submitted to Karlis Sadurskis, the Minister of Education and Science, 107,000 signatures collected in protest against education reform as well as alternative proposals for the reform. The Minister has promised to study the documents. Nevertheless, as the signatures affixed to the petition have not been certified by a notary, the Minister maintains that he cannot consider them valid. He also asserted that the basic principles of the current education reform will not be changed.

Yesterday the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian Schools submitted to Karlis Sadurskis, the Minister of Education and Science, 107,000 signatures collected in protest against education reform as well as alternative proposals for the reform. The Minister has promised to study the documents. Nevertheless, as the signatures affixed to the petition have not been certified by a notary, the Minister maintains that he cannot consider them valid. He also asserted that the basic principles of the current education reform will not be changed. Diena, Rigas Balss, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Vechernaya Riga

The Enterprise Register has postponed the registration of the new party BITE (Latvian acronym for “Free Choice in People’s Europe”) as the documents submitted by representatives of the party are not in compliance with the law.

The Enterprise Register has postponed the registration of the new party BITE (Latvian acronym for Free Choice in Peoples Europe) as the documents submitted by representatives of the party are not in compliance with the law. Diena

Two deputy ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia have different opinions about the application of economic sanctions to other states as a means of ensuring the observance of human rights of compatriots. In contrast with Eleonora Mitrofanova, the first deputy minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Vladimir Chizov, another deputy minister of the same ministry has promised not to politicize economic relations between Russia and the Baltic States.

Two deputy ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia have different opinions about the application of economic sanctions to other states as a means of ensuring the observance of human rights of compatriots. In contrast with Eleonora Mitrofanova, the first deputy minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Vladimir Chizov, another deputy minister of the same ministry has promised not to politicize economic relations between Russia and the Baltic States. Neatkariga Rita Avize

The Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers has postponed the discussion about the framework document on the establishment of the new State Language Agency. In an interview with the representative of the State Language Commission and the Ministry of Education and Science

The Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers has postponed the discussion about the framework document on the establishment of the new State Language Agency. In an interview with the representative of the State Language Commission and the Ministry of Education and Science Lauku Avize reports about key functions of the new body. According to the framework document, the new agency will become a coordinating institution for the implementation of the state language policy. Lauku Avize

The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to grant 10,000 lats to the Latvian Association of the National Cultural Societies.

The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to grant 10,000 lats to the Latvian Association of the National Cultural Societies. Lauku Avize

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with Michael Kuznyetsov, a Russian expert from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Committee, visiting Latvia this week and monitoring minority rights in Latvia.

The press secretary of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration clarifies the opinion expressed by the Special Task Minister in thebook “Agenda for Latvia-2004”. She stresses that the minister did not consider granting non-citizens the right to vote at municipal elections because the priority of the government is promotion of naturalization. An earlier article in the newspaper Vechernaya had suggested that, “Muiznieks considers it possible that Latvia will have to allow the non-citizens to vote in municipal elections.”

The press secretary of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration clarifies the opinion expressed by the Special Task Minister in thebook Agenda for Latvia-2004. She stresses that the minister did not consider granting non-citizens the right to vote at municipal elections because the priority of the government is promotion of naturalization. An earlier article in the newspaper Vechernaya had suggested that, Muiznieks considers it possible that Latvia will have to allow the non-citizens to vote in municipal elections. Vechernaya Riga

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

• Parties will not ask the resignation of the Prime Minister Einars Repse
• Working group for implementation of the National Programme The Integration of Society in Latvia established
• Left-wing politicians require the amendments to the Education Law
• Amendments to law On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR Who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State approved by the government
• The visit of experts from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Committee
• First Vice Speaker of Russias State Council: NATO should pay more attention to the rights of Russian speaking people in Latvia
• About the reasons of deprivation of Latvian citizenship
• Tatjana Poloskova, expert of the delegation from Russia visiting Latvia this month, about education reform
• Planned meetings of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools in Strasburg

All political parties in Saeima have decided do not ask the resignation of Prime Minister for the present.

All political parties in Saeima have decided do not ask the resignation of Prime Minister for the present. Diena, Lauku Avize, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Vechernaya Riga

A work group for implementation of the National Programme “The Integration of Society in Latvia” has been established on the basis of the decree of Einars Repse, the Prime Minister of Latvia. The work group will develop a report about the system of implementation, supervision and assessment of the Programme.

A work group for implementation of the National Programme The Integration of Society in Latvia has been established on the basis of the decree of Einars Repse, the Prime Minister of Latvia. The work group will develop a report about the system of implementation, supervision and assessment of the Programme. Lauku Avize

The party “For Human Rights in the United Latvia” has submitted its amendments to the Education Law for the second reading. The party stresses that minority schools will benefit from the law only if they have the right to choose language of instruction themselves and if the Ministry of Education and Science establish a department of minority education.

The party For Human Rights in the United Latvia has submitted its amendments to the Education Law for the second reading. The party stresses that minority schools will benefit from the law only if they have the right to choose language of instruction themselves and if the Ministry of Education and Science establish a department of minority education. Diena, Chas

The Cabinet of Ministers has accepted the amendments to the law “On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR Who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State”. According to the amendments, non-citizens who become the residents of other states and get a travelling card there should refuse from the status of a non-citizen of Latvia.

The Cabinet of Ministers has accepted the amendments to the law On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR Who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State. According to the amendments, non-citizens who become the residents of other states and get a travelling card there should refuse from the status of a non-citizen of Latvia. Chas

The newspapersfeature articles about the visit of experts from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Committee to Latvia. According to Simon Lunn, the Secretary General of the NATO PA, experts will prepare a report about the visit, but the delegation does not plan to give any recommendations to the government of Latvia. He also stresses that it is not the duty of Latvia to fund minority schools from the state budget. Russian language newspapers feature critical opinions of NATO experts from Russia about this visit.

The newspapersfeature articles about the visit of experts from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Committee to Latvia. According to Simon Lunn, the Secretary General of the NATO PA, experts will prepare a report about the visit, but the delegation does not plan to give any recommendations to the government of Latvia. He also stresses that it is not the duty of Latvia to fund minority schools from the state budget. Russian language newspapers feature critical opinions of NATO experts from Russia about this visit. Lauku Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The First Vice Speaker of Russia’s State Council Lyubov Sliska during her meeting with representatives of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly has pointed to the fact that 500, 000 non-citizens of Latvia had no opportunity to vote on the referendum about Latvia’s accession to the EU. According to Lyubov Sliska, in the context of Latvia’s accession to NATO, this organization should pay more attention to observing of the rights of Russian speaking people in the field of education, language policy, and social integration.

The First Vice Speaker of Russias State Council Lyubov Sliska during her meeting with representatives of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly has pointed to the fact that 500, 000 non-citizens of Latvia had no opportunity to vote on the referendum about Latvias accession to the EU. According to Lyubov Sliska, in the context of Latvias accession to NATO, this organization should pay more attention to observing of the rights of Russian speaking people in the field of education, language policy, and social integration. Lauku Avize, Chas, Vechernaya Riga

According to

According to Rigas Balss, double-citizenship and getting Latvian citizenship providing false information are the main reasons of deprivation of Latvian citizenship.

Lauku Avize features a letter of Tatjana Poloskova, an expert of the Russia delegation visiting Latvia this month and discussing the education reform of Latvia. According to her, Moscow wants to help Latvia in realizing education reform offering advises of experts. She stresses that all experts of the delegation believe that Russians should naturalize and learn Latvian language while maintaining their Russian identity.

Lauku Avize features an article about the visit of representatives of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools to Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The Headquarters are planning meetings with diplomats, deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly, representatives of the Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the Committee onLegal Affairs and Human Rights.