Public opinion survey: ethnic Latvians and Russians speakers perceive patriotism differently

Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs promoted activity of citizens in collection of signatures for support of granting Russian status of official

According to a public opinion survey “DNB Latvijas barometrs”, most ethnic Latvians (41%) believe that refusal to emigrate from the country is the best expression of patriotism towards Latvia, while most Russian speaking residents (43%) believe that honest work and payment of taxes are the best expressions of patriotism towards Latvia.

According to a public opinion survey DNB Latvijas barometrs, most ethnic Latvians (41%) believe that refusal to emigrate from the country is the best expression of patriotism towards Latvia, while most Russian speaking residents (43%) believe that honest work and payment of taxes are the best expressions of patriotism towards Latvia. Chas, Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnya

Internet portal

Internet portal Diena.lv reports that the fact that the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs signed for support on granting Russian language status of official in Latvia promoted activity of citizens signing for the initiative. According to Diena.lv, the activity increased four times comparing with the first week of collection of signatures. The biggest activity is observed in the centre of Riga and on weekend. Chas

• Concord Centre prepared the draft amendments stipulating possibility to communicate with municipal institution in Russian language
• MP Romualds Razuks: consolidation of the society could be promoted by inclusion of ethnic non-Latvians in the government
• Head of the Latvian Socialist Party Alfreds Rubiks does not support granting Russian language status of official in Latvia

The Saeima’s faction of the Concord Centre (CC) prepared the draft amendments to the State Language Law stipulating possibility to communicate with municipal institutions in Russian language. According to a representative of the CC, MP Valerijs Agesins, such rules would apply to these municipalities where there is clear demand for such opportunity, for instance in Riga and Daugavpils (city in the Eastern part of Latvia).

The Saeimas faction of the Concord Centre (CC) prepared the draft amendments to the State Language Law stipulating possibility to communicate with municipal institutions in Russian language. According to a representative of the CC, MP Valerijs Agesins, such rules would apply to these municipalities where there is clear demand for such opportunity, for instance in Riga and Daugavpils (city in the Eastern part of Latvia). Chas, Vesti Segodnya

In an interview with

In an interview with Chas, the head of the Saeimas Foreign Affairs Committee, MP Romualds Razuks (Zatlers Reforms Party) states that the consolidation of the society could be promoted by inclusion of ethnic non-Latvians in the governing coalition. According to Mr Razuks, the Concord Centre as a party representing ethnic minorities had to be included in the government in order to share the responsibility over situation in the country. Mr Razuks believes that Latvian language has such a big meaning for ethnic Latvians because it is their core value and indicates their culture and beliefs.

Head of the Latvian Socialist Party Alfreds Rubiks does not support the collection of signatures in support of granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. Mr Rubiks believes that such initiative is condemned to failure from the start and that it deepens the split in the society.  Mr Rubiks believes that Russian could be granted status of official regional language or ethnic minorities’ language.

Head of the Latvian Socialist Party Alfreds Rubiks does not support the collection of signatures in support of granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. Mr Rubiks believes that such initiative is condemned to failure from the start and that it deepens the split in the society. Mr Rubiks believes that Russian could be granted status of official regional language or ethnic minorities language. Vesti Segodnya

• Activists of the Civic Union believe that Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs should be dismissed from his post because of his support to Russian language

Vesti Segodnya reports that activists of the political party Civic Union (CU) turned to the Minister of Regional Development and Local Government Edmunds Sprudzs asking to evaluate whether the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs fits his post. Representatives of the CU criticize the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs for the fact that he signed for initiative to grant Russian language status of official. The CU believes that such initiative contradicts the basic principles of national state.

• Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs: ethnic Russian residents of Latvia will not disappear from Latvia
• Ex-advisor of the ex-Minister of Culture Andrejs Berdnikovs: Sarmite Elerte did not take into consideration critics regarding the integration program

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with one of the leaders of the Concord Centre (CC), the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs. According to Mr Usakovs, the official position of the CC is that Latvian language should remain the only state language in Latvia. At the same time, usage of Russian language should be widened – granting residents rights to communicate to municipal institutions in Russian, writing original Russian spelling of name and surname in passport, and other issues. Mr Usakovs believes that ethnic Russian residents of Latvia will not disappear from the country and will not become ethnic Latvians. And, therefore, the state should achieve that its Russian residents will clearly identify themselves with Latvia and preserve their identity.

In an interview with radio station “Baltkom”, Andrejs Berdnikovs, ex-advisor of the ex-Minister of Culture, stated that he was forced to leave the post of the Minister’s advisor because his opinion contradicted the Minister’s Sarmite Elerte’s opinion regarding the elaboration of the integration program. According to Mr Berdnikovs, the Minister Elerte also did not take into consideration not only his opinion, but also criticism expressed by the members of the advisory council and civil society.

In an interview with radio station Baltkom, Andrejs Berdnikovs, ex-advisor of the ex-Minister of Culture, stated that he was forced to leave the post of the Ministers advisor because his opinion contradicted the Ministers Sarmite Elertes opinion regarding the elaboration of the integration program. According to Mr Berdnikovs, the Minister Elerte also did not take into consideration not only his opinion, but also criticism expressed by the members of the advisory council and civil society. Chas

• Latvijas Avize questions high officials on whether Vladimir Linderman should be granted Latvian citizenship
• National Council of Electronic Mass Media accuses channel TV5 of discrediting Latvia
• Citizenship Law Implementation Committee may also work on society consolidation issues

Latvijas Avize questions high officials on whether Vladimir Linderman should be granted Latvian citizenship even if he undergoes the naturalisation procedure. The President of Latvia Andris Berzins believes that the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers whether persons should be granted citizenship is a political decision. The President reminds that there were cases when some persons were refused Latvian citizenship and later such decisions were also upheld by the court. The Speaker of the Saeima Solvita Āboltiņa believes that the granting of citizenship is not only a legal act but being a citizen also means being loyal and respectful towards your state, its culture, traditions and language. The Speaker believes that the activities of Mr Linderman show that he is not loyal but hostile towards Latvia and he must not be granted Latvian citizenship. Vladimir Linderman is a radical left wing activist known for his activities in the support of Russian speakers and the Russian language in Latvia. He joined the Russian National Bolshevik party in 1997, became leader of the Latvian chapter, and resided illegally in Russia from 2002 until his extradition to Latvia in 2008.

The National Council of Electronic Mass Media (NCEMM) opened an administrative case against channel TV5 concerning the violation of Electronic Mass Media Law. The NCEMM believes that one of the news stories broadcast by TV5 discredited Latvia as a state. One of the interviewed persons in the news story said that Latvia is a fascistic country. The Council considers that such comment was broadcast purposefully as it was not a live broadcast.

The National Council of Electronic Mass Media (NCEMM) opened an administrative case against channel TV5 concerning the violation of Electronic Mass Media Law. The NCEMM believes that one of the news stories broadcast by TV5 discredited Latvia as a state. One of the interviewed persons in the news story said that Latvia is a fascistic country. The Council considers that such comment was broadcast purposefully as it was not a live broadcast. Latvijas Avize

Members of the Saeima Citizenship Law Implementation Committee discussed possible alternatives for renaming the Committee. The head of the Committee Ilmars Latkovskis (member of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia-FF/LNIM) considered that the work of the commission should be wider and include issues on society consolidation. The MPs proposed to rename the Committee as the Committee of National Unity and Identity or the Committee of Consolidation of Society. The discussion on the issue will continue.

Members of the Saeima Citizenship Law Implementation Committee discussed possible alternatives for renaming the Committee. The head of the Committee Ilmars Latkovskis (member of the nationalists union All for Latvia-FF/LNIM) considered that the work of the commission should be wider and include issues on society consolidation. The MPs proposed to rename the Committee as the Committee of National Unity and Identity or the Committee of Consolidation of Society. The discussion on the issue will continue. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize