• Aleksandrs Gilmans: Jews had to wait nineteen centuries and no one knows how long would Latvia’s Russians have to wait for political solution
• Latvian Anti-fascist Committee plans to conduct a protest action against rebirth of fascism in Latvia

Vesti Segodnya prints second part of the article by Aleksandrs Gilmans about Latvia’s Russians. Mr.Gilmans highlights important difference between Russians in the USA and in Latvia: Russians in the US are emigrants, who relocated to the US with the purpose to become Americans and for their children to assimilate; Russians in Latvia did not move anywhere and therefore they do not want themselves or their children to assimilate. He believes that self-preservation is a problem which will face Russians throughout many generations and he reminds that the Jews had to wait nineteen centuries and Armenians – six centuries for political solution of their problems and no one knows how long Russians will have to wait. He also warns that self-preservation leads to certain tension with the neighbours, but this is the price to pay if one wants to be oneself.

Vesti Segodnya reports that a controversial musical "Cukurs. Herberts Cukurs" will be shown in Riga on 16 October. Before the beginning of the performance, the Latvian Anti-fascist Committee will conduct a protest action against rebirth of fascism in Latvia. As reported, on the day of premiere of the musical in Liepaja on 11 October, association "Russian Dawn" protested against it by placing bloodied dolls next to the entry of the theatre. Herberts Cukurs was Latvian aviation pioneer during the 1930s, yet during 1941-1944 also took part in the "Arajs Kommando", which was responsible for the mass murders in Latvia during the Nazi occupation.

• Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma: ministers of the new government will not be allowed to take part in the 16 March processions
• Vesti Segodnya prints an article by Aleksandrs Gilmans about the activity of Russian community in Latvia

The Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma (who most likely will be appointed to the post of the Prime Minister by the newly elected parliament) stated that ministers of the new government will not be allowed to take part in the 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires) processions in the centre of Riga, just like the ministers of the present government were not allowed to take part.  Also the leader of the Unity Solvita Aboltina said that attention of the whole Europe will be turned towards Latvia during the upcoming Latvia’s presidency in the European Council, therefore, issue of 16 March will be discussed with the National Union (NU). However, the leader of the NU Raivis Dzintars denied that there were any discussions about the issue and said that the party will not take part in such discussions. As reported, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Einars Cilinskis (member of the NU) has been dismissed from the post because he took part in the 16 March procession. Neatkariga

Vesti Segodnya prints an article by Aleksandrs Gilmans about the activity of Russian community in Latvia. A. Gilmans believes that the main problem of Russian NGOs in Latvia is the fact that there are too many NGOs representing Russian residents and those are too small. Therefore, those face problems attracting funding and engaging people. Gilmans does not agree with the claim that Russian cultural life in Latvia is poor. According to Mr. Gilmans, Russian culture is more than some folk events, yet also includes manifestations of modern culture, such as festivals and concerts. Regarding low involvement of Russian residents in the protest actions, Gilmans explains it by the lack of idea for protest actions which would also give people a sense of pleasure if they take part in it. He also believes that 9 May (unofficial celebration of the end of WWII or Victory Day) is a unity day for all who speak and think in Russian language in Latvia.

• Operators of cable TV might be obliged to include obligatory TV channels in their broadcasting package
• Premiere of controversial musical in Liepaja about aviation pioneer Herberts Cukurs who later participated in mass murders

Vesti Segodnya reports about draft amendments to the Law on Electronic Mass Media stipulating that operators of cable TV will be obliged to include obligatory TV channels in their broadcasting package. According to the draft amendments proposed by the National Council on Electronic Mass Media (NCEMM), the operators will have to include at least four  EU TV channels – one with at least 50% of broadcast in Latvian language, and three others in official EU languages – one with news, analytic, and informational programmes, one with scientific popular programmes, and one with programmes for youth and children. According to the members of the NCEMM Aija Dulevska, the aim of the draft amendments is to restrict impact of Russia’s TV channels in Latvia.

Premiere of controversial musical "Cukurs. Herberts Cukurs" has taken place in Liepaja on 11 October 2014. The musical tells about Herberts Cukurs, who was an aviation pioneer during the 1930s, yet during 1941-1944 also took part in the "Arajs Kommando", which was responsible for the mass murders in Latvia during the Nazi occupation. Association "Russian Dawn" in Liepaja protested against the premiere by placing bloodied dolls next to the entry of the theatre. The security did not let the members of the "Latvian anti-fascist committee" to enter the premier despite the fact that they had tickets. Vesti Segodnya

• Latvijas Avize analyses failure of the political party Russian Union of Latvia
• Trade Union of Education and Science Employees: situation around Russian language schools in Latvia should not be escalated
• Political scientist Kristians Rozenvalds: Concord stays outside the coalition not because Russophobia

Latvijas Avize analyses failure of the political party Russian Union of Latvia (RUL) in the parliamentary elections. The RUL gained only 1,58% or 14,379 votes. Following such results, leader of the party Miroslafs Mitorfanovs announced that he leaves the politics.  Journalist of a Russian language newspaper Vesti Segodnya and ex-member of the Parliament of Unrepresented Jelena Sljusareva (who decided to leave the organisation arguing that it is dead organisation) believes that the failure of the RUL could be explained by the fact that its ideology has exhausted itself and it is not demanded any more. This could be clearly seen by the small number of people attending public action organised by the party. At the same time, program proposed by the Concord turned out to be closer to the Russian speaking electorate as it does not raise controversial issues between Russians and Latvians, but concentrates on issues which can unite. Jelena Slusareva also believes that people in Latvia do not want the situation in Eastern Ukraine to be repeated in Latvia.

Commenting the suggestion that the nationalists’ union may overtake the Ministry of Education and Science, head of the Trade Union of Education and Science Employees Ingrida Mikisko said that situation around Russian language schools in Latvia should not be escalated. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya interviews political scientist Kristians Rozenvalds. Mr Rozenvalds believes that the reason why the Concord is not included in the governing coalition is not Russophobic mood of the governing coalition parties but the general political set-up in which there is no place for the Concord.

• Reasons of current lack of activism of Latvia’s Russians 

Vesti Segodnya interviewed experts and activists about the reasons of the current lack of activism among Latvia’s Russians. The Head of NGO "Russian Community of Latvia" former MP Valerijs Kravcovs believes the people are tired of the constant pressure applied against them since independence, which intensified following events in Ukraine, as a result, the people are like snails hiding inside their shells. There is also disappointment with the notions of democracy and Europe, and the last hopes were destroyed by the events in Ukraine. Russian population was also reduced demographically. Finally, politicians also share responsibility, because they chose not to organise regular protests, which is the only way to influence policies in Latvia. The Head of NGO "Russian Community in Latvia" Tatjana Favorska highlights the lack of coordination, and the fact that most people are not able to be active, because their everyday life is a struggle for survival. Also, Russian entrepreneurs do not support the community: the little businesses do not have money, the middle enterprises are scared, while the big companies with Russian capital are arrogant. Other members of the NGO highlight that current political system does not bring concrete results and most people lost any hope to change anything in the country – Russians and Latvians alike, and, while the Soviet generation is still willing to participate, the new generation is mercantile. Another activist highlighted that during the Soviet era, Russian culture was cut down: Russian organisations and traditions were banned and the Soviet Latvia only supported organisations and cultural activities of ethnic Latvians. Activists consider Russian Federation (RF) does not have a clear system of support to Russian rights defenders and cultural activities, while "professional grant writers" receive their share of funding for conferences, where RF officials would make a speech and then leave, with no practical results except for publication of speeches, which no one reads. The editor of online discussion portal www.IMHOclub.lv Jurijs Alekseevs believes the lack of activism of Russian population is integral part of decline of activism in Latvia in general: the slogan "if you dont like it here, then leave" results in emigration of active, independent people regardless of ethnicity. There is also certain complacency among many voters who prefer to "sit on the coach and delegate the thinking" to politicians.