• Study “Minority Participation in Democratic Processes in Latvia”

The Baltic Institute of Social Sciences has conducted a study “Minority Participation in Democratic Processes in Latvia.” According to the study, there are 306 officially registered associations of ethnic minorities in Latvia. Nearly one-quarter (70) of all minority associations are organisations of ethnic Russians, 27 - Roma, 26 - Jews, 23 - Ukrainians, 19 - Belarusians, 11 – Poles, 11 – Lithuanians, etc. However, only 48% (148) of the officially registered minority organisations are actually active. A survey of representatives of ethnic minorities revealed that the sense of belonging among young people to Latvia has decreased over the last five years. 67% of minority respondents said they have close or very close links to Latvia (81% of older respondents and 53% of young people aged 18-24 gave such a response). In 2010, such an indicator among young people was at the level of 58%. Minority representatives are comparatively active in terms of being involved in political and social processes in Latvia (62% have voted in parliamentary elections). Only 7% of surveyed non-citizens said that they are planning to naturalise during the next 12 months. According to the survey, the Latvian language skills of ethnic minorities have improved: 30% evaluated their Latvian language as very good, 26% - as good, 26% - as average; only 2% stated that they do not speak Latvian language at all. 

• Ombudsman Juris Jansons: it is not too late to conduct a consultative referendum on whether the society wants to accept refugees

• Minister of Interior Rihards Kozlovskis: Latvia will object new refugee quotas

In an interview with Neatkariga, the Ombudsman Juris Jansons said that Latvia’s and Europe’s policy regarding refugees is irresponsible. According to the Ombudsman, “the idea of solid responsibility and desire to help people running from death threats is maybe good, but most likely persons with terrorist attitude are being infiltrated into Europe through the refugee flow.” He also blames responsible authorities for inability to prevent terror threats. The Ombudsman believes that all integration policy papers in Latvia have not been effective enough for integration of ethnic minorities and other groups sharing the same European values; therefore, he doubts that Latvia will be able to integrate people belonging to other “civilization, values, and rights system.” According to the Ombudsman, it is important to listen to the public concerns and it is not too late to organize a consultative referendum on whether the society wants to accept refugees. He also emphasized that Latvia’s infrastructure is not prepared for ensuring human rights of increasing numbers of refugees.

The Minister of Interior Rihards Kozlovskis stated that Latvia cannot take new commitments for accommodation of a larger amount of asylum seekers as long as the previous commitments are not fulfilled. He also said that Latvia certainly will object new refugee quotas.

 

• Latvijas Avize and Diena print articles about incitement to hatred on the Internet

• Ministries are elaborating a draft law restricting wearing face-covering clothing in public places

According to Diena, the level of intolerance towards immigrants and refugees has grown during the last year. A study on the level of aggression on the Internet also reveals the tendency of increasing level of intolerance among the Internet users and in society in general. According to a representative of the Security Police, it has registered cases of calls for violence, but there are no indicators of the organized distribution of radical opinions. Latvijas Avize reports about a case when a police officer from Tukums (the same town whose resident got detained for call to violence against immigrants) commented detention of a group of Vietnamese crossing the Latvian border illegally; he wrote in his Facebook profile “first blacks are here… let’s prepare guns.” The police officer received a remark for such a statement.

Following a decree of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Interior, are elaborating the draft law restricting wearing face-covering clothing in public places. According to a representative of the Ministry of Justice, the necessity to introduce such restrictions is being assessed from the aspects of public security and protection of cultural and historical space as well as taking into account experience of other countries. News agency LETA 

• Several pro-Russian activists promised to resist transfer of minority schools into Latvian as the only language of instruction
• Maris Kucinskis: Latvian Eastern border should be strengthened in order to avoid influx of refugees to Latvia

Several pro-Russian activists promised to resist transfer of minority schools into Latvian as the only language of instruction. As reported, Maris Kucinskis, who was nominated by the President for the post of the Prime Minister, promised the National Union to support transfer of education in minority schools into Latvian language only. The leader of a pro-Russian organisation “GVD Baltija”, who is suspected for calling Latvian residents to join pro-Russian separatists in the Eastern Ukraine, made a post in his Facebook profile saying “If you touch Russian schools, guys will come back with comrades from Donbass and give a lesson.” Another activist, Vladimirs Lindermans, also called for resisting the new school reform if the government supports it. News agency LETA, www.tvnet.lv

In an interview with news portal www.nra.lv, Maris Kucinskis, who was nominated by the President for the post of the Prime Minister, stated that he will not change the decision of the previous government concerning reception of asylum seekers in Latvia. At the same time, Mr Kucinskis emphasized that he does not support so-called refugee “quotas”. He also said that the Latvian Eastern border should be strengthened in order to avoid influx of refugees to the country. www.nra.lv

• State Police initiated a criminal proceeding against a 24 year-old man who called for violence against immigrants through his Facebook profile

The State Police have initiated a criminal proceeding against a 24 year-old man who called for violence against immigrants through his Facebook profile. In his post, the man asserted that he knows were immigrants live in the town and called for violence against them. Later the media reported that a national guardsman commented the post proposing to burn immigrants. According to a representative of the State Police, possible incitement to hatred by other Internet users also will be investigated in the framework of the initiated criminal proceeding.  A representative of the National Guard stated that incitement to hatred by any citizen is inacceptable; it will be important to know the official conclusion of law enforcement authorities.  News agency LETA (11.01), www.kasjauns.lv