• Minister of Education and Science: the share of Latvian citizens could be increased to 94%
• Vesti Segodnya reports about an initiative to place the street signs in Latvian and Russian languages
• Foreigners in Latvian prisons will be able to learn Latvian language

The Saeima’s Society Consolidation Committee at its ordinary meeting discussed the role of education in the integration process. According to an advisor of the Minister of Education and Science Liesma Ose, the Ministry by its integration plan is planning to increase the share of Latvian citizens in Latvia to 94% by 2018 (presently, 84% Latvian residents are citizens). Mrs Ose believes the best tools for integration are Latvian language and sports.

The Saeimas Society Consolidation Committee at its ordinary meeting discussed the role of education in the integration process. According to an advisor of the Minister of Education and Science Liesma Ose, the Ministry by its integration plan is planning to increase the share of Latvian citizens in Latvia to 94% by 2018 (presently, 84% Latvian residents are citizens). Mrs Ose believes the best tools for integration are Latvian language and sports. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports about an initiative of the activist of an NGO Native Language Jevgenijs Osipovs to place the street signs in Latvian and Russian languages. Mrs Osipovs already placed such sign on his private house in Liepaja (city in the Western part of Latvia). Following the example also other persons form various Latvian cities plan to place street signs on their houses in both languages. The aim of such initiative is to achieve that street signs in the cities in which many residents supported referendum on granting Russian language status of a state language in Latvia are written in both languages.

In the framework of an education program funded by the European Commission, foreigners in Latvian prisons will be able to learn Latvian language free-of-charge. Presently, there are 84 foreign prisoners in Latvian prisons. Majority of them are Russians and Lithuanians.

In the framework of an education program funded by the European Commission, foreigners in Latvian prisons will be able to learn Latvian language free-of-charge. Presently, there are 84 foreign prisoners in Latvian prisons. Majority of them are Russians and Lithuanians. Vesti Segodnya

• Leadership of the Russian Old Believers Church of Latvia send an appeal letter addressed to the speaker of the Saeima Solvita Aboltina

Leadership of the Russian Old Believers Church of Latvia send an appeal letter addressed to the speaker of the Saeima Solvita Aboltina. The Old Believers express their anxiety about the situation in the country following the language referendum, noting the growing tension in the society as a result of ethnic policy, which questions the centuries-old traditions of interaction between ethnic Latvians and Old Believers.

Leadership of the Russian Old Believers Church of Latvia send an appeal letter addressed to the speaker of the Saeima Solvita Aboltina. The Old Believers express their anxiety about the situation in the country following the language referendum, noting the growing tension in the society as a result of ethnic policy, which questions the centuries-old traditions of interaction between ethnic Latvians and Old Believers. Chas

 

• Ruling coalition discusses reduction of referendum opportunities
• Diena writes about an unwritten agreement between the leaders of the Concord Centre and AL!FF/LNIM regarding sensitive dates

Following the referendum of the status of Russian language, the ruling coalition discusses proposals to change the relevant legal framework, reducing opportunities for referendums in Latvia. The “Unity” proposes that registered initiators of gathering signatures for a legislative proposal will have to collect 150,000 (or no less than 1/10 of the voters) for the support of the proposal. The radical nationalist union “All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM” (AL!FF/LNIM) proposes to amend the Constitution, determining that the issue of extending citizenship rights cannot be brought to a referendum.

Following the referendum of the status of Russian language, the ruling coalition discusses proposals to change the relevant legal framework, reducing opportunities for referendums in Latvia. The Unity proposes that registered initiators of gathering signatures for a legislative proposal will have to collect 150,000 (or no less than 1/10 of the voters) for the support of the proposal. The radical nationalist union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (AL!FF/LNIM) proposes to amend the Constitution, determining that the issue of extending citizenship rights cannot be brought to a referendum. Chas

Diena writes about an unwritten agreement between the leaders of the Concord Centre and AL!FF/LNIM regarding sensitive dates. The leader of AL!FF/LNIM Raivis Dzintars stated that the supporters of the Concord Centre did not prevent participants of the 16 March events from commemorating fallen soldiers and laying flowers to the Freedom Monument and the rhetoric of the Concord Centre was sufficiently correct. The leader of the Concord Centre Nils Usakovs explained that everyone is interested in reducing confrontation in the society, and different views about the tragic pages of Latvian history should not become a reason to drive the society crazy. According to the newspaper, the two leaders have an unwritten minimum agreement about tolerance towards people who lay flowers in commemoration on the sensitive days. Another leader of the Concord Centre Janis Urbanovics is not aware of any personal agreements and he emphasised that the Concord Centre has always maintained a neutral position towards the 16 March. Mr. Urbanovics believes that ethnic controversies are stimulated by the ruling circles, in order to distract attention of the people from social and economic problems.

• Newspapers report about 16 March

According to the police estimates, about 1,500-2,000 persons took part in the procession in the centre of Riga on 16 March commemorating Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires, laying flowers to the Freedom Monument. Nationalist MPs also took part in the procession. A protest meeting against the procession was held next to the monument. MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka and representative of Latvian Anti-Fascist Centre Iosifs Korens laid a wreath with ribbon „In the memory of Nazism victims” to the monument. Organisers of the commemorative event covered this wreath with a plackard depicting enlarged chevron of the legion, removed the ribbon and called the police when Tatjana Zdanoka and Iosifs Korens tried to restore the wreath.

According to the police estimates, about 1,500-2,000 persons took part in the procession in the centre of Riga on 16 March commemorating Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires, laying flowers to the Freedom Monument. Nationalist MPs also took part in the procession. A protest meeting against the procession was held next to the monument. MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka and representative of Latvian Anti-Fascist Centre Iosifs Korens laid a wreath with ribbon „In the memory of Nazism victims to the monument. Organisers of the commemorative event covered this wreath with a plackard depicting enlarged chevron of the legion, removed the ribbon and called the police when Tatjana Zdanoka and Iosifs Korens tried to restore the wreath. Chas, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnya

 

• 16 March events are taking place in the centre of Riga
• Three skinheads sentenced for desecration of Jewish cemetery

Unofficial public events commemorating Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires as well as protesting against the commemoration are taking place in the centre of Riga. Newspapers continue to publish articles about different aspects of Latvian history during the World War II and the history of the Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Latvian high officials previously stated that they will not take part in the events, while representatives of the radical nationalist union “All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM” (AL!FF/LNIM) stated that they will participate in the commemoration.

Unofficial public events commemorating Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires as well as protesting against the commemoration are taking place in the centre of Riga. Newspapers continue to publish articles about different aspects of Latvian history during the World War II and the history of the Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Latvian high officials previously stated that they will not take part in the events, while representatives of the radical nationalist union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (AL!FF/LNIM) stated that they will participate in the commemoration. Chas, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Riga Regional Court delivered its judgment in the case of desecration of the New Jewish Cemetery in December 2010: graves were painted with white swastikas and the cemetery fence was painted with the titles “Death to Jews” and “Jews to Buchenwald.” The offenders admitted their guilt and the court sentenced one offender (charged with incitement) to eight months of suspended sentence and probation, another offender (charged with the acts of desecration) to one year of suspended sentence, probation and paying more than LVL 3000 (EUR 4269) in damages, and the third offender (charged with non-reporting of crime) to 40 hours of forced labour.

Riga Regional Court delivered its judgment in the case of desecration of the New Jewish Cemetery in December 2010: graves were painted with white swastikas and the cemetery fence was painted with the titles Death to Jews and Jews to Buchenwald. The offenders admitted their guilt and the court sentenced one offender (charged with incitement) to eight months of suspended sentence and probation, another offender (charged with the acts of desecration) to one year of suspended sentence, probation and paying more than LVL 3000 (EUR 4269) in damages, and the third offender (charged with non-reporting of crime) to 40 hours of forced labour. Vesti Segodnya