• New detention centre for foreigners is opened in Daugavpils
• Latvian officials are not planning to react to the statements of Sergey Lavrov

Chas reports on the transfer of 15 men and 3 women from the Olaine Detention facility for foreigners to the recently built Daugavpils detention centre under the supervision by the State Border Guard. The detainees come from Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Guinea, Georgia and Turkey. The new detention centre is designed to hold up to 70 persons – illegal imigrants and asylum seekers. The construction of the centre was funded by the EU (4 million EUR).

Chas reports on the transfer of 15 men and 3 women from the Olaine Detention facility for foreigners to the recently built Daugavpils detention centre under thesupervisionby the State Border Guard. The detainees come from Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Guinea, Georgia and Turkey. The new detention centre is designed to hold up to 70 persons – illegal imigrants and asylum seekers. The construction of the centre was funded by the EU (4 million EUR).

The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, at the meeting with students from Kaliningrad, has stated that Latvia should fulfill recommendations of international organisations in the area of the usage of the Russian lanaguge. Sergey Lavrov has expressed his concerns in respect to initatives to abolish education in Russian.  According to the chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima Ojārs Kalniņš (the Unity), such statements are not unusual for Latvia and should be ignored: „no changes in the the area of language have occured in the recent time”. The press secretary of the Ministry of Forein Affairs Jānis Silis has stated that the Ministry will not react to the Mr Lavrov’s statements since several international organisations believe that the State Language Law complies with international standarts.

The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, at the meeting with students from Kaliningrad, has stated that Latvia should fulfill recommendations of international organisations in the area of the usage of the Russian lanaguge. Sergey Lavrov has expressed his concerns in respect to initatives to abolish education in Russian. According to the chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima Ojārs Kalniņš (the Unity), such statements are not unusual for Latvia and should be ignored: „no changes in the the area of language have occured in the recent time. The press secretary of the Ministry of Forein Affairs Jānis Silis has stated that the Ministry will not react to the Mr Lavrovs statements since several international organisations believe that the State Language Law complies with international standarts.

 

• Opening of the Days of Russian Culture

Newspapers report that the “Days of Russian Culture” were officially opened on Sunday. The festival includes concerts, exhibitions, poetry evenings, tours and other events in various locations in Latvia and will continue until 6 June. The president of the Republic of Latvia Valdis Zatlers, Ambassador of Russia to Latvia Aleksander Veshnyakov and the Metropolitan of Latvia Aleksander have greeted the participants.

Newspapers report that the Days of Russian Culture were officially opened on Sunday. The festival includes concerts, exhibitions, poetry evenings, tours and other events in various locations in Latvia and will continue until 6 June. The president of the Republic of Latvia Valdis Zatlers, Ambassador of Russia to Latvia Aleksander Veshnyakov and the Metropolitan of Latvia Aleksander have greeted the participants. Vesti-Segodnya, Chas, Latvijas Avize (21.05.2011)

• Closure of the oldest (since 1868) Russian school in Riga

Vesti-Segodnya reports about the closure of Lomonosov high school – the oldest Russian school in Riga, which continuously functioned since 1868. As the school is being merged with another Russian school in the city centre, the schools director admits the general mood is quite nervous, because it is not known yet which schools will take the pupils and the employment prospects of teachers are unclear. The director advises the pupils to make transfers to other schools in small groups, because this would make their adaptation in new environment easier. According to the newspaper, nearly half of this years graduates are planning to emigrate.

• Deadline nears to take measures on the spelling of names
• Aivars Slucis equates ethnic Russians to a forest and calls to rarefy it

Vesti-Segodnya reports that the deadline of 29 May is nearing for Latvia to take measures to implement the decision of the UN Human Rights Committee in the case of Raihman v. Latvia. As reported, the UN HR Committee found that by unilaterally modifying the applicants name (attached ending s), Latvia violated the Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which encompasses the right to choose and change one's own name. According to the newspaper, since no measures were takes to implement the decision, the leader of NGO Return our Names!, deputy of the Riga City Council Ruslan Pankratov raises the issue in letters sent to respective Latvian and EU bodies.

Latvijas Avize published an article by Latvian American Aivars Slucis, who calls for establishment of new ethnic Latvian party National Farmers Union, targeting those who represent countryside and small towns of Latvia. The author believes that other problems in Latvia could not be resolved as long as ethnic Russians in Latvia represent more than 10-15% of population. Ethnic Russians are like a forest, where our deceivers and corrupt are hiding. The time has come to rarefy the forest. Latvijas Avize (19.05.2011), Vesti-Segodnya

• 5,203 signatures collected in support of the Constitutional amendments foreseeing the secondary school education solely in Latvian
• MP Boris Cilevich interviewed about the integration programme
• An international conference on citizenship issues to be organised in September
• An interview with the chairman of the Latvias Georgian Society Samšoblo
• An article on the Ukrainian community in Latvia

According to the Central Electoral Commission, during the first week of signature collection campaign, 5,203 signatures have been collected in support of the Constitutional amendments foreseeing the transition of the secondary school education solely in Latvian from 2012. The collection of signatures began on 11 May and will continue until 9 June. 153,232 signatures need to be collected for the amendments to be forwarded to the parliament for review. The initiative was sponsored by the nationalist Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK who were later joined by the radical nationalist party All for Latvia!

According to the Central Electoral Commission, during the first week of signature collection campaign, 5,203 signatures have been collected in support of the Constitutional amendments foreseeing the transition of the secondary school education solely in Latvian from 2012. The collection of signatures began on 11 May and will continue until 9 June. 153,232 signatures need to be collected for the amendments to be forwarded to the parliament for review. The initiative was sponsored by the nationalist Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK who were later joined by the radical nationalist party All for Latvia! Chas

In an interview with newspaper Chas, MP from Concord Centre Boris Cilevich criticises the integration programme put forward by the Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte. He also addresses current strategies employed by states in their relation to national minorities.

In an interview with newspaper Chas, MP from Concord Centre Boris Cilevich criticises the integration programme put forward by the Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte. He also addresses current strategies employed by states in their relation to national minorities. Chas

Newspapers continue reporting about the case of the police officer who replied in Latvian to a Russian speaking caller, and did not take several calls in Russian. He was reprimanded by the Ministry of Interior, and in its ruling the Administrative District Court upheld the decision of the Ministry. The police officer has challenged the ruling in the Administrative Regional Court.

Newspapers continue reporting about the case of the police officer who replied in Latvian to a Russian speaking caller, and did not take several calls in Russian. He was reprimanded by the Ministry of Interior, and in its ruling the Administrative District Court upheld the decision of the Ministry. The police officer has challenged the ruling in the Administrative Regional Court. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports about discussions in the parliamentary Legal Commission about plans to organise an international conference in September on the issues of citizenship in view of the forthcoming amendments to the Citizenship Law. MPs were divided over experts to be invited to the conference, some proposed to invite international experts from the Office of the High Commission of National Minorities and UNHCR, while some rallied in support of experts from the Baltic States, although the importance of the presence of international experts was recognised by all. Head of the Saeima Legal Bureau recommended that conference include authors of various legislative amendments, their opponents, independent experts and those to be affected by the amendments.

Diena interviews the chairman of Latvias Georgian Society Nugzar Mdzinarashvili. The interview touches upon the increase of asylum seekers from Georgia to Latvia, consequences of war between Russia and Georgia, and perceptions of local Georgians about life in Latvia.

Diena carries a large article about the Ukrainians in Latvia. As of 1 January 2011 there were 54,852 Ukrainians living in Latvia, of those 18,328 were citizens of Latvia while 31,291 were non-citizens. The paper publishes the opinion of several leading Latvias Ukrainians and offers insight in the life of the Ukrainian community, including challenged of integration faced by the Ukrainians.