• Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has recognized and corrected errors in the judgement on the case against Vasilij Kononov

Russian-language newspapers referring to statements of the former Red Partisan Vasilij Kononov’s lawyer Mikhail Ioffe to the Russian press report that the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has recognized and corrected errors in the judgement on the case against Vasilij Kononov. Mikhail Ioffe pointed to the fact that a judge from the Czech Republic who did not participated in voting was wrongly included into the list of judges. According to the lawyer, the Grand Chamber has also found new circumstances of Kononov’s case which therefore will need to be reviewed. In May 2010, the Grand Chamber, by 14 votes to three, ruled that Vasilij Kononov’s conviction of war crimes during WWII did not violate Article 7 (no punishment without law) of the European Convention of Human Rights. In an earlier judgment in 2008, ECtHR established that Latvia had violated Article 7 and awarded Mr. Kononov EUR 30,000 in compensation for moral damages. In 2009 the case was referred to the Grand Chamber at the Latvian government’s request.

Russian-language newspapers referring to statements of the former Red Partisan Vasilij Kononovs lawyer Mikhail Ioffe to the Russian press report that the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has recognized and corrected errors in the judgement on the case against Vasilij Kononov. Mikhail Ioffe pointed to the fact that a judge from the Czech Republic who did not participated in voting was wrongly included into the list of judges. According to the lawyer, the Grand Chamber has also found new circumstances of Kononovs case which therefore will need to be reviewed. In May 2010, the Grand Chamber, by 14 votes to three, ruled that Vasilij Kononovs conviction of war crimes during WWII did not violate Article 7 (no punishment without law) of the European Convention of Human Rights. In an earlier judgment in 2008, ECtHR established that Latvia had violated Article 7 and awarded Mr. Kononov EUR 30,000 in compensation for moral damages. In 2009 the case was referred to the Grand Chamber at the Latvian governments request. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

• Cenral Election Commissions chair: TV clips on voting rules will be transmitted only in Latvian
• Russian newspapers criticize a survey „Choose you prime minister! organized by the political party „Unity
• Political scientist Ivars Ijabs: Harmony Centre should be included in the next government

In an interview to Neatkariga Rita Avize, the chair of the Central Election Commission Arnis Cimdis has stated that voting rules in TV clips will be explained only in Latvian according to the State Language Law. Although Arnis Cimdars believes that a part of Latvian citizens may not understand all information on the voting procedure, he referred to previously expressed opinion of the State Language Inspectorate stating that state institutions should produce all information materials only in the Latvian language.

In an interview to Neatkariga Rita Avize, the chair of the Central Election Commission Arnis Cimdis has stated that voting rules in TV clips will be explained only in Latvian according to the State Language Law. Although Arnis Cimdars believes that a part of Latvian citizens may not understand all information on the voting procedure, he referred to previously expressed opinion of the State Language Inspectorate stating that state institutions should produce all information materials only in the Latvian language.

Russian language newspapers critisize an initiative of the political party „Unity” to organise a survey „Choose you prime minister!” on two candidates: Valdis Dombrovskis (the Unity) and Janis Urbanovics (the Harmony Center). According to Janis Urbanovics, the Unity falsificated facts in comparison of political values of the two parties.

Russian language newspapers critisize an initiative of the political party „Unity to organise a survey „Choose you prime minister! on two candidates: Valdis Dombrovskis (the Unity) and Janis Urbanovics (the Harmony Center). According to Janis Urbanovics, the Unity falsificated facts in comparison of political values of the two parties. Chas believes that the survey conducted through the Internet and distribution of questionnaires in the streets will not be representative. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Telegraf interviews a political scientist Ivars Ijabs on the forthcoming parliamentary elections. According to Ivars Ijabs, political isolation of Russian-speakers has been a serious shorcoming of Latvian political culture Ivars Ivars believes that inclusion of the Harmony Centre in the next government, even with the partys possible failure to attract voters in the future, should be the first step to integration which can take place only throught participation.

• Head of the Presidents Strategic Analysis Commission Roberts Kilis: Latvia needs positive model of co-existence of ethnic Russians and ethnic Latvians
• MP Janis Urbanovics appealed to the General Prosecutors Office with a claim against one of the leaders of nationalists party All for Latvia!

Social anthropologist, head of the Presidents Strategic Analysis Commission Roberts Kilis in an interview with Telegraf stated that Latvia needs positive model of co-existence of ethnic Russians and ethnic Latvians. Mr. Kilis believes that Latvians are used to view ethnic issues trough the light of the past or in the context of relations between Latvia and Russia and therefore until now there was no a single proposal about positive development of inter-ethnic relations.

Head of the party the Concord Centre, MP Janis Urbanovics appealed to the General Prosecutors Office asking to initiate a criminal procedure against one of the leaders of nationalists party All for Latvia! Janis Iesalnieks for intentional dissemination of false information which denigrates persons reputation in mass media. As reported, All for Latvia! accused Mr. Urbanovics of planning to provoke ethnic conflicts if the Concord Centre does not get into the government after the upcoming Saeimas elections. Chas, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

• Ministry of Economics refused to include variations of replies about Latgalian and Livonian languages in the national census questionnaire
• All for Latvia! accuses the Concord Centre in provocation of ethnic tensions

The Ministry of Economics refused the proposal of the Latvian Union of Regional and Rarely Used Languages (LatBLUL) to include Latgalian and Livonian languages as variations of replies for the question “What language to you use at home?” in the national census questionnaire. Present version of the questionnaire contains such variations of replies as Latvian, Russian, Belorussian and other. The Ministry of Economics considers that these variations of replies correspond to the linguistic situation in the country. The LatBLUL did not agree to the decision and repeatedly sent to the Ministry the same request.

The Ministry of Economics refused the proposal of the Latvian Union of Regional and Rarely Used Languages (LatBLUL) to include Latgalian and Livonian languages as variations of replies for the question What language to you use at home? in the national census questionnaire. Present version of the questionnaire contains such variations of replies as Latvian, Russian, Belorussian and other. The Ministry of Economics considers that these variations of replies correspond to the linguistic situation in the country. The LatBLUL did not agree to the decision and repeatedly sent to the Ministry the same request. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The party All for Latvia! is planning to appeal to the Security Police asking it to check activities of the party Concord Centre which allegedly (according to the information of the weekly magazine) ordered a study about possible ethnic conflicts in Latvia. All for Latvia! is also concerned about a statement made by the head of the Concord Centre Janis Urbanovics that bloody conflict happened in Kirgizia might repeat in Latvia if the Concord Centre do not take part in the government. Mr. Urbanovics in his turn denied that the Concord Centre ordered a survey with the questions on ethnic tensions and asserted that his words about conflict in Kirgizia were wrongly interpreted.

The party All for Latvia! is planning to appeal to the Security Police asking it to check activities of the party Concord Centre which allegedly (according to the information of the weekly magazine) ordered a study about possible ethnic conflicts in Latvia. All for Latvia! is also concerned about a statement made by the head of the Concord Centre Janis Urbanovics that bloody conflict happened in Kirgizia might repeat in Latvia if the Concord Centre do not take part in the government. Mr. Urbanovics in his turn denied that the Concord Centre ordered a survey with the questions on ethnic tensions and asserted that his words about conflict in Kirgizia were wrongly interpreted. Telegraf, Chas

• The First Baltic Channel is planning to translate its broadcasts into Latvian language
• Most popular parties in July: the Concord Centre, the Unity, and the Union of Greens and Farmers

Telegraf reports that the First Baltic Channel which partly retransmits the Russias First Channel in Baltic countries is planning to translate its broadcasts into Latvian language. According to the channels representative such decision has only commercial reasons and has no any political motives. The MP Ina Druviete (one of the initiators of the amendments to the Law on Electronic Mass Media stipulating state language quotas for national and regional channels) believes that such initiative of a private channel is positive. At the same time Mrs. Druviete does not believe that the First Baltic Channel will attract large number of Latvian speaking audience.

According to the recent public opinion survey held by “Latvijas Fakti”, 19,7% of citizens would vote for the Concord Centre if the Saeima’s elections were held in July. 14,2% would vote for the Unity, 11,3% for the Union of Greens and Farmers, 5,1% for the union of the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and All for Latvia, 5% for the union For Better Latvia.

According to the recent public opinion survey held by Latvijas Fakti, 19,7% of citizens would vote for the Concord Centre if the Saeimas elections were held in July. 14,2% would vote for the Unity, 11,3% for the Union of Greens and Farmers, 5,1% for the union of the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and All for Latvia, 5% for the union For Better Latvia. Telegraf