• 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. 

• Survey data on ethnic factor in voting
• Newspapers report on possible future coalition government 

According to the head of the Market and opinion research agency "Latvijas Fakti" Aigars Freimanis, among the votes cast for the party Concord Centre, around 20% were cast by ethnic Latvian voters. Some Russian voters also cast their votes for parties mainly supported by ethnically Latvian electorate, such as the Nationalist Union (2-3%), Unity (5-9%), Greens and Farmers (10%). Vesti Segodnya 

Newspapers report about the possibilities of forming future coalition government following the parliamentary elections held on 4 October 2014. The present ruling coalition gained majority of the parliamentary seats - 61 out of 100, including Unity (23 seats), the Union of Greens and Farmers (21) the Nationalist Union (17). Therefore, the commentators believe there are very high chances for the present ruling coalition to remain in the newly elected parliament. Janis Urbanovics (Concord Centre) believes that leaving his party out of the ruling coalition again is a form of punishment of the Concord Centre’s voters. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnya

 

• Newspapers report about the results of the parliamentary elections
• Leader of the Russian Union of Latvia Miroslavs Mitrofanovs: we were too radical, open and honest

Newspapers report about the results of the parliamentary elections conducted on 4 October. According to the preliminary results, the political party Concord received 23,13% of votes or 24 mandates, the Unity received 21,76% or 23 mandates, the Union of Greens and Farmers – 19,62% or 21 mandates, the National Union – 16,57% or 17 mandates, the Latvian Regional Union – 6,55% or 8 mandates, and the part From the Heart to Latvia – 6,88% or 7 mandates. The total turnout at the elections was 58,8% (60,55% in the previous elections). 41 MPs are new to the Saeima. Newspapers also note that the voters actively used the possibility to strike off the candidates. As the result, for instance, the present Saeima’s Speaker and the leader of the Unity Solvita Aboltina stayed outside of the list of candidates who received MP mandate. Despite the fact that the Concord has won the biggest number of seats in the elections, most likely it will be left out of the governing coalition again. Vesti Segodnya, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

Commenting the failure the party Russian Union of Latvia (which received only 1,58%), its leader Miroslavs Mitrofanovs says that the party was too radical, open and honest comparing to other parties. He believes that, most likely, such qualities do not correspond to the wishes of voters who are ready to accept lies and unrealistic promises. Vesti Segodnya