• Nationalists’ union proposes to suspend issuing residence permits to third country nationals
• Court punished a persons with six months of suspended imprisonment for hate speech on the Internet
• Vesti Segodnya reports about complaints of residents who faced situation when  medical workers refused to speak with them in a language they understand

The nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM proposes draft amendments to the Immigration Law giving the government rights to suspend issuing residence permits to third country nationals for a time period up to one year if there are some state security risks. The nationalists’ union, primarily, is concerned about the risks regarding purchase of real estate by Russian citizens. The Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma plans to discuss the proposal with the Minister of Interior within a week. Latvijas Avize, Diena

The Riga North District Court punished a man with six months of suspended imprisonment and six months of probation period for incitement of ethnic hatred on the Internet. The convicted person published deliberately hateful comment against Jewish people on a web site under an article about political processes in Israel. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya reports about complaints of residents with poor Latvian language proficiency who faced situation when medical workers refused to speak with them in a language they understand. The newspaper specially asked its readers to report if they have faced such situation. In result, the newspaper collected four cases – mostly elderly people complained about situations when doctors refused to communicate with them in Russian language. The newspaper received also many calls of persons who wanted to thank their doctors for provided treatment disregard language and other aspects. The State Health Inspection commenting the complaints said that there are no legal norms strictly stipulating that doctors should speak in a language patient understands but such principle comes out of universal human practice and if a doctor is not proficient in patient’s language he/she should invite a colleague who is.

 

• Saeima supported in the second reading draft amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating punishment for public denial, justification and gross trivialization of USSR and Nazi German aggression
• Ministry of Justice: widening usage of other languages might endanger democratic structure of Latvian state

On 27 March, the Saeima supported in the second reading draft amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating punishment for public denial, justification and gross trivialization of USSR and Nazi German aggression against Latvia. As reported such draft amendments were criticized by the Security Police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and oppositional party. Vesti Segodnya

Commenting the UNO Human Rights Committee’s recent recommendations to Latvia, the Ministry of Justice stated that the state’s task is to protect constitutional status of Latvian language, but widening usage of other languages might endanger democratic structure of Latvian state. As reported, the UNO recommended Latvia to review the State Language Law and its application in order to ensure that any restriction on the rights of non-Latvian speakers is reasonable, proportionate and non-discriminatory, and take measures to ensure access by non-Latvian speakers to public institutions and facilitate their communication with public authorities. Vesti Segodnya

• UNO Human Rights Committee remains concerned at the status of ‘non-citizen’ residents and the situation of linguistic minorities in Latvia
• State Language Centre criticizes a video clip advertising political party “United for Latvia” and its leader Ainars Slesers which calls for reconciliation
• Saeima supported the Introduction or Preamble to Constitution of Latvia in the first reading
• Vesti Segodnya reports about Chinese living in Ozolnieki

The UNO Human Rights Committee issued recommendations to Latvia. The Committee remains concerned about the status of ‘non-citizen’ residents and the situation of linguistic minorities. In particular, it is concerned about the impact of the State language policy on the enjoyment of the rights envisioned by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights without any discrimination by members of linguistic minorities, including the right to choose and change one’s own name and the right to an effective remedy. The Committee is further concerned about discriminatory effects of the language proficiency requirement on the employment of minority groups. The Committee recommends Latvia to enhance its efforts to ensure the full enjoyment of the Covenant rights by ‘non-citizen’ residents and members of linguistic minorities and further facilitate their integration into society. It also recommends Latvia to review the State Language Law and its application in order to ensure that any restriction on the rights of non-Latvian speakers is reasonable, proportionate and non-discriminatory, and take measures to ensure access by non-Latvian speakers to public institutions and facilitate their communication with public authorities. Diena, full report is available at http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CCPR/C/LVA/CO/3&Lang=En

The State Language Centre (SLC) criticizes a video clip advertising political party “United for Latvia” and its leader Ainars Slesers which calls for reconciliation of nations. In particular, the SLC criticizes the way word “Latvia” is spelled – “LATVIЯ” (added Russian letter "YA" to the ending) – symbolizing unity of ethnic Latvians and Russians. However, representative of the SLC Antons Kursitis believes that it is rather can be viewed as a call for official bilingualism in Latvia. The video clip calls to build common society and not to split people on ethnic lines. It says that Latvian language should be the foundation for the reconciliation but respecting all other languages. It also calls not to give Russian residents of Latvia to Russia. Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the Saeima supported the Introduction or Preamble to Constitution of Latvia in the first reading. As reported, the Introduction to the Constitution says “Latvia was established uniting ethnic Latvians in historical land, based on a firm state will of ethnic Latvian nation and its irrevocable rights for self-determination in order to guarantee existence and development of ethnic Latvian nation, its language and culture through centuries, insure freedom of every person and all nations and promote welfare.” The adoption of the Introduction got accompanied by long debates of parliamentarians and critics from the members of the oppositional party “Concord Centre.”

Vesti Segodnya reports about Chinese living in Ozolnieki (town in the Central part of Latvia). The newspaper says that there are no reasons to speak about invasion of Chinese to the town, because out of 65 Chinese who have declared the town as their town of residence, permanent residents are only few families. Interviewed residents of Ozolnieki do not see any problems that there are some Chinese in the town, however, they do not want to see large influx of Chinese people.

• High state officials came with a statement against political provocations aimed at split of the society
• Legal framework for language reform in ethnic minority schools will be prepared by the next government
• Latvijas Avize reports about activation of different Russia’s “compatriots” organisations
• Foreign media reports about situation in Latgale region

The State President Andris Berzins, the Saeima’s Speaker Solvita Aboltina, and the Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma came with a statement calling Latvian residents not to fall on possible provocations. The statement condemns all politically motivated provocations which attempt to create tension and artificial discord in the society. According to the statement, Latvia always was a home place for representatives of various ethnicities who supported this state through hard times. “Disregard of ethnic belonging, native language, and religious views – we are one Latvian nation” – says the statement. It also calls Latvian residents to evaluate critically actions of Russia’s state authorities in Ukraine and not to prevent hopes of hostile towards Latvia powers to exploit Latvian residents as instrument for realisation of their political interests. “We affirm that Latvia is and will remain democratic European state which respects and protects Latvian and ethnic minorities’ diverse culture and different languages” – says the statements. Latvijas Avize notes that the statements was made after a session of the National Security Council which discussed situation in Ukraine and Crimea and issues of Latvian internal security.  Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

According to Vesti Segodnya, yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers made a decision to postpone preparation of a legal framework for transition of education in ethnic minority schools into Latvian language starting with 2018 on 30 October. This means that preparations for the reform will be under competence of the next government. The newspaper also notes that it is planned to elaborate proposals for models of education in national minority schools in order to raise the proportion of state language in the education content in cooperation with the members of the Advisory Council on Ethnic Minority Education.

Latvijas Avize reports about activation of different Russia’s “compatriots” organisations which pretend to protect the interests of Russian speaking residents of Latvia. In particular, the newspaper tells about an article published on Russian language local internet websites by a member of a party “For Native Language”. Its author wants to achieve that that all subjects in Russian language schools are thought only in Russian and calls parents for active protest actions. He also considers organizing a Russian riot which would be in not so proper time for Latvia and the European Union.  Large part of the internet comments published under the article supports such statements, but there are also many commentators who are sceptical and critical about it.

Vesti Segodnya reports many foreign media reports about situation in Latgale region (Eastern part of Latvia) in connection with events in Ukraine. Latgale is the region with the largest proportion of ethnic minorities and also one of the poorest Latvian regions.

• 195 persons applied for asylum in Latvia in 2013
• U.S.A. Ambassador to Latvia Mark Pekala: cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity is a great power and richness of Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya interviews associate Professor of the International Baltic Academy Mihails Rodins about the similarity of the current situation in Ukraine and Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya: old woman complaints she was refused medical examination because she spoke Russian language

According to Eurostat, 195 persons applied for asylum in Latvia in 2013. 75% of asylum seekers were from Georgia, 8% from Syria, 3% from Russia. Diena

The U.S.A. Ambassador to Latvia Mark Pekala in an interview with the 1st Baltic Channel stated that cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity is a great power and richness of Latvia which may also promote economic development. The Ambassador also did not support plans of the Latvian National Council on Electronic Mass Media to ban a Russia’s TV channel in Latvia saying that in the U.S. the freedom of speech is the greatest value and it is not limiting even radical statements providing a space for counter argumentation and discussions.

Vesti Segodnya interviews associate Professor of the International Baltic Academy Mihails Rodins about the similarity of the current situation in Ukraine and Latvia.  Mr Rodins believes that Ukrainian example will bring radicalisation in Latvian society because the society is deeply split and for past twenty years nothing was done for realisation of democratic norms and political representation of ethnic minorities. At the same time, Mr Rodins believes that situation in Crimea and Latvia is not comparable as Russian residents of Latvia do not want reunion with Russia and identify themselves with Latvian state.

Vesti Segodnya reports about a complaint of an old woman who was refused medical examination because she spoke Russian language. According to the woman’s story, she was brought by an ambulance to one of the Riga hospitals but a first doctor who came to make a medical examination after waiting couple hours asked what language does she speak and after hearing Russian refused to make examination. The patient received medical examination by some other doctor.