Latvia: the row about schools teaching in Russian

Residents of Liepaja (city in the Northern part of Latvia) sent protest letters against closure of some schools providing education in Russian to the European Parliament?s Petition?s Committee. The letters have been drafted by activists of For Human Rights in United Latvia and the Latvian National Democratic Party. As reported, the Liepaja City Council is planning to optimize the city school system and close several secondary schools teaching in Russian within 2007-2013. The Vice Mayor of the City Council Silve Golda states that the Council has just launched discussions on development of education in the city. Mrs. Golda says that the number of school children in both Latvian and Russian schools is decreasing due to the low birth rate, therefore the school system has to be reconsidered. However, the Vice Mayor notes that there are no plans to close any Russian language school in Liepaja. In response to that, leader of the ultra left political organization Latvian National Democratic Party Jevgenijs Osipovs has sent an open letter to the Mayor of the Liepaja City Council demanding to hold public discussions and public opinion poll and then take a decision. If the Council does not consider public opinion, Jevgenijs Osipovs promises to organize large and cruel protest actions. Time by time there are such cases where ultra left parties explore their political principles demonstrating their stands. This case is very much to repeat what they are “paid? for. More info at www.politika.lv