About 6,000 Russian teenagers and schoolchildren staged a noisy protest outside Latvia's parliament
Published:
7 February 2004 y., Saturday
About 6,000 Russian teenagers and schoolchildren staged a noisy protest outside Latvia's parliament just before lawmakers passed a law Thursday requiring that all public schools -- including those with all-Russian student bodies -- teach mainly in Latvian.
In what was one of the largest demonstrations in recent Latvian history, hundreds of children waved mostly Russian-language placards, one reading, "Don't twist our arms. Let us speak Latvian voluntarily!"
The crowd also chanted "hands off our school" and "no to the reforms" in Russian. The new law mandates that at least 60 percent of classes in public schools, even those catering to the large Russian-speaking minority, must be taught in Latvian starting in September.
After several hours of heated debate, with many ethnic-Russian deputies speaking in opposition, the 100-seat Saeima overwhelmingly approved the legislation by a 71-25 vote. Other deputies either weren't present or didn't vote.
Russians call the requirements discriminatory and say they are an attack on their way of life, charges echoed by Moscow.
Latvians counter that they are meant to help integrate minorities, adding that those who don't learn Latvian will find it hard to secure good jobs.
Šaltinis:
themoscowtimes.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
The European Commission announced today the award of three of the six contracts for the procurement of Galileo’s initial operational capability.
more »
Scientists at New York's Columbia University are developing a synthetic tree that removes CO2 from the atmosphere. The researchers say the tree, if mass produced, could make a significant difference to the quality of the air we breathe.
more »
ZenRobotics Recycler is a robotic waste sorting system. Built with off the shelf industrial robotics components, the system utilizes machine learning to separate raw materials from waste.
more »
Scientists in the UK have revealed that people with opposing political views have different brain structures. The London University College researchers say the part of the brain that processes emotional reactions is larger in conservatives than in liberals.
more »
German scientists are developing technology which allows a person to steer and drive a car using brain power alone. Using a cap fitted with sensors and an onboard computer, the researchers are able to control their experimental Volkswagen, just by thinking about it.
more »
A German company is testing a giant battery which it hopes will be able to store enough solar and wind energy to supply an entire community. The trial is taking place on Portugal's Azores island of Graciosa.
more »
Japan's devastating earthquake of March 11 has raised concerns among geoscientists that the West Coast of the United States is likely to be next.
more »
„Duolingo“ is the latest project of Luis von Ahn, who is working for “Google”. It has been blowing up on Hacker News for the past day, though not too much is known about it.
more »
University students in Iran have developed their own version of a solar-powered car. The environmentally-friendly 'Havin' can travel up to 130 kilometers an hour.
more »
Researchers in California have created a way to place a call on a cell phone using just your thoughts.
more »
Researchers in Switzerland are perfecting a robot small enough to be injected into your eye without anaesthetic. The team say their device could carry drugs to the exact position they are needed or even carry out minor operations.
more »