Doc. 8039
16 March 1998

Violation by the Latvian authorities of universally recognised human rights

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Glotov and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe expresses concern about the latest violations by the Latvian authorities of the universally recognised human rights and the use of rough force by law enforcement bodies of Latvia against the aged citizens of the city of Riga, primarily Russian-speaking pensioners, who gathered on 3 March 1998 for a meeting of protest to defend their elementary rights.

2.       The Parliamentary Assembly notes that the main reason for this incident is the abnormal situation that has developed in Latvia where more than one third of the population of the state has been arbitrarily deprived of citizenship and, consequently, of political rights. In Latvian legislation and in the policy of the Latvian authorities there are numerous elements of discrimination against those people whose native tongue is the Russian language in social, economic and cultural fields.

3.       The Assembly calls on the Latvian authorities to honour all the obligations taken upon accession to the Council of Europe that are outlined in Opinion No. 183 (1995), and to introduce changes into the legislation of the Latvian Republic and its application, and to observe political, economic, social and cultural rights of all residents of Latvia irrespective of their national affiliation.

4.       The Parliamentary Assembly appeals to the member states of the Council of Europe, international and European organisations to follow attentively the situation regarding the observance of the rights of national minorities in the Latvian Republic, and to adopt all necessary measures to ensure full recognition by Latvia of the generally accepted principles and norms of international law and high standards of the Council of Europe in the field of human rights.

Signed : ¹

Glotov, Russia, UEL

Averchev, Russia, SOC

Kharitonov, Russia, UEL

Kulbaka, Russia, UEL

Kuznetsov, Russia, EPP/CD

Melnikov, Russia, UEL

Pobedinskaya, Russia, EPP/CD

Savitsky, Russia, UEL

Shuba, Russia, EPP/CD

Vishnyakov, Russia, NR

Zhebrovsky, Russia, NR