• Ombudsman Juris Jansons: differences in rights of Latvian citizens and non-citizens are not discriminatory
• Ethnic Latvians members of the political party Concord Centre criticize nationalism and support the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs
• Latvian Human Development Report 2010/2011 focuses on the indicators of national identity

The Ombudsman Juris Jansons stated that the differences in rights of Latvian citizens and non-citizens are not discriminatory. According to the Ombudsman, the status of non-citizen is not the type of Latvian citizenship, while the large number of persons who still remain Latvian non-citizens testifies that those persons are satisfied with the amount of rights envisaged by such status. The Ombudsman alleges that these persons still believe in the restoration of their former country in its previous borders. Mr Jansons also stated that he does not support granting non-citizens voting rights in local election and believed that the decrease of the number of non-citizens is not an end goal in itself.

The Ombudsman Juris Jansons stated that the differences in rights of Latvian citizens and non-citizens are not discriminatory. According to the Ombudsman, the status of non-citizen is not the type of Latvian citizenship, while the large number of persons who still remain Latvian non-citizens testifies that those persons are satisfied with the amount of rights envisaged by such status. The Ombudsman alleges that these persons still believe in the restoration of their former country in its previous borders. Mr Jansons also stated that he does not support granting non-citizens voting rights in local election and believed that the decrease of the number of non-citizens is not an end goal in itself. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Ethnic Latvians members of the political party Concord Centre came with a statement criticizing nationalism and supporting the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs. According to the statement, it is obvious “that Latvian language will remain the only state language in Latvia, however, the development of the state is not possible without respectful attitude towards ethnic minorities. The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs signed for the initiative to grant Russian status of a state language in Latvia as a protest against the actions of the governing coalition.” Vesti

Ethnic Latvians members of the political party Concord Centre came with a statement criticizing nationalism and supporting the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs. According to the statement, it is obvious that Latvian language will remain the only state language in Latvia, however, the development of the state is not possible without respectful attitude towards ethnic minorities. The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs signed for the initiative to grant Russian status of a state language in Latvia as a protest against the actions of the governing coalition. Vesti Segodnya

Academic Brigita Zepa presented a Latvian Human Development Report 2010/2011 “National Identity, Mobility, Capacity” conducted by the Institute of Social and Political Studies of the University of Latvia.  Opinion polls conducted in the framework of the Report showed that 44% of ethnic Latvians believe that it would be better if only ethnic Latvians would reside in it. 33% of ethnic Russian residents of Latvia associate themselves with Russia and 72% with Latvia. Only 22% of representatives of both ethnic Russian and ethnic Latvian residents associate themselves with Europe. 70,5% of ethnic Latvians are proud of Latvia, while 22% are not proud. Among ethnic Russian respondents 44,4% are proud of Latvia and 43% are not proud. Among persons of other ethnic background 48,2% are proud and 42% are not proud of Latvia.

Academic Brigita Zepa presented a Latvian Human Development Report 2010/2011 National Identity, Mobility, Capacity conducted by the Institute of Social and Political Studies of the University of Latvia. Opinion polls conducted in the framework of the Report showed that 44% of ethnic Latvians believe that it would be better if only ethnic Latvians would reside in it. 33% of ethnic Russian residents of Latvia associate themselves with Russia and 72% with Latvia. Only 22% of representatives of both ethnic Russian and ethnic Latvian residents associate themselves with Europe. 70,5% of ethnic Latvians are proud of Latvia, while 22% are not proud. Among ethnic Russian respondents 44,4% are proud of Latvia and 43% are not proud. Among persons of other ethnic background 48,2% are proud and 42% are not proud of Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

• Resident of Tukums received threats to life and health motivated by ethnic hatred; Police initiated criminal proceedings
• Saeima might approve the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law by April

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Police in Tukums (town in the Central part of Latvia) has initiated criminal proceedings regarding threats to life and health. The threats were motivated by ethnic hatred and sent anonymously to a woman trough the social-networking website. The offender knows the place of work and residence of the woman. In the message, the woman got insulted because of her Russian ethnicity.

Neatkariga reports that the Saeima might approve the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law by April. The Citizenship Law has not been amended for 14 past years. Currently the MPs are discussing the draft amendments which allow dual citizenship for children born abroad in a family of Latvian citizen and foreigner and to those who got deprived of Latvian citizenship after receiving foreign citizenship. The MPs also discuss granting Latvian citizenship to Latvians who emigrated from the country before the restoration of independence in 1991 (at present, only those emigrants were granted Latvian citizenship who registered before 1995); and granting citizenship automatically to children born in a family of Latvian non-citizens.

• Opinions of politicians differ regarding granting citizenship to children of Latvian non-citizens automatically
• Opinion of the Latvian high officials on whether it is worth to take part in the up-coming national referendum on language issues

Telegraf reports on opinion of some Latvian politicians regarding draft amendments to the Citizenship Law stipulating granting citizenship to children born in the family of Latvian non-citizens automatically. The ex-President, MP Valdis Zatlers and the effective President Andris Berzins support such amendments believing that those should be approved as a matter of urgency. Head of Saeimas Legal Affairs Committee Ilma Cepane, in her turn, does not support the initiative considering it is enough that parents are free to choose whether they want their child to become Latvian citizen. Presently, parents non-citizens should submit a request to grant their child Latvian citizenship, otherwise, child get registered as non-citizen.

Latvijas Avize prints an opinion of the Latvian high officials on whether it is worth to take part in the up-coming national referendum on the Constitutional amendments stipulating granting Russian language status of a state language in Latvia. The President Andris Berzins does not see the reason to take part in the referendum. The President believes that the Latvian language should remain the only state language in the country and splitting the society on language basis and mutual confrontation does not promote development of the unity of the society. The Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and the Parliaments Speaker Solvita Aboltina state that they will take part in the referendum voting against the amendments and call all Latvian citizens to do the same. Mrs Aboltina believes that compromises in the language issues are impermissible.

• National referendum on the Constitutional amendments stipulating granting Russian language status of the state language most likely will be held on 18 February

Most likely the national referendum on the Constitutional amendments stipulating granting Russian language status of the state language will be held on 18 February 2012

Most likely the national referendum on the Constitutional amendments stipulating granting Russian language status of the state language will be held on 18 February 2012. Head of the Presidents State Language Commission Andrejs Veisbergs believes that such initiative is harmful for peoples minds and unity of society. At the same time, Mr Veisbergs believes that the initiative also might unite ethnic Latvians around Latvian language as never before. The President of Latvia Andris Berzins states that he will abstain from the referendum. At the same time, the President states that he will never sign a draft law on granting Russian language status of the state language in Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Neatkariga, Telegraf

• Saeimas Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee: the MP Nikolajs Kabanovs (Concord Centre) broke the deputys oath by signing for the second official language
• Concord Centre prepared compromise amendments to language legislation

Newspapers report that the Saeima’s Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee decided that by signing in support of the initiative on granting Russian language status of official in Latvia, the MP Nikolajs Kabanovs broke the deputy’s oath. The Committee decided on the highest possible sanction against the MP: written warning, which will be announced at the Saeima’s sitting and published in

Newspapers report that the Saeimas Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee decided that by signing in support of the initiative on granting Russian language status of official in Latvia, the MP Nikolajs Kabanovs broke the deputys oath. The Committee decided on the highest possible sanction against the MP: written warning, which will be announced at the Saeimas sitting and published in Latvijas Vēstnesis (the Official Gazette). Vesti Segodnya also points at a wider problem of civil rights and data protection of ordinary citizens, because many readers complained that their employers threatened them with dismissal if they sign for the initiative. Chas, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga, Vesti-Segodnya

The Concord Centre prepared draft amendments to State language law stipulating wider opportunities to use minority languages in communication with public authorities in areas where minority population comprise more than 20% of the residents, as well as to revoke reservations made by Latvia when ratifying the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. According to Nils Usakovs, the chairperson of the Concord Centre, these amendments are a compromise offer for those Latvian citizens who signed the initiative to grant Russian language the status of official second language.

The Concord Centre prepared draft amendments to State language law stipulating wider opportunities to use minority languages in communication with public authorities in areas where minority population comprise more than 20% of the residents, as well as to revoke reservations made by Latvia when ratifying the Council of Europes Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. According to Nils Usakovs, the chairperson of the Concord Centre, these amendments are a compromise offer for those Latvian citizens who signed the initiative to grant Russian language the status of official second language. Chas, Diena, Vesti-Segodnya