• Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs: it is wrong to equal Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires with fascists

The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs in an interview with the

The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs in an interview with the NRA stated that it is wrong to equate Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires with fascists. Mr. Usakovs considers that Latvian legionnaires are victims of Nazi regime forcibly called up for military service.

• MP Visvaldis Lacis will not bring apologies to the MP Nikolajs Kabavnovs for calling him enemy of Latvian nation and Latvia

The MP Visvaldis Lacis in an interview with

The MP Visvaldis Lacis in an interview with Latvijas Avize stated that he will not bring apologies to the MP Nikolajs Kabavnovs for calling him from the Saeimas tribune enemy of Latvian nation and Latvia because it is his strict opinion and conviction. As reported, Nikolajs Kabanovs (the Concord Centre) won the court case on defence of his honour and dignity against the MP Visvaldis Lacis (former Waffen SS legionary and an unaffiliated MP known for his nationalistic views) and the court ruled that Mr. Lacis has to bring apologies to Mr. Kabanovs.

• Retired lieutenant colonel sued the State Language Centre disputing its decision to fine him for insufficient state language proficiency
• Vesti Segodnya reports about a conference of Russian NGOs from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia

Chas reports that a retired lieutenant colonel sued the State Language Centre disputing its decision to fine him for insufficient state language proficiency. The claimant believes that his Latvian language proficiency is sufficient and he was fined due to his refusal to answer questions of language inspectors which did not have any relation to his work duties.

Vesti Segodnya reports about a conference of Russian NGOs from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia held in Vilnius, Lithuania. The participants discussed the notion of a Russian compatriot and consolidation of Russian NGOs. Representatives of NGOs from Latvia stated that organisations in Latvia succeeded in consolidation and gaining support of mass media and two political parties.

• MP Visvaldis Lacis must bring public apologies to the MP Nikolajs Kabanovs for calling him enemy of Latvia and Latvian nation
• Latgalians demand for official usage of Latgalian language

The MP Nikolajs Kabanovs (the Concord Centre) won the court case on defence of his honour and dignity against the MP Visvaldis Lacis (former Waffen SS legionary and an unaffiliated MP known for his nationalistic views). According to the ruling, Visvalidis Lacis must bring public apologies to Nikolajs Kabanovs for calling him “enemy of Latvia and Latvian nation” from the Saeima’s tribune. Mr. Lacis made this statement during the debates on candidacy of Mr. Kabanovs in the Latvian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

The MP Nikolajs Kabanovs (the Concord Centre) won the court case on defence of his honour and dignity against the MP Visvaldis Lacis (former Waffen SS legionary and an unaffiliated MP known for his nationalistic views). According to the ruling, Visvalidis Lacis must bring public apologies to Nikolajs Kabanovs for calling him enemy of Latvia and Latvian nation from the Saeimas tribune. Mr. Lacis made this statement during the debates on candidacy of Mr. Kabanovs in the Latvian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Participants of the Latgalian conference held recently in Rezekne (city in the Eastern part of Latvia) sent a letter to the Minister of Education and Science Tatjana Koke and the Minister of Justice Mareks Seglins asking for official usage of Latgalian language in communication in public sphere, learning of Latgalian in schools and the right to write documentation in this language. Presently, the State Language Law stipulates preservation and development of written Latgalian language as a historical variety of Latvian language, while spoken Latgalian is considered a dialect and does not enjoy protection envisaged by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Participants of the Latgalian conference held recently in Rezekne (city in the Eastern part of Latvia) sent a letter to the Minister of Education and Science Tatjana Koke and the Minister of Justice Mareks Seglins asking for official usage of Latgalian language in communication in public sphere, learning of Latgalian in schools and the right to write documentation in this language. Presently, the State Language Law stipulates preservation and development of written Latgalian language as a historical variety of Latvian language, while spoken Latgalian is considered a dialect and does not enjoy protection envisaged by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Diena

• 67% of foreign students faced discrimination in Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya reports about the third European Russian Forum
• International organisation The Equal Rights Trust criticizes amendments to the Law on Pensions which stipulate reduction of pensions of Latvian citizens as a way to eliminate discrimination of non-citizens

According to a survey held in the framework of a project “Latvia – Equality in Diversity IV” funded by the European Commission, 67% of foreign students who study in five Latvian higher education establishments faced discrimination in Latvia. 33% faced ethnic and racial discrimination, 30% faced language discrimination. Almost 40% of foreign students had problems due to language barrier and the same number faced difficulties in obtaining some kind of information. 35% faced difficulties in receiving medical care, solving problems in the hostel, and satisfying their preferences in the public catering.

According to a survey held in the framework of a project Latvia – Equality in Diversity IV funded by the European Commission, 67% of foreign students who study in five Latvian higher education establishments faced discrimination in Latvia. 33% faced ethnic and racial discrimination, 30% faced language discrimination. Almost 40% of foreign students had problems due to language barrier and the same number faced difficulties in obtaining some kind of information. 35% faced difficulties in receiving medical care, solving problems in the hostel, and satisfying their preferences in the public catering. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya reports about the third European Russian Forum held by the European Russian Alliance. Representatives of Russian speaking diasporas from various European countries including Latvia took part in the Forum. The participants decided to appeal to the top officials of the Council of Europe, the European Commission and Russia, asking to grant the status of the EU regional language to Russian language, thus widening Russian languages rights in the EU countries.

Telegraf reports that the international organisation The Equal Rights Trust criticizes amendments to the Law on Pensions which stipulate reduction of pensions of Latvian citizens as a way to eliminate discrimination of non-citizens. As reported, years of employment outside of Latvia during Soviet times are included only into citizens total length of service, while, Latvian non-citizens do not receive pension for these years. As a response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in favour of a Latvian pensioner, non-citizen Natalija Andrejeva who objected this fact, the Saeima adopted the amendments which stipulate that the same approach will be used in calculating pensions for persons retiring after 1 January 2010 and the time of Soviet-era employment outside of Latvia will not be included neither for citizens nor non-citizens. The Equal Rights Trust believes that such regressive approach does not remedy discrimination, because it is contrary to Latvias international obligations and to the practice of the European Court of Justice.