• MP Ina Druviete: self-sufficiency of Russian language is the biggest misfortune for the language situation in Latvia
• Magazine of Russias compatriots Baltic World reports about Russian speaking media in Baltic countries

The MP, member of the parliamentary Committee on Education, Culture and Science Ina Druviete speaking at a conference “Language for activities and society” stated that she believes Russian language in Latvia is self-sufficient and this is the biggest misfortune for the language situation in Latvia. Ina Druviete also maintains that the usage of languages should be subjected to certain hierarchy.

The MP, member of the parliamentary Committee on Education, Culture and Science Ina Druviete speaking at a conference Language for activities and society stated that she believes Russian language in Latvia is self-sufficient and this is the biggest misfortune for the language situation in Latvia. Ina Druviete also maintains that the usage of languages should be subjected to certain hierarchy. Chas

Vesti Segodnya reports about a topic raised in a magazine of Russias compatriots Baltic World about Russian speaking media in Baltic countries. Part of the experts interviewed by the magazine believes that Russian language mass media in Latvia are aimed at consolidation of Russian speaking residents. According to them, viable Russian community is a product of Russian language mass media in Latvia. Other experts, in their turn, believe that Russian language media in Latvia are not professional and are working only to keep their audience and maintain the rating.

• 64% of ethnic minority youth have good or very good Latvian language proficiency

According to a study conducted by the Latvian Language Agency, 64% of ethnic minority youth have good or very good Latvian language proficiency. Third part of ethnic minority youth have average state language proficiency and only 3% are not proficient in state language at all.  The authors of the study note that despite the good level of language proficiency in total, Latvian language is rarely used in daily life.

According to a study conducted by the Latvian Language Agency, 64% of ethnic minority youth have good or very good Latvian language proficiency. Third part of ethnic minority youth have average state language proficiency and only 3% are not proficient in state language at all. The authors of the study note that despite the good level of language proficiency in total, Latvian language is rarely used in daily life. Vesti Segodnya

• Saeima conceptually supported the draft amendments stipulating to forbid the employers from requiring employees foreign languages proficiency
• Saeimas Committee on Mandate, Ethics and Submissions excluded non-citizens from the list of potential applicants to the Saeima with legal initiatives

The Saeima conceptually supported the draft amendments to the Labour Law stipulating to forbid the employers from requiring employees foreign languages proficiency unless those are necessary for work. The authors of the draft amendments are the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM and the Unity. The draft amendments are forwarded to the parliamentary commissions for discussion. Earlier, the draft amendments got criticized by the trade unions and employers’ confederation.

The Saeima conceptually supported the draft amendments to the Labour Law stipulating to forbid the employers from requiring employees foreign languages proficiency unless those are necessary for work. The authors of the draft amendments are the nationalists union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM and the Unity. The draft amendments are forwarded to the parliamentary commissions for discussion. Earlier, the draft amendments got criticized by the trade unions and employers confederation. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Saeima’s Committee on Mandate, Ethics and Submissions excluded non-citizens from the list of potential applicants to the Saeima with legal initiatives. According to the draft amendments to the Regulations of the Parliament, at least 5,000 of citizens can appeal to the Saeima with proposals to the legal acts. The initial draft amendments envisaged that the initiative can be submitted by at least 5,000 Latvian residents. Members of the Committee believed that widening of rights of non-citizens would not stimulate naturalisation.

The Saeimas Committee on Mandate, Ethics and Submissions excluded non-citizens from the list of potential applicants to the Saeima with legal initiatives. According to the draft amendments to the Regulations of the Parliament, at least 5,000 of citizens can appeal to the Saeima with proposals to the legal acts. The initial draft amendments envisaged that the initiative can be submitted by at least 5,000 Latvian residents. Members of the Committee believed that widening of rights of non-citizens would not stimulate naturalisation. Telegraf

Minister of Culture Zanete Jaunzeme-Grende: obstacle for integration is different historical memory

Nationalists union asked the Saeimas Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee to evaluate whether the MP Nikolajs Kabanovs broke the deputys oath

In an interview with

In an interview with Neatkariga, the Minister of Culture Zanete Jaunzeme-Grende states that the National Identity, Civil Society and Integration Policy Guidelines for 2012-2018 elaborated by the previous Minister Sarmite Elerte will continue to be implemented. The Minister believes that the obstacle for integration in Latvia is not language, but the different historical memory of residents. Mrs Jaunzeme-Grende believes that integration process can begin only with mutual empathy.

The nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM appealed to the Saeima’s Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee asking to evaluate whether the MP Nikolajs Kabanovs broke the deputy’s oath by signing in support of the initiative on granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. The nationalists’ union also planned to find out all the MPs who also signed for the initiative.

The nationalists union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM appealed to the Saeimas Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee asking to evaluate whether the MP Nikolajs Kabanovs broke the deputys oath by signing in support of the initiative on granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. The nationalists union also planned to find out all the MPs who also signed for the initiative. Vesti Segodnya

• 78, 279 signatures collected in support of granting Russian language status of official

• MP Nikolajs Kabanovs possibly broke the deputys oath by signing in support of granting Russian language status of official

According to the Central Elections Committee, 78, 279 signatures were collected since 1 November till 21 November in support of the Constitutional amendments stipulating granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. In order to forward the draft amendments for the approval to the Parliament it is required to collect at least 154,379 signatures. If the Saeima does not approve the draft amendments national referendum will be initiated. The majority of signatures collected in Riga (35,181), and cities in the Eastern part of Latvia - Daugavpils (14,437) and Rezekne (4,859). Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

Newspapers report that the MP Nikolajs Kabanovs (Concord Centre) signed for the initiative in support of granting Russian status of official language in Latvia. Thus, the MP possibly broke the deputys oath, because it says that the MP should protect Latvian language as the only state language in Latvia. Telegraf, Diena