• Saeima supported in final reading draft amendments stipulating noticeably higher fines for violations of the use of state language

On Thursday, the Saeima supported in final reading draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code stipulating noticeably higher fines for violations concerning the use of state language. Fines for insufficient usage of state language at work will be raised from LVL 50 (~ EUR 71) up to LVL 200  (EUR 285). Fines for the absence of translation of instructions and labels will be raised to LVL 100-1,000 (EUR 70-708) instead of the current LVL 25-100 (EUR 35 – 143).

On Thursday, the Saeima supported in final reading draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code stipulating noticeably higher fines for violations concerning the use of state language. Fines for insufficient usage of state language at work will be raised from LVL 50 (~ EUR 71) up to LVL 200 (EUR 285). Fines for the absence of translation of instructions and labels will be raised to LVL 100-1,000 (EUR 70-708) instead of the current LVL 25-100 (EUR 35 – 143). Telegraf notes that the draft amendments got supported also by the Concord Centre (CC). A representative of the CC, MP Valerijs Agesins explains that if the CC had protested against the amendments nationalists would propose more severe amendments which most likely would be supported by governing coalitions parties. Telegraf

• Interview with the leader of the nationalists party All for Latvia!, MP Raivis Dzintars
• State Language Centre asks to explain why web site of some organisations are only in Russian language

Weekly magazine

Weekly magazine Sestdiena prints an interview with the leader of the nationalists party All for Latvia!, MP Raivis Dzintars. Although the collection of signatures for support of the Constitutional Amendments foreseeing transition of all state funded schools only into Latvian language failed, Mr. Dzintars believes the campaign for the collection of signatures was a success for All for Latvia!. Mr. Dzintars argues that their initiative was supported by about 120,000 persons which is significantly more than the number of persons voted for All for Latvia! at the last Saeimas elections (74,000 voted for the party at the elections).

Vesti Segodnya reports that the State Language Centre (SLC) asked to explain the head of the NGO Motherland why its web site is only in Russian language. The same explanations were asked from one of the initiators of the collection of signatures for support of Russian language as the second official in Latvia Jevgenijs Osipovs about the web site publishing information about the initiative. According to the newspaper, the SLC received complains about mentioned web sites.

• Ex-MP Janis Lagzdins: ethnic Latvians must forget a word occupant

According to an ex-MP Janis Lagzdins, ethnic Latvians must forget a word “occupant” because it is offensive for Russian speaking residents and creates presumption that ethnic Latvians are hostile towards them. Mr Lagzdins believes that ethnic Latvians should remember occupation and repressed persons, but should not offend Latvian residents who are not guilty for these crimes.

According to an ex-MP Janis Lagzdins, ethnic Latvians must forget a word occupant because it is offensive for Russian speaking residents and creates presumption that ethnic Latvians are hostile towards them. Mr Lagzdins believes that ethnic Latvians should remember occupation and repressed persons, but should not offend Latvian residents who are not guilty for these crimes. Latvijas Avize

• Politician Edgars Jaunups: ethnic Latvian voters should ensure that the Concord Centre does not get the leading posts when its comes to governing coalition
• Vesti Segodnya interviews a teacher of Russian language about ethnic identity of Russian speakers in Latvia

According to the member of the Riga City Council Edgars Jaunups (Unity), inclusion of the Concord Centre (CC) in the governing coalition is a matter of nearest future. Mr Jaunups believes that ethnic Latvian voters should ensure that at the moment when it happens the CC does not get the leading posts such as the post of the prime minister, minister of foreign affairs, minister of education and minister of interior. Mr Janunups considers if ethnic Latvian parties are divided the CC role might take the leading role.

According to the member of the Riga City Council Edgars Jaunups (Unity), inclusion of the Concord Centre (CC) in the governing coalition is a matter of nearest future. Mr Jaunups believes that ethnic Latvian voters should ensure that at the moment when it happens the CC does not get the leading posts such as the post of the prime minister, minister of foreign affairs, minister of education and minister of interior. Mr Janunups considers if ethnic Latvian parties are divided the CC role might take the leading role. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya interviews a teacher of Russian language about ethnic identity of Russian speakers in Latvia. According to the teacher, celebration of various Russian occasions such as the Victory Day on 9 May and Orthodox celebrations is a factor of consolidation of Russian speaking residents in Latvia. The teacher believes that especially the 9 May became the component which holds the Russian community together.

• Governments working group will prepare a report on implementation of the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities in Latvia
• international conference Diversity Management in Latvia and Europe: learning from the good practice

The government decided to establish a working group to prepare a report on implementation of the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities in Latvia. The report should be submitted to the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe, which is responsible for evaluating the implementation of the Framework Convention in member states

The government decided to establish a working group to prepare a report on implementation of the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities in Latvia. The report should be submitted to the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe, which is responsible for evaluating the implementation of the Framework Convention in member states Chas

Vesti Segodnya reports about an international conference Diversity Management in Latvia and Europe: learning from the good practice conducted by the centre for public policy Providus. Participants discussed issues concerning integration of ethnic minorities in state sector.