• U.S. State Departments 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
• Diena interviews foreigners working in Latvia

The U.S. State Department published 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Among human rights problems in Latvia, authors of the report point at high number of non-citizens; dropping naturalisation rate and increasing failure rates in naturalisation examination. The report also mentions criminal procedures on hate speech on the Internet. Among other fields, the report points at poor situation in Latvian prisons and high level of corruption.

The U.S. State Department published 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Among human rights problems in Latvia, authors of the report point at high number of non-citizens; dropping naturalisation rate and increasing failure rates in naturalisation examination. The report also mentions criminal procedures on hate speech on the Internet. Among other fields, the report points at poor situation in Latvian prisons and high level of corruption. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena

Full text of the Report on Latvia:

Full text of the Report on Latvia: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/eur/154433.htm

Diena interviews three foreigners working in Latvia on how they feel in Latvian cultural environment. According to them, stereotypes against foreigners the most often are manifested outside the work environment, because working life is not isolated from society and culture.

• Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte: it is wrong to place the issue concerning the transition of all state funded schools to Latvian language only to the referendum

The Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte believes that it is wrong to place the issue concerning the transition of all state funded schools to Latvian language only to the referendum. Although the Minister considers that “the idea, possibly, is good, but the decision to bring it to the referendum is absolutely wrong” because this issue demands fundamental changes in the education process. The Minister believes that the proportion of subjects taught in Latvian in minority schools should be increased gradually.

The Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte believes that it is wrong to place the issue concerning the transition of all state funded schools to Latvian language only to the referendum. Although the Minister considers that the idea, possibly, is good, but the decision to bring it to the referendum is absolutely wrong because this issue demands fundamental changes in the education process. The Minister believes that the proportion of subjects taught in Latvian in minority schools should be increased gradually. Telegraf, Chas

 

• Saeima supported in the second reading draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code providing for higher fines for insufficient usage of state (Latvian) language
• Collection of signatures in support of Constitutional amendment on the transition of all state funded schools solely to the Latvian language instruction will start in the mid-May
• Public opinion survey: 63% of respondents do not support granting Russian language the status of official language in Latvia

The Saeima supported in the second 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 are planned to be raised from LVL 50 (~ EUR 71) up to LVL 200  (EUR 285). Fines for the absence of translation of instructions and labels are planned to be raised to LVL 100-1,000 (EUR 70-708) instead of the current LVL 25-100 (EUR 35 – 143).

The Saeima supported in the second 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 are planned to be raised from LVL 50 (~ EUR 71) up to LVL 200 (EUR 285). Fines for the absence of translation of instructions and labels are planned to be raised to LVL 100-1,000 (EUR 70-708) instead of the current LVL 25-100 (EUR 35 – 143). Chas

The Central Electoral Committee will initiate the collection of signatures in support of the Constitutional amendment on the transition of all state funded schools to Latvia language only in mid-May and it will last for 30 days. As reported, the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM collected 10,000 signatures required for the initiation of the state funded collection of signatures.

The Central Electoral Committee will initiate the collection of signatures in support of the Constitutional amendment on the transition of all state funded schools to Latvia language only in mid-May and it will last for 30 days. As reported, the nationalists union All for Latvia!/For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM collected 10,000 signatures required for the initiation of the state funded collection of signatures. Chas

According the public opinion survey conducted by company “TNS Latvia” and commercial TV channel “LNT”, 63% of respondents do not support granting Russian language the status of official language in Latvia. 32% support the proposal.

According the public opinion survey conducted by company TNS Latvia and commercial TV channel LNT, 63% of respondents do not support granting Russian language the status of official language in Latvia. 32% support the proposal. Vesti Segodnya

• Minister of Education Rolands Broks: transition of all state funded schools into Latvian language because is too expensive

The Minister of Education Rolands Broks does not support immediate transition of all state funded schools into Latvian language because it would be too expensive. At the same time, the Minister believes that such reform is possible by gradual increase of Latvian language proportion in educational programs. 

The Minister of Education Rolands Broks does not support immediate transition of all state funded schools into Latvian language because it would be too expensive. At the same time, the Minister believes that such reform is possible by gradual increase of Latvian language proportion in educational programs. Telegraf, Chas

• Senate of the Supreme Court refused to accept cassation of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office in the case of Aleksandr Kazakov
• New Russian speaking youth NGO LatRusMol established

The Senate of the Supreme Court refused to accept cassation of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office in the case of a Russian citizen, former activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools Aleksandr Kazakov. As reported, Mr Kazakov objected the decision of the OCMA to expel him from Latvia and decision on his inclusion into the list of persons whose entrance to Latvia is banned by the Ministry of Interior after his activities in protests against the minority school reform in 2004. In 2010, the Administrative Court admitted that the OCMAs decision was illegitimate. However, up to now, Mr Kazakov is denied entrance to Latvia because he is included in the black list repeatedly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Latvijas Avize

Chas reports about establishment of a Russian speaking youth NGO LatRusMol. The main aims of the NGO will be protection of rights and consolidation of Russian young people, preservation of Russian culture and activities in support of granting Russian language status of official in Latvia.