• MIPEX: Latvia is the most unfriendly European country for immigrants
• Saeimas Committee on Social and Labour Affairs rejected draft amendments limiting employers job requirements regarding language skills
• Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov criticized Latvia and Estonia for situation regarding non-citizens

According to the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX), Latvia is the most unfriendly for immigrants among all the European countries. The biggest problems facing migrants are in access to education and realisation of political rights. Integration of non-nationals is hindered by a lack of systematic program on teaching of state language and negative society opinion towards immigrants.

According to the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX), Latvia is the most unfriendly for immigrants among all the European countries. The biggest problems facing migrants are in access to education and realisation of political rights. Integration of non-nationals is hindered by a lack of systematic program on teaching of state language and negative society opinion towards immigrants. Telegraf

Yesterday, the Saeima’s Committee on Social and Labour Affairs rejected draft amendments which would limit opportunity of employers to determine job requirements regarding foreign language skills. The nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM proposed to ban employers from requiring proficiency in non-EU languages, which would mainly concern Russian language.

Yesterday, the Saeimas Committee on Social and Labour Affairs rejected draft amendments which would limit opportunity of employers to determine job requirements regarding foreign language skills. The nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM proposed to ban employers from requiring proficiency in non-EU languages, which would mainly concern Russian language. Chas

At the UN Human Rights Council, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov stated that situation regarding non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia is shameful and called on the international organisations to influence it. In response to the statement, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Girts Valdis Kristovskis stated that Latvian legal acts fully comply with the international standards and situation of non-citizens is an internal matter of Latvia. 

At the UN Human Rights Council, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov stated that situation regarding non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia is shameful and called on the international organisations to influence it. In response to the statement, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Girts Valdis Kristovskis stated that Latvian legal acts fully comply with the international standards and situation of non-citizens is an internal matter of Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

• Nationalists union gathered 10,382 signatures for proposal to finance only schools with Latvian language of instruction
• Vesti-Segodnya: the State Language Examination Department refuses to show errors in the graded copy of written exam
• NRA writes about Latvia in the context of international and European migration issues
• Russian association established in Ventspils

Nationalist’s union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM gathered more that 10,000 signatures required to begin state-funded collection of signatures for the proposal to amend Article 112 of the Constitution, adding words “in the state language only” to the line “the State shall ensure that everyone may acquire primary and secondary education without charge”. To submit the proposal before the Parliament, signatures of 1/10th of the voters have to be collected (97,000). If required number is collected, and the Parliament declines the proposal, the same proposal would be put to the national referendum. In the meantime, the Presidential State Language Commission was not able to formulate a common opinion regarding the proposal to finance only schools with Latvian language of instruction.

Nationalists union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM gathered more that 10,000 signatures required to begin state-funded collection of signatures for the proposal to amend Article 112 of the Constitution, adding words in the state language only to the line the State shall ensure that everyone may acquire primary and secondary education without charge. To submit the proposal before the Parliament, signatures of 1/10th of the voters have to be collected (97,000). If required number is collected, and the Parliament declines the proposal, the same proposal would be put to the national referendum. In the meantime, the Presidential State Language Commission was not able to formulate a common opinion regarding the proposal to finance only schools with Latvian language of instruction. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

The State Language Examination Department refuses to show errors in the graded copy of written exam to the examinee. The examinee, who is required the state language certificate to work as a car driver, claims he normally speaks Latvian with colleagues, yet he failed the exams twice. The exam consists of 4 parts (reading, listening, writing, speaking) and both times he failed writing, yet the Department refuses to show him the graded copy of his written exam with errors. Without the certificate he is not able to take the job, while in order to re-take the written part he has to wait up to two months, pay the fee again, and re-take the whole 4-parts exam. The article also points that the graduates of schools with Latvian language of instruction are not required language certificates.

The State Language Examination Department refuses to show errors in the graded copy of written exam to the examinee. The examinee, who is required the state language certificate to work as a car driver, claims he normally speaks Latvian with colleagues, yet he failed the exams twice. The exam consists of 4 parts (reading, listening, writing, speaking) and both times he failed writing, yet the Department refuses to show him the graded copy of his written exam with errors. Without the certificate he is not able to take the job, while in order to re-take the written part he has to wait up to two months, pay the fee again, and re-take the whole 4-parts exam. The article also points that the graduates of schools with Latvian language of instruction are not required language certificates. Vesti-Segodnya

NRA writes about Latvia in the context of international and European migration issues. The issues of migration and asylum-seeking are most topical for the EU Mediterranean countries and Germany, which are raising the issue of EU solidarity in management of migration flows. Although Latvia is not a target country of international migration and the number of asylum applications and approvals is small compared to other countries, Latvia as a state and as a society is not ready for greater number of asylum seekers.

113 delegates took part in the founding conference of the Russian association in Ventspils (city in the West of Latvia). Participants recalled the experience of earlier Russian society, which was established in the city by intelligentsia in 1887 and existed until the WWI, discussed the usage of Russian language today, as well as elected the leadership of the new association.

113 delegates took part in the founding conference of the Russian association in Ventspils (city in the West of Latvia). Participants recalled the experience of earlier Russian society, which was established in the city by intelligentsia in 1887 and existed until the WWI, discussed the usage of Russian language today, as well as elected the leadership of the new association. Telegraf

• Interviews with Ombudsman candidate Juris Jansons
• A photo exhibition of Riga Old Orthodox Parish
• The State Language Centre begun administrative process against the Central Statistical Bureau

Diena and Latvijas Avize interviewed Ombudsman candidate Juris Jansons, who is currently occupies the post of the liquidator of the health insurance holding company Rigas Slimokase. He believes the position of the Ombudsman holds sufficient amount of power. The main function of the Ombudsman is to facilitate human rights in the country, to mediate between the individual, the society and the state. While nearly all groups of society are facing risks, the most pressing human rights issues mentioned by Juris Jansons are discrimination, rights of the children and disabled, social protection issues and ethnic intolerance. In the meantime, the first priority of the Ombudsman is to reduce the level of intolerance in the society. Juris Jansons believes it is important for the Ombudsman to possess the skills of efficient administrator and organiser, especially given the history of conflicts within the Office.

A photo exhibition “Riga Grebenschikov Parish: Spiritual Cultural Heritage and Modernity” was opened at the Riga City Council. The exhibition is celebrating 250th anniversary of the church building of the Riga Grebenschikov parish of Russian Old Orthodox Church of Pomorian Agreement. The exhibition presents various historical stages of development of the building, collection of icons and books, some of which were kept since XVI century, as well as presents current activities of the parish, including Sunday school, Spiritual Academy, museum, almshouse for elderly care.

A photo exhibition Riga Grebenschikov Parish: Spiritual Cultural Heritage and Modernity was opened at the Riga City Council. The exhibition is celebrating 250th anniversary of the church building of the Riga Grebenschikov parish of Russian Old Orthodox Church of Pomorian Agreement. The exhibition presents various historical stages of development of the building, collection of icons and books, some of which were kept since XVI century, as well as presents current activities of the parish, including Sunday school, Spiritual Academy, museum, almshouse for elderly care. Telegraf

Newspapers report that the State Language Centre (SLC) begun administrative process against the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB). The SLC received a complaint from the MP Karlis Sadurskis (“Unity”), who is concerned with the fact that the letter distributed by the CSB to inform about the upcoming population census, was also translated into Russian language. The SCB explains that it has taken into consideration the real composition of the population (59,4% ethnic Latvians, 27,6% ethnic Russians), and points at the need to ensure that the data of the population census are not distorted by linguistic abilities of the people. The SLC argues that the State Language Law stipulates that the documents issued by the state should be in the state language only, while legislation permits private mass media to publish information in Russian.

Newspapers report that the State Language Centre (SLC) begun administrative process against the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB). The SLC received a complaint from the MP Karlis Sadurskis (Unity), who is concerned with the fact that the letter distributed by the CSB to inform about the upcoming population census, was also translated into Russian language. The SCB explains that it has taken into consideration the real composition of the population (59,4% ethnic Latvians, 27,6% ethnic Russians), and points at the need to ensure that the data of the population census are not distorted by linguistic abilities of the people. The SLC argues that the State Language Law stipulates that the documents issued by the state should be in the state language only, while legislation permits private mass media to publish information in Russian. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Chas, Vesti-Segodnya

• Interviews with Ombudsman candidate Anita Kovalevska
• Telegraf: translation of mathematics olympiad tasks used to ensure equal treatment of minority schools pupils

Diena and Latvijas Avize interviewed Ombudsman candidate Anita Kovalevska, Administrative court judge. She believes the Ombudsman does not necessarily needs a degree in law, yet there is a clear need to have knowledge and experience in rights protection, while the job itself requires usage of legal arguments. Many issues, which currently are being dealt with by Latvian courts, are actually much more appropriate for the Ombudsmans Office. Anita Kovalevska believes that the Law on the Ombudsmans Office grants sufficient amount of power, yet it is important to use it fully – to follow-up investigations and recommendations, initiate administrative and civil cases or cases at the Constitutional Court. It is highly important to communicate with the mass media and the wider society, because once the view of the Ombudsman is well argued and explained, the politicians and civil servants could hardly refuse to implement it. The main human rights problems and risks in Latvia at the moment are related to crisis and budget cuts, which impact social rights, survival of ordinary people, which also spill over to other rights. Judging by the amount of complaints at the European Court of Human Rights, issues such as conditions in prisons, usage of detention, as well as the length of court proceedings are very topical human rights issues in Latvia.

Telegraf writes that this year, the tasks of school mathematics olympiad for pupils of 5-8 grades were not translated into Russian. Many Russian minority schools are officially allowed to teach up to 40% of time in native language, thus many children are studying mathematics in Russian and are not used to mathematic terminology in Latvian. In order to ensure equal treatment of the pupils and to make sure it is the knowledge of mathematics, not of the state language is being tested in olympiad, its tasks were always translated. Unannounced lack of translation this year resulted in confusion among the teachers and pupils. Representative of the State curriculum centre admits the lack of translation this year was an unfortunate experiment, while representative of the External mathematics school of the University of Latvia blames insufficient funding.

• Ministry of Culture will also be responsible for integration of migrants
• Chas prints an interview with a candidate for the Ombudsmans post Juris Jansons

The government decided to assign all the functions on integration of the society to the Ministry of Culture, including the integration of immigrants. The Ministry will assume responsibility for integration issues since 1 April.

The government decided to assign all the functions on integration of the society to the Ministry of Culture, including the integration of immigrants. The Ministry will assume responsibility for integration issues since 1 April. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Chas prints an interview with a candidate for the Ombudsmans post Juris Jansons (nominated by the opposition party). According to Mr. Jansons, the Ombudsman Office has to improve its involvement in elaboration of legislation by the government and co-operation with the Saeima and to be more active in providing information to the society about its activities. Mr. Jansons believes that the Ombudsmans Office needs a strong administrator and this is one of the reasons why he to agreed to candidate for the post. As reported, Juris Jansons at present occupies the post of the liquidator of the health insurance holding company Rigas Slimokase.