• Ministry of Interior proposes to ease the process of granting Latvian citizenship to children born to parents non-citizens and to shorten the time period before repeated naturalisation exams.

In order to decrease number of non-citizens, the Ministry of Interior proposes to ease the process of granting Latvian citizenship to children born to parents non-citizens and to shorten the time period before repeated naturalisation exams. The Ministry proposes to allow parents non-citizens to fill in all the documents on granting citizenship during registration of a child in the registry office. Presently, parents have to submit application for the citizenship to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. The Ministry also proposes to shorten the time failed naturalisation applicants have to wait before they are entitled to take naturalisation exams again. At present, it is possible to retake the test in Latvian language after six months and test in history, constitution and national anthem after three months. The Ministry proposes to shorten these terms down to three and two months correspondingly. The Ministry’s proposal will be reviewed at the meeting of the State Secretaries.

In order to decrease number of non-citizens, the Ministry of Interior proposes to ease the process of granting Latvian citizenship to children born to parents non-citizens and to shorten the time period before repeated naturalisation exams. The Ministry proposes to allow parents non-citizens to fill in all the documents on granting citizenship during registration of a child in the registry office. Presently, parents have to submit application for the citizenship to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. The Ministry also proposes to shorten the time failed naturalisation applicants have to wait before they are entitled to take naturalisation exams again. At present, it is possible to retake the test in Latvian language after six months and test in history, constitution and national anthem after three months. The Ministry proposes to shorten these terms down to three and two months correspondingly. The Ministrys proposal will be reviewed at the meeting of the State Secretaries. Telegraf

• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers believes that it is time to allow dual citizenship
• Saeima granted citizenship to 212 persons
• State language institutions voice concerns about linguistic situation

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers submitted to the Saeima proposal to the Citizenship Law allowing dual citizenship for those Latvians who left Latvia as refugees or got deported and those who recently emigrated from the country. The President believes that it is time to improve the Citizenship Law according to the long-term interests of the state in order to ensure and promote the preservation of the totality of Latvian citizens.

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers submitted to the Saeima proposal to the Citizenship Law allowing dual citizenship for those Latvians who left Latvia as refugees or got deported and those who recently emigrated from the country. The President believes that it is time to improve the Citizenship Law according to the long-term interests of the state in order to ensure and promote the preservation of the totality of Latvian citizens. Latvijas Avize, Diena

Yesterday, the government granted citizenship to 212 persons who went trough the naturalisation process. 72% of new citizens are ethnic Russians, 11% - Ukrainians, 11% - Belorussians. In total, 135,206 persons received Latvian citizenship since the naturalisation process begun in 1995.

Yesterday, the government granted citizenship to 212 persons who went trough the naturalisation process. 72% of new citizens are ethnic Russians, 11% - Ukrainians, 11% - Belorussians. In total, 135,206 persons received Latvian citizenship since the naturalisation process begun in 1995. Telegraf

Yesterday, the Saeima Committee on Education and Culture discussed situation around state language issues with representatives of the State Language Centre and the State Language Agency. According to them, Russian speaking residents refuse to use their Latvian language proficiency at work and everyday life. The institutions also complain about insufficient funding for more effective work.

Yesterday, the Saeima Committee on Education and Culture discussed situation around state language issues with representatives of the State Language Centre and the State Language Agency. According to them, Russian speaking residents refuse to use their Latvian language proficiency at work and everyday life. The institutions also complain about insufficient funding for more effective work. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya,

 

• Number of non-citizens receiving Russian citizenship doubled

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 5,673 Latvian residents received Russian citizenship in 2010 which is twice more than in 2009. In total, 5,972 persons renounced the status of Latvian non-citizen. While majority accepted Russian citizenship, 91 persons received Lithuanian citizenship, 31 – Ukrainian, 29 – Belarusian, and 18 – German.

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 5,673 Latvian residents received Russian citizenship in 2010 which is twice more than in 2009. In total, 5,972 persons renounced the status of Latvian non-citizen. While majority accepted Russian citizenship, 91 persons received Lithuanian citizenship, 31 – Ukrainian, 29 – Belarusian, and 18 – German. Vesti Segodnya

• Weekly magazine Sestdiena features an interview with the Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris.

In an interview with

In an interview with Sestdiena, Ms. Brands Kehris criticizes the developments in integration policy in Latvia and the assignment of integration issues to the Ministry of Culture. Ms. Brands Kehris believes that the present integration definition as used by the Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte (former editor-in-chief of the national daily Diena and exponent of open society) whereby ethnic minorities switch to ethnic Latvian cultural values, is assimilation. Commenting on the controversy around the MP Valerijs Kravcovs (criticized for poor Latvian skills) she believes the parties and the electorate should assume the responsibility that MPs are proficient in Latvian, and that the Saeima does not have the right to deprive him of his mandate. Ms Brands Kehris criticises the activities of the State Language Centre in employing restrictive and repressive measures that cause negative attitude towards Latvian, while the emphasis should be on positive measures. She highlights the unwillingness of the government to address the issue of granting non-citizens the right to participate in local elections and the possibility for residents to use Russian in communication with local authorities. In mid-February, Ms Brands Kehris will leave Latvia for the Hague to assume the post of the Director of the Bureau of the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities.

• Saeima forwarded the draft law on expulsion of the MP Valerijs Kravcovs from the Saeima to the Committee on Mandates, Ethics and Submissions
• Saeima refused the draft amendments to the Immigration Law which would abolish the provision on granting residence permits to investors
• Number of foreigners residing in Latvia in 2010 increased
• 51 persons asked for asylum in Latvia in 2010
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues ofthe U.S. State Department Douglas Davidson
• Lawyer Andris Grutups: Latvia does not owe to the Jewish community compensation for lost properties

The Saeima forwarded the draft law prepared by the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM on expulsion of the MP Valerijs Kravcovs (Concord Centre) from the Saeima to the Mandates, Ethics and Submissions Committee. As reported, Mr. Kravcovs is criticized for poor Latvian language proficiency. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena, Neatkariga

The Saeima refused the draft amendments to the Immigration Law prepared by the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM which would abolish the provision on granting residence permits to foreign investors. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, number of foreigners residing in Latvia increased by 10% during 2010. In total, there were 55,320 foreigners with Latvian residence permits in 2010. The majority of foreigners are citizens of Russia – 36,638 persons, Lithuania – 3,754, Ukraine – 3,198, Belarus – 2,035, and Germany – 1,174. Telegraf, Chas

According to the State Border Guard, 51 persons asked for asylum in Latvia in 2010. During 2009, 36 persons asked for asylum. The majority of asylum seekers are from Afghanistan. Diena

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues ofthe U.S. State Department Douglas Davidson who arrived to Latvia with three days visit. According to Mr. Davidson, the main aim of his visit to Latvia was not to push Latvia to pay the Jewish community compensation for lost properties during the Holocaust, but to get acquainted with situation regarding the Holocaust unsolved issues and to talk about restitution of Jewish Communitys properties. Mr. Davidson believes that conversations with Latvian politicians showed that they are opened to discussion.

Well known lawyer Andris Grutups in an interview with Neatkariga states that Latvia does not owe to the Jewish community compensation for lost properties during the Holocaust because all owners of the real estate and their descendants are dead.