• 16,668 new naturalised citizens to take part in the forthcoming Saeima (parliamentary) elections for the first time
• Latvian non-citizens will have to apply for Turkish visas
• Latvian Choir Conductors Association calls upon political parties to include in their party programmes commitment to preserve the Latvian language and culture
• MEP Tatjana Zdanoka: Russian language will be granted the status of an official language on municipal level in Latvia in the near future

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 16,668 new naturalised citizens will take part in the forthcoming Saeima elections for the first time.

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 16,668 new naturalised citizens will take part in the forthcoming Saeima elections for the first time. Diena

Chas reports that the new procedure for Latvian non-citizens on entry to Turkey is to come into force on 1 November. According to the new procedure, non-citizens will have to apply for visa in the Turkish embassy, while now non-citizens can buy their visas on the Turkish border and in airports. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it is preparing an agreement with Turkey to return to the existing procedure.

The Latvian Choir Conductors’ Association called upon all the political parties running for the Saeima elections to include in their programs a commitment to preserve the Latvian language as the only state language in the country and grant support to the Latvian culture. According to

The Latvian Choir Conductors Association called upon all the political parties running for the Saeima elections to include in their programs a commitment to preserve the Latvian language as the only state language in the country and grant support to the Latvian culture. According to Telegraf only five of 13 political parties have included such commitment in their programmes.

Tatjana Zdanoka, MEP from Latvia and the candidate for the Prime Minister’s post from the party For Human Rights in United Latvia believes that the Russian language will be granted the status of official language on municipal level in Latvia in the near future. Mrs. Zdanoka believes that if the next governing coalition wants to change something in the country it will have to rely on the votes of Russian parties.

Tatjana Zdanoka, MEP from Latvia and the candidate for the Prime Ministers post from the party For Human Rights in United Latvia believes that the Russian language will be granted the status of official language on municipal level in Latvia in the near future. Mrs. Zdanoka believes that if the next governing coalition wants to change something in the country it will have to rely on the votes of Russian parties. Telegraf, Chas

• Vesti Segodnya reports about a recent court decision not to grant the refugee status to a person of allegedly Palestinian origin
• Foundation meeting of the Assembly of the European Alliance of Russian Speaking Youth held in Riga over the weekend

Vesti Segodnya reports about a recent court decision not to grant the refugee status to a person of allegedly Palestinian origin. He arrived in Latvia in 2009 and claims he is from Palestine and is being persecuted by the Hamas movement, and as a result applied for asylum in Latvia. However, the Office of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) turned down his asylum request, and its decision was upheld by the Riga Administrative Court.

Latvijas Avize reports about the foundation meeting of the Assembly of the European Alliance of Russian Speaking Youth held in Riga over the weekend. The aim of the alliance is to seek wider political representation of the Russian speaking EU residents, their engagement in social and political activities, and support and coordination of their activities.

• Free-of-charge Latvian language courses organised for the ninth year
• Latvijas Avize: prosecutor supervising a criminal process against organisers of a procession in commemoration of Nazi troops entry to Latvia in 1 July 1941 considers that the process should be terminated

Chas reports about free-of-charge Latvian language courses organised for the ninth year by NGO Prata Speks. The courses provide state language training especially for naturalisation examination. This year the courses will be held not only in Riga but also in two other cities.

Latvijas Avize reports that the prosecutor supervising a criminal process against organisers of a procession in commemoration of Nazi troops entry to Latvia in 1 July 1941 considers that the process should be terminated. As reported, the Security Police initiated the criminal process for justification of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace and war crimes. The prosecutor considers that the process should be terminated because the procession was allowed by the court which did not find any danger in it and also because the event did not happen as planned because it was stopped by the police due to the absence of its organiser.

• More than 50% of applicants for naturalisation do not pass state language examination
• State Language Centre elaborates draft regulations which would forbid employers from requiring Russian language proficiency from potential employees
• MP Oskars Kastens: President Valdis Zatlers should speak to Latvian residents also in Russian
• MP Janis Urbanovics: even one person with status of non-citizen in Latvia is a shame for the country

According to a representative of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, slightly more than 50% of naturalisation applicants successfully pass state language examination. Among 3,400 applicants for naturalisation in 2009 and only 2,000 persons received the citizenship. The majority of applicants for naturalisation are young males from 18 to 30 years old who stated that the main reason why they decided to naturalise is their desire to become full-fledged EU citizens.

According to a representative of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, slightly more than 50% of naturalisation applicants successfully pass state language examination. Among 3,400 applicants for naturalisation in 2009 and only 2,000 persons received the citizenship. The majority of applicants for naturalisation are young males from 18 to 30 years old who stated that the main reason why they decided to naturalise is their desire to become full-fledged EU citizens. Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya reports that according to its un-official information, the State Language Centre elaborates draft Cabinet of Ministers regulations regarding foreign language proficiency requirements in personnel hiring process. According to the newspaper, the aim of the new draft rules is to forbid employers from requiring Russian language proficiency from potential employees.

MP Oskars Kastens commenting the decision of the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers  not to communicate to local journalists in Russian stated that it is wrong because if the President really wants to consolidate the society he should speak to Latvian residents also in Russian.

MP Oskars Kastens commenting the decision of the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers not to communicate to local journalists in Russian stated that it is wrong because if the President really wants to consolidate the society he should speak to Latvian residents also in Russian.Vesti Segodnya

The Concord Centre Prime Minister candidate, MP Janis Urbanovics in an interview with

The Concord Centre Prime Minister candidate, MP Janis Urbanovics in an interview with Vesti Segodnya states that even one person with status of non-citizen in Latvia is a shame for the country, society and the EU. Therefore, situation regarding non-citizens should be changed for the sake of future prosperity of the country. Mr. Urbanovics also believes that Russian language as part of cultural heritage should be granted official status in Latvia.

• State Language Centre is planning to punish the State Language Service of the Riga City Council for permission to place posters which do not comply with the requirements of the State Language Law
• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers: non-citizens feel comfortable in Latvia

The State Language Centre (SLC) is planning to punish the State Language Service of the Riga City Council for permission given to the supermarket “Stockmann” to place posters which do not comply with the requirements of the State Language Law. As reported, the SLC already punished the supermarket with pecuniary penalty for placement of the posters in which the text in English is written in bigger letters as in Latvian.

The State Language Centre (SLC) is planning to punish the State Language Service of the Riga City Council for permission given to the supermarket Stockmann to place posters which do not comply with the requirements of the State Language Law. As reported, the SLC already punished the supermarket with pecuniary penalty for placement of the posters in which the text in English is written in bigger letters as in Latvian. Telegraf

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers in an interview to a Russia’s weekly magazine stated that decreased naturalisation rate indicates that non-citizens feel themselves comfortable in Latvia despite the fact that they are deprived of some civil rights.

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers in an interview to a Russias weekly magazine stated that decreased naturalisation rate indicates that non-citizens feel themselves comfortable in Latvia despite the fact that they are deprived of some civil rights. Telegraf