• All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM proposes to forbid issuing of temporary residence permits to Russian citizens
• Government discussed measures on stimulation of integration

The nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM proposes to forbid issuing of temporary residence permits to Russian citizens. The nationalists argue that Russian citizens who reside in Latvia might have impact on political and social processes in Latvia and thus endanger state’s security. According to the nationalists’ union, issuing of residence permits to Russian citizens should be stopped due to Russia’s breach of international legal norms manifested through aggression in Ukraine. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports about the government’s meeting discussing measures on stimulation of integration. One of the proposals was to make naturalisation process easier. However, it is not supported by all the ministers. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics does not agree that the naturalisation test should be eased. He rather proposes to inform non-citizens about the naturalisation process as, for instance, non-citizens in Latgale (eastern Latvian region) are not interested in naturalisation because they think that the examination is too complicated. The Ministers also believe that naturalisation could be stimulated by provision of wider opportunities to attend free-of-charge or discount Latvian language courses in order to help loyal non-citizens to improve their state language proficiency to pass naturalisation test. The Minister of Education Ina Druviete does not agree that there is a need to increase number of state language courses as those who want to learn the language do it without special encouragement. She also believes that non-citizens are given all the opportunities for integration. The Minister says that no special proposals for consolidation of the society are required as there are recently elaborated guidelines of state language policy 2015-2020 which regulate basic principles of state language policy, aims and actions for next six years.

• Minister of Justice ordered the Register of Enterprises to evaluate activities of the political party Russian Union in Latvia
• Minister of Justice promised to prosecute Latvian residents who take part in the military actions in the Eastern Ukraine

The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins ordered the Register of Enterprises to evaluate whether activities of the political party Russian Union in Latvia contradicts the Criminal Law, other legal acts and party’s aims written in its statutes. According to Latvijas Avize, there are several reasons to check the activities of the party.  For instance, the fact that its leaders took part in the meeting of in a movement “Sutj Vremeni” (Essence of Time) which aims to restore the USSR and supported annexation of Crimea by Russia and self-proclaimed Eastern Ukrainian republics.

Diena reports that the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins promised the Ukrainian Minister of Justice to prosecute Latvian residents who take part in the military actions in the Eastern Ukraine on the side of separatists. As reported, it is known that at least three residents of Latvia fight on the side Eastern Ukrainian separatists. These persons revealed themselves through a video published on the Internet calling other Latvian men also to join them.

• Protest action in support of Russian language schools conducted yesterday
• Vesti Segodnya: Russian Union in Latvia might receive sufficient amount of votes to be elected to the Saeima
• Neatkariga: young woman did not receive job in the State Revenue Service because her photos with Nazi uniform and swastika could discredit state administration institutions

Latvijas Avize reports about a protest action and concert in support of Russian language schools conducted yesterday by the political party Russian Union in Latvia. According to the newspaper, the action was attended by a few dozen of older people. The protestors held posters saying “Language will lead to Kiev.” One of the leaders of the party Jakovs Pliners in an interview with the newspaper commenting low number of participants of the protest action said that people became passive and promised to look for new approaches to activate Russian residents for protests. 

According to Vesti Segodnya, the party Russian Union in Latvia might receive sufficient amount of votes to be elected to the Saeima in the upcoming elections. A public opinion survey among Russian residents of Latvia conducted by a company SKDS specially for the party shows that 12% of respondents would definitely support the party at the elections and 10% would most likely support the party. As reported, other public opinion surveys showed that the Russian Union of Latvia is supported by less than 5 % of citizens.

Neatkariga reports about the young woman who gained media attention because she published on various social networks the photos of herself dressed in Nazi uniform and with swastika on the sleeve. According to the newspaper, most likely, this publicity stopped the State Revenue Service from hiring her. According to a representative of the State Chancellery, one of the obligations of state official is not to discredit state institutions and state administration in general by his or her own activities during working time and also outside of it. 

 

• Riga City Council banned the events planned by an organisation “GVD Baltija”

Yesterday, following recommendation of the Security Police, the Riga City Council banned the events planned by an organisation “GVD Baltija” in Riga. As reported, “GVD Baltija” placed in a Riga district a humanitarian aid tent decorated with flags of so-called “Novorossiya” and “Donetsk people’s republic” collecting aid allegedly for civilians in conflict zones in Eastern Ukraine However, the SP evaluated such event as a potential risk towards state’s constitutional order and society security interests. According to Latvijas Avize, the organisers are suspected in collecting aid not for civilians but for armed groups. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

• Newspapers report about three persons from Latvia taking part in the military action in the Eastern Ukraine
• Protest action “Remember Odessa” held in Riga
• Facebook.com blocked photos of a young woman from Latvia dressed in Nazi uniform

The newspapers report about videos placed on the Internet by three men from Latvia taking part in military action in the Eastern Ukraine on the side of Lugansk’s people’s militia. These men say that they are from Latvian town Ludza (town in the eastern part of Latvia) and explain why they decided to join separatists. They call themselves Russian patriots and appeal to Latvian men to go to Donbas and fight against Ukrainian militaries. According to Latvijas Avize, the Security Police (SP) yesterday initiated criminal proceedings against these persons arguing that such calls can be qualified as public call for terrorism. The SP also asks residents to report information about Latvian residents who take parts in the military actions in Ukraine, or expressed desire to do it, or who distributes calls to join illegal armed groups. According to the information provided to Vesti Segodnya by a leader of the party For Native Language Vladimirs Lindermans, on 1 September, management of the 2nd Ludza secondary school hold a conversation with students about those men on the video as they are graduates of this school. V. Lindermans criticizes the school for reproaching these men in lack of conscience and says “we should be proud of them as they went to defend a city that is being destroyed by barbarians.” V. Lindermans also says that the number of militiamen from Latvia has grown during last couple days and it will grow more. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, 50 to 100 people took part in a protest action in Riga called “Remember Odessa” in memory of the May 2 tragedy in the Ukrainian city of Odessa, in which nearly 50 anti-government activists were burned alive in a trade union house. The action was organised by the party Russian Union in Latvia joining anti-fascists’ action across Europe. The aim of the action in Riga was to say no to violence, to support peace in Ukraine, and call for investigation of the tragedy in Odessa and punishment of the perpetrators.  Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya continues to report about young woman who posts on her profiles in different social networks the photos of herself dressed in Nazi uniform and with swastika on the sleeve. According to the newspaper, following a complaint about such photos administration of Facebook.com blocked such photos. However, other social networks have not reacted.