Sep 07 2007

  • Sept. 7, 2007

    • Riga Regional Court rejected an appeal to abolish the ban on Russian March on 8 September in Riga
    • Saeima has refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law proposed by the political party FHRUL
    • Chas features an interview with the head of Human Rights Institute of the University of Latvia Arturs Kucs on application of the Article 78 of the Criminal Code in Latvian court practice
    • Kulturas Diena prints an article by ex-Minister of Integration Nils Muiznieks on integration process in Latvia
    Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court rejected an appeal of the Latvian National Democratic Party (LNDP) and the NGO “Motherland” to abolish the decision of the Riga City Council to ban “Russian March” on 8 September in Riga. However, the leader of the LNDP Jevgenijs Osipovs has stated that the organisers are going to submit new application on Friday to the City Council to hold a meeting with the same slogans at the same day and at the same place.

    Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court rejected an appeal of the Latvian National Democratic Party (LNDP) and the NGO Motherland to abolish the decision of the Riga City Council to ban Russian March on 8 September in Riga. However, the leader of the LNDP Jevgenijs Osipovs has stated that the organisers are going to submit new application on Friday to the City Council to hold a meeting with the same slogans at the same day and at the same place. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena, NRA

    Yesterday, the Saeima has refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law proposed by the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) which stipulated granting official status to ethnic minorities’ languages in territories inhabited by ethnic minorities in substantial numbers.

    Yesterday, the Saeima has refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law proposed by the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) which stipulated granting official status to ethnic minorities languages in territories inhabited by ethnic minorities in substantial numbers. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

    Chas features an interview with the head of Human Rights Institute of the University of Latvia Arturs Kucs who has presented a report on application of the Article 78 of the Criminal Code (which stipulates punishment for incitement to national, ethnic or racial hatred) in Latvian court practice in the context of implementation of the UN Convention on elimination of all kinds of racial discrimination. Arturs Kucs has stated that rulings in several criminal cases show that Latvian judges and prosecutors do not understand how to use the Convention due to the luck of training. Commenting on a decision of the Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court Ieva Garanca to terminate criminal proceedings in the case of Andris Jordans (who has stated at a public discussion that it would be preferable to exterminate Jews and Roma people as ‘non-humans), Mr.Kucs pointed that the Prosecutor only referred to a principle of freedom of speech set in the European Convention on Human Rights and did not take into account that the Convention does not relate to the statement which openly incite to racial hatred an intolerance. Arturs Kucs also believes that position of Jewish and Roma communities is very important in such cases.

    Kulturas Diena prints an article by political scientist, ex-Minister of Integration Nils Muiznieks on integration process in Latvia. Nils Muiznieks believes that integration tasks in Latvian as well as in Europe will remain topical for long time period. According to Mr.Muiznieks, there are four important integration tasks for Latvia to be accomplished. First, to prepare timely for new immigration which will complicate the integration tasks even more. Second, to collect ethnic data to ensure equal opportunities for all people and actively combat discrimination by holding educative events and by strict application of law. Third, to promote democratic values and ensure various ways of involvement. Fourth, to evaluate and correct integration policy systematically according to international practice.