• Eizenija Aldermane is concerned about planned merger of the Naturalisation Board and the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs

Ex-head of the Naturalisation Board (NB) Eizenija Aldermane is concerned about planned merger of the NB and the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA). Mrs. Aldermane considers that the merger of both institutions should be full-fledged and functions of the NB should not be sidelined as something unimportant.

Ex-head of the Naturalisation Board (NB) Eizenija Aldermane is concerned about planned merger of the NB and the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA). Mrs. Aldermane considers that the merger of both institutions should be full-fledged and functions of the NB should not be sidelined as something unimportant. Chas

• Government supported conceptual decision to merge the Naturalisation Board with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs
• Share of ethnic minorities in Latvia decreased during 20 years
• Vesti Segodnya reports about presentation of a documentary film Latvian Russians: Ten Centuries of History

The government supported conceptual decision to merge the Naturalisation Board with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) with an aim to optimise funding for both institutions. According to the head of the OCMA, possible cost-saving outcome of the merger could amount the present funding of the Naturalisation Board.

The government supported conceptual decision to merge the Naturalisation Board with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) with an aim to optimise funding for both institutions. According to the head of the OCMA, possible cost-saving outcome of the merger could amount the present funding of the Naturalisation Board. Latvijas Avize

The share of ethnic minorities in Latvia’s population decreased during the last 20 years. Presently, there are 27,8% ethnic Russians living in Latvia which is 6% fewer than in 1989. The share of Ukrainians, Belorussians and Jews also decreased, while the share of Poles, Lithuanians and Roma increased a little.

The share of ethnic minorities in Latvias population decreased during the last 20 years. Presently, there are 27,8% ethnic Russians living in Latvia which is 6% fewer than in 1989. The share of Ukrainians, Belorussians and Jews also decreased, while the share of Poles, Lithuanians and Roma increased a little. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya reports about presentation of a documentary film Latvian Russians: Ten Centuries of History. According to the author of the film historian Igors Gusevs, the film shows that Russians were living on present-day territory of Latvia for many centuries and the aim of the film is promotion of active integration of ethnic Russians in Latvian society.

• Saeimas Committee on National Economy supported proposal to ease procedure on granting residency permits for foreign investors
• Minister of Education and Science Tatjana Koke will speak to local journalists only in Latvian language
• 46,781 foreigners live in Latvia
• Procession in support of Latvian non-citizens held yesterday in Riga
• Saeima refused all draft amendments regarding widening rights of non-citizens
• Vesti Segodnya reports about problems faced by Russian citizens who live in Latvia
• Head of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Efraim Zuroff: For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM glorifies Nazism

The Saeima’s Committee on National Economy supported proposal to ease procedure on granting residency permits for foreign investors. The draft amendments to the Immigration Law stipulate that foreigners who bought real estate in Latvia for more than LVL 50,000 (EUR 71,143) or invested not less than LVL 10,000 (EUR 14,228) in basic capital of enterprises and ensured at least three vacancies have right to receive residency permit for 5 years in Latvia.

The Saeimas Committee on National Economy supported proposal to ease procedure on granting residency permits for foreign investors. The draft amendments to the Immigration Law stipulate that foreigners who bought real estate in Latvia for more than LVL 50,000 (EUR 71,143) or invested not less than LVL 10,000 (EUR 14,228) in basic capital of enterprises and ensured at least three vacancies have right to receive residency permit for 5 years in Latvia. Chas

The Minister of Education and Science Tatjana Koke will speak to local journalists only in Latvian language. Such statement was made after reproach of the President Latvia Valdis Zatlers to state officials who speak with journalists in Russian.

The Minister of Education and Science Tatjana Koke will speak to local journalists only in Latvian language. Such statement was made after reproach of the President Latvia Valdis Zatlers to state officials who speak with journalists in Russian. Chas

According to the Central Statistics Bureau, there are 46,781 foreigners living in Latvia. 29,622 of them have Russian citizenship, 3,694 are Lithuanians, and 2,898 are Ukrainians.

According to the Central Statistics Bureau, there are 46,781 foreigners living in Latvia. 29,622 of them have Russian citizenship, 3,694 are Lithuanians, and 2,898 are Ukrainians. Chas

Procession in support of Latvian non-citizens devoted to 18

Procession in support of Latvian non-citizens devoted to 18th anniversary since adoption of law which divided Latvian residents into citizens and non-citizens was held yesterday in Riga. Chas, Vesti Segdonya

Yesterday, the Saeima refused all draft amendments regarding widening rights of non-citizens proposed by the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia. As reported, the draft laws abolished limitations for non-citizens in various activity categories and real estate business, and abolished requirement to prove Latvian language proficiency for those non-citizens who want to receive the status of the EU permanent resident.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused all draft amendments regarding widening rights of non-citizens proposed by the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia. As reported, the draft laws abolished limitations for non-citizens in various activity categories and real estate business, and abolished requirement to prove Latvian language proficiency for those non-citizens who want to receive the status of the EU permanent resident. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports about problems faced by Russian citizens who live in Latvia. According to the newspaper, a young man who was born in Latvia but has only temporary residency permit, at fourth year of studies in a professional school suddenly received a notification that he does not have right to study for free and to receive scholarship. The young man may also be required to pay for all years of studies. In another case described in the article, a man who recently received Russian citizenship but did not obtain the permanent residency permit yet was stroked off the list of patients in local health care centre and was refused help when he needed it.

Head of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre

Head of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Efraim Zuroff in an interview with the Britain newspaper The Guardian stated that criticism made by political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) towards the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs for his participation in the events in commemoration of liberation of Riga from Nazi invaders should be viewed as glorification of Nazism. According to Mr. Zuroff, the FF/LNIM glorifies veterans Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires and ignores historical truth which is that Latvia would not become independent if Riga was not be liberated from Nazis by Soviet warriors in 1944. Chas

• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers: state officials should speak with journalists only in Latvian

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers at a congress of the World Federation of Free Latvians (WFFL) criticized state officials who speak with journalists in foreign languages. The President believes that state officials should speak with journalists only in Latvian language in order to gain respect. Also, head of the WFFL stated that there is hidden process of russification in Latvia and one of its indicators is the fact that state officials speak Russian publicly.

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers at a congress of the World Federation of Free Latvians (WFFL) criticized state officials who speak with journalists in foreign languages. The President believes that state officials should speak with journalists only in Latvian language in order to gain respect. Also, head of the WFFL stated that there is hidden process of russification in Latvia and one of its indicators is the fact that state officials speak Russian publicly. Vesti Segodnya

• Mayor of the Riga City Council Nils Usakovs took part in the events in commemoration of liberation of Riga from Nazi invaders
• Vesti Segodnya prints an article about non-citizens in Latvia

The Mayor of the Riga City Council Nils Usakovs took part in the events in commemoration of liberation of Riga from Nazi invaders. Nationalistic politicians criticized the Mayor for participation in the events arguing that for Latvia the day of liberation of Riga was the beginning of occupation.

The Mayor of the Riga City Council Nils Usakovs took part in the events in commemoration of liberation of Riga from Nazi invaders. Nationalistic politicians criticized the Mayor for participation in the events arguing that for Latvia the day of liberation of Riga was the beginning of occupation. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya prints an article about non-citizens in Latvia. According to the newspaper, 18 years passed since large part of Latvian residents were deprived of political rights and became non-citizens. The MP Boriss Cilevics (Concord Centre) believes that widening of political rights for non-citizens such as granting them voting rights is untouchable issue for ethnic Latvian politicians because they know that it will lead to changes in composition of ruling elite. For 1 January 2009 there were 15,8% non-citizens among Latvian residents