• 200 persons took part in a picket against non-citizenship in Riga
• According to the Migrant Integration Policy Index, Latvia is the least welcoming country for immigrants
• The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens proposes to allow granting double citizenship to WWII refugees, deported persons and children left without parents care

About 200 persons took part in a picket against non-citizenship in front of the representative office of the European Commission in Riga yesterday.

About 200 persons took part in a picket against non-citizenship in front of the representative office of the European Commission in Riga yesterday. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

According to a ranking based on the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) conducted by the British Council and Migration Policy Group in Brussels, Latvia is the least welcoming country for immigrants among other European countries, while the most welcoming is Sweden. The MIPEX reflects how European countries integrate immigrants

According to a ranking based on the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) conducted by the British Council and Migration Policy Group in Brussels, Latvia is the least welcoming country for immigrants among other European countries, while the most welcoming is Sweden. The MIPEX reflects how European countries integrate immigrants using 140 indicators including such factors as immigrants' rights in the workplace; the opportunities for permanent settlement; permission for family to join them; laws to combat racism and prejudice. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, NRA

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has sent a proposal to the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis asking to include group of persons such as WWII refugees, deported persons and children left without parents’ care into the list of persons who might be allowed granting double citizenship. Presently, a working group is elaborating draft amendments to the legal norms which stipulate granting double citizenship to children of Latvian citizens who were born abroad.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has sent a proposal to the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis asking to include group of persons such as WWII refugees, deported persons and children left without parents care into the list of persons who might be allowed granting double citizenship. Presently, a working group is elaborating draft amendments to the legal norms which stipulate granting double citizenship to children of Latvian citizens who were born abroad. Latvijas Avize, NRA

• Russian NGOs in Latvia ask the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights and the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament to speed up consideration of a petition on granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections
• 42% of Latvian residents are representatives of ethnic minorities
• Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with Ruslan Pankratov who has submitted an application to the ECHR against Latvianisation of his name
• 1,989 guest workers have arrived to Latvia during first six months of 2007
• According to a study Attitude towards State Language, 56% of Latvia residents believe that the state has to ensure usage of state language in service sphere

Chas reports that representatives of several Russian NGOs in Latvia have sent to the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights and to the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament an appeal asking to speed up consideration of a petition signed by 16,000 residents of Latvia on granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. NGOs also asked to evaluate impact of mass scale non-citizenship on observance of Latvian residents rights and to support recommendations on elimination of non-citizenship addressed to Latvia by various international organisations.

According to

According to Chas, at present, 42% of Latvian residents are representatives of ethnic minorities. Many minority members in Latvia are non-citizens: 40% of Russians, 61% of Belorussians, and 64% of Ukrainians do not have any citizenship.

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with activist of the NGO Return Our Names Ruslan Pankratov who has submitted an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against Latvianisation of first and last name (adding the ending –s) in his passport. According to Ruslan Pankratov there are 3,000 persons registered in the NGO Return Our Names who support initiative against Latvianisation of personal names. Mr. Pankratov believes that modification of names amounts to forced assimilation and is form of ethno linguistic nationalism.

According to the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 1,989 guest workers have arrived to Latvia during first six months of 2007. The majority of guest workers have arrived from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belorussia, Armenia and Uzbekistan.

According to the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 1,989 guest workers have arrived to Latvia during first six months of 2007. The majority of guest workers have arrived from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belorussia, Armenia and Uzbekistan. Latvijas Avize, Diena

According to a study “Attitude towards State Language” conducted by the State Language Agency (SLA) in summer, 56% of Latvia residents believe that the state has to ensure usage of state language in service sphere. Also, 49% believes that level of Latvian language proficiency for certain professions and posts must be defined in legal norms. According to the study, 34% of ethnic minority respondents have stated that they use their native language in private life and in other spheres. In an interview with

According to a study Attitude towards State Language conducted by the State Language Agency (SLA) in summer, 56% of Latvia residents believe that the state has to ensure usage of state language in service sphere. Also, 49% believes that level of Latvian language proficiency for certain professions and posts must be defined in legal norms. According to the study, 34% of ethnic minority respondents have stated that they use their native language in private life and in other spheres. In an interview with Latvijas Avize, a representative of the SLA has told about a broad study State Language Law: History and Topicality conducted by the agency. The study will reflect on how the politicians have taken care of development and protection of the state language. Latvijas Avize

• Tatyana Zdanoka: non-citizens must have voting rights in the EP elections equally with Latvian citizens
• Latvijas Avize reports that the Saeima has refused the draft amendments to the General Education Law proposed by the FHRUL

Vesti Segodnya reports that Latvia has kept 9 seats in the European Parliament (EP) distributed accordingly to total number of Latvian residents. The MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka has stated that if the seats are distributed in accordance with number of Latvian citizens Latvia would get only 7 seats because 17 % of residents are non-citizens. Therefore, Tatyana Zdanoka believes that non-citizens must have voting rights in the EP elections equally with Latvian citizens.

Latvijas Avize reports that the Saeima has refused the draft amendments to the General Education Law proposed by the oppositional party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL). The FHRUL proposed to allow keeping those classes with Russian as main language of instructions, where the number of pupils is falling below the minimum required by the state at present. Due to this requirement many classes with Russian as a main language of instruction are being closed throughout Latvia regions. The FHRUL also proposed that in lessons supposedly taught in Latvian, a teacher could explain some aspects of the material in Russian if the pupils do not understand it in the state language.

• Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis supports introduction of quotas for guest workers moving to Latvia
• Ministry of Foreign Affair: all kinds of radical and extremist expressions, including anti-Semitism and xenophobia are inappropriate for Latvia
• European Jewish Congress will hold its next meeting in Riga in December
• FHRUL has asked the Minister of Regional Development and Local Government why in majority of municipalities non-citizens cannot be elected into local committees and working groups
• The least number of applications for asylum among the EU countries was submitted in Estonia and Latvia

The Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis supports introduction of quotas for guest workers moving to Latvia. The Prime Minister considers that quotas could be set for representatives of certain professions which are most acutely required by Latvian labour market.

The Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis supports introduction of quotas for guest workers moving to Latvia. The Prime Minister considers that quotas could be set for representatives of certain professions which are most acutely required by Latvian labour market. Chas, Telegraf

In a reply to a statement of the President of Russia Valdimir Putin that Latvian authorities tolerate glorification of the Nazis, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that all kinds of radical and extremist expressions, including anti-Semitism and xenophobia are inappropriate for Latvia.

In a reply to a statement of the President of Russia Valdimir Putin that Latvian authorities tolerate glorification of the Nazis, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that all kinds of radical and extremist expressions, including anti-Semitism and xenophobia are inappropriate for Latvia. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

Chas reports that the Executive Committee of the European Jewish Congress will hold its next meeting in Riga in December 2007.

Yesterday, the Saeima’s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has sent a request to the Minister of Regional Development and Local Government Aigars Stokenbergs asking to explain why in majority of municipalities non-citizens cannot be elected into local committees and working groups alongside with deputies and to participate in public deliberations (local referendums). The FHRUL also asks the Minister to provide proposals how to solve this problem.

Yesterday, the Saeimas faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has sent a request to the Minister of Regional Development and Local Government Aigars Stokenbergs asking to explain why in majority of municipalities non-citizens cannot be elected into local committees and working groups alongside with deputies and to participate in public deliberations (local referendums). The FHRUL also asks the Minister to provide proposals how to solve this problem. Chas

According to Eurostat report, number of asylum seekers in the EU has decreased for past five years. The least number of applications for asylum was submitted in Estonia and Latvia.  20 persons have asked for asylum in Latvia in 2005 and only 10 persons in 2006.

According to Eurostat report, number of asylum seekers in the EU has decreased for past five years. The least number of applications for asylum was submitted in Estonia and Latvia. 20 persons have asked for asylum in Latvia in 2005 and only 10 persons in 2006. Diena

• MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka: Latvian non-citizens have to be granted voting rights in election of the European Parliament
• President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Latvian and Estonian authorities tolerate glorification of the Nazis

Chas prints an article on possible further distribution of the MEP seats intended to each of the EU member country. In an interview to the newspaper, the MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka has stated that, presently, number of seats for representatives of Latvia is distributed accordingly to total number of Latvian residents, therefore, Mrs. Zdanoka believes that it would be logical if Latvian non-citizens also would be granted voting rights in election of the European Parliament.

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin at a meeting with members of the Executive Committee of the European Jewish Congress stated that Latvian and Estonian authorities tolerate glorification of the Nazis. Particularly, Vladimir Putin criticized the fact that state institutions permit events on 16 March held for commemoration of Waffen SS unit - Latvian legion’ establishment.

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin at a meeting with members of the Executive Committee of the European Jewish Congress stated that Latvian and Estonian authorities tolerate glorification of the Nazis. Particularly, Vladimir Putin criticized the fact that state institutions permit events on 16 March held for commemoration of Waffen SS unit - Latvian legion establishment. Diena