• Ombudsman Romans Apsitis: some restrictions on non-citizens are not justified
• 423 representatives of various professions were fined for violation of the State Language Law during 9 months of 2008
• State Border Guard Service has detained three organised groups suspected of helping foreign citizens to cross Latvian border illegally

The Ombudsman Romans Apsitis presented his opinion on differences between rights of citizens and non-citizens prepared following an appeal of the Saeima’s faction for Human Rights in United Latvia. The Ombudsman found that some restrictions on non-citizens are not justified, such as the ban for non-citizens to work as detectives, defence councils and patent attorneys and to be engaged in security work. The Ombudsman considers that state language examination for non-citizens applying for the status of the EU permanent resident should be cancelled. Restrictions on purchasing real estate by non-citizens also should be repealed because non-citizens have much closer ties with Latvia than the EU citizens who are not restricted in this field. However, Mr. Apsitis considers it legitimate that non-citizens do not have voting rights in municipal elections because otherwise they would lose motivation for naturalisation.

The Ombudsman Romans Apsitis presented his opinion on differences between rights of citizens and non-citizens prepared following an appeal of the Saeimas faction for Human Rights in United Latvia. The Ombudsman found that some restrictions on non-citizens are not justified, such as the ban for non-citizens to work as detectives, defence councils and patent attorneys and to be engaged in security work. The Ombudsman considers that state language examination for non-citizens applying for the status of the EU permanent resident should be cancelled. Restrictions on purchasing real estate by non-citizens also should be repealed because non-citizens have much closer ties with Latvia than the EU citizens who are not restricted in this field. However, Mr. Apsitis considers it legitimate that non-citizens do not have voting rights in municipal elections because otherwise they would lose motivation for naturalisation. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena

423 representatives of various professions were fined for violation of the State Language Law during 9 months of 2008. Salespersons, bus drives, conductors, teachers, managers and school directors were fined during September.

423 representatives of various professions were fined for violation of the State Language Law during 9 months of 2008. Salespersons, bus drives, conductors, teachers, managers and school directors were fined during September. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

In September, the State Border Guard Service has detained three organised groups suspected of helping foreign citizens to cross Latvian border illegally. These groups were transferring citizens of China and Arab countries. According to a representative of the State Border Guard Service, the majority of illegals use Latvia only as an entrance into Europe, while their final destination most often is Spain or Germany.

In September, the State Border Guard Service has detained three organised groups suspected of helping foreign citizens to cross Latvian border illegally. These groups were transferring citizens of China and Arab countries. According to a representative of the State Border Guard Service, the majority of illegals use Latvia only as an entrance into Europe, while their final destination most often is Spain or Germany. Telegraf

• Saeimas Education, Science and Culture Committee supported draft amendments forbidding teaching in foreign languages in state funded higher education establishments
• Draft project of state budget provides funding for the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration for 2009

Newspapers report that the Saeima’s Education, Science and Culture Committee supported draft amendments to the Law on Higher Education Establishments forbidding teaching in foreign languages except the official EU languages in state funded higher education establishments.  The ban applies also on those private higher education establishments which partly receive state funding. Head of the Baltic International Academy considers that such regulations should not be applicable to all students studying in a private higher education establishment which is party funded by the state, but only to those students who study on specific programs funded by the state.

Newspapers report that the Saeimas Education, Science and Culture Committee supported draft amendments to the Law on Higher Education Establishments forbidding teaching in foreign languages except the official EU languages in state funded higher education establishments. The ban applies also on those private higher education establishments which partly receive state funding. Head of the Baltic International Academy considers that such regulations should not be applicable to all students studying in a private higher education establishment which is party funded by the state, but only to those students who study on specific programs funded by the state. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports that according to the draft project of state budget for 2009 accepted by the Cabinet of Ministers yesterday, the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration is granted LVL 4,6 millions (EUR 6.5 millions). Funding for the Secretariat is planned also for 2010 and 2011. However, the Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis states that plans to liquidate the Secretariat are not canceled and its funding will be excluded from the budget project during its revision in the Saeima.

• Senate of the Supreme Court has upheld ruling of appeal court acquitting the leader of the extreme right-wing organisation Latvian National Front Aivars Garda and the organisations members
• Riga Regional Court sentenced activist of Latvian National Bolsheviks Vladimir Linderman to one year of suspended imprisonment

The Senate of the Supreme Court has upheld ruling of appeal court acquitting the leader of the extreme right-wing organisation Latvian National Front Aivars Garda and the organisation’s members Liga Muzikante and Ilze Liepa. As reported, the national radicals were charged for statements inciting to ethnic hatred in several articles published in their national radical newspaper

The Senate of the Supreme Court has upheld ruling of appeal court acquitting the leader of the extreme right-wing organisation Latvian National Front Aivars Garda and the organisations members Liga Muzikante and Ilze Liepa. As reported, the national radicals were charged for statements inciting to ethnic hatred in several articles published in their national radical newspaper DDD in 2004 and 2005. Chas, Telegraf

The Riga Regional Court repealed the acquitting ruling in the case of the activist of Latvian National Bolsheviks Vladimir Linderman and sentenced him to one year of suspended imprisonment for illegal keeping of explosives at home. As reported, at first, Vladimir Linderman was accused of calls to over through the Latvian government by force and plotting an attempt on life of the ex-President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in 2002. Vladimir Linderman considers that the case against him was politically fabricated.

The Riga Regional Court repealed the acquitting ruling in the case of the activist of Latvian National Bolsheviks Vladimir Linderman and sentenced him to one year of suspended imprisonment for illegal keeping of explosives at home. As reported, at first, Vladimir Linderman was accused of calls to over through the Latvian government by force and plotting an attempt on life of the ex-President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in 2002. Vladimir Linderman considers that the case against him was politically fabricated. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena, NRA

• FHRUL appealed to the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers asking not to proclaim the draft law on municipal elections which does not grant non-citizens voting rights
• Leaders of nationalistic political party All for Latvia! have established an NGO Protect Language
• Vesti Segodnya prints an article with the head of the biggest Russian NGO in Latvia Russian Community in Liepaja Valerijs Kravcovs
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about ethnic minority schools in Latvia

The Saeima’s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has appealed to the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers asking not to proclaim the draft law on municipal elections which does not grant non-citizens voting rights. FHRUL considers that non-citizens should be granted voting rights in municipal as well as in the European Parliament ‘s elections because they are honest tax-payers.

The Saeimas faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has appealed to the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers asking not to proclaim the draft law on municipal elections which does not grant non-citizens voting rights. FHRUL considers that non-citizens should be granted voting rights in municipal as well as in the European Parliament ‘s elections because they are honest tax-payers. Chas

Leaders of nationalistic political party “All for Latvia!” have established an NGO “Protect Language”. The NGO will perform activities aimed at closure of non-Latvian language schools in Latvia and patriotic education of young people.

Leaders of nationalistic political party All for Latvia! have established an NGO Protect Language. The NGO will perform activities aimed at closure of non-Latvian language schools in Latvia and patriotic education of young people. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya prints an article with the head of the biggest Russian NGO in Latvia Russian Community in Liepaja (RCL) Valerijs Kravcovs on its work and activities. Mr. Kravcovs believes that success of the RCL is in its financial self-sufficiency and independence from all political parties. Mr. Kravcovs also considers that while there are active state language inspections it is worth to implement positive actions in support of enterprises friendly to Russian language.

Latvijas Avize prints an article about ethnic minority schools in Latvia. According to the article many ethnic Latvian parents choose to send their children to minority schools considering that those schools offer better education provisions and higher education quality as compared with Latvian language schools. 12,42% of ethnic Latvians have graduated from ethnic minority schools in study year 2006/2007. In total, there are 146 ethnic minority schools and 89 schools with Latvian and minority language of instructions in Latvia, including 146 Russian language schools, five Polish and two Jewish schools.

• Several ethnic Georgians citizens of Russia ask for asylum in Latvia

The State Border Guard Service has received applications for asylum in Latvia from several ethnic Georgians citizens of Russia. The persons assert that they are persecuted in Russia on grounds of their ethnicity, therefore, they and their families are asking for asylum in Latvia.

The State Border Guard Service has received applications for asylum in Latvia from several ethnic Georgians citizens of Russia. The persons assert that they are persecuted in Russia on grounds of their ethnicity, therefore, they and their families are asking for asylum in Latvia. Latvijas Avize