• MP Juris Dobelis: statement Occupant, shut up your mouth! was addressed to all occupants

The MP Juris Dobelis in an interview with

The MP Juris Dobelis in an interview with Latvijas Avize explains the circumstances of his statement Occupant, shut up your mouth! made from the Saeimas tribune. According to Mr.Dobelis, he was going to express his view about proposed amendments to Animal Protection Law, when he heard the word occupation and this induced him to make his statement. After the Saeimas speaker warned him, Mr.Dobelis decided to strengthen the values and therefore shouted Death to occupants! In the interview Mr.Dobelis informs that the statement was addressed to all occupants and the person who got offended by the statement probably admits that he is occupant. Today, the Saeimas Committee on Mandates, Submissions and Ethics will review the case against Mr. Dobelis after a complaint of the MP Aleksandrs Golubovs (Concord Centre) who considers that the statements Occupant, shut up your mouth! and Death to occupants! were addressed personally towards him.

• Ombudsmans Office will not be closed
• UKs Foreign Secretary David Milliband criticized British conservative politicians for their co-operation with Latvian party which supports Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires

Diena reports that the government decided not to liquidate the Ombudsmans Office. As reported, the government discussed the possibility to close to the Ombudsmans Office due to economic crisis in the country. The government decided to cut the present budget of the Office (LVL 1,000,000 or EUR 1,422,871) per year by LVL 200,000 (EUR 284,574).

Newspapers report that the UK’s Foreign Secretary David Milliband criticized some British conservative politicians for their co-operation with Latvian political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM because the latter supports Latvian

Newspapers report that the UKs Foreign Secretary David Milliband criticized some British conservative politicians for their co-operation with Latvian political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM because the latter supports Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. In response, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that such statements are inappropriate for Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

• Saeimas Committee on Mandates, Submissions and Ethics initiated a case on violation of deputys ethics by the MP Juris Dobelis
• Picket against violation of human rights in Latvia for the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek
• Minister of Justice Mareks Seglins replied to an appeal of the Russian speaking oppositions parties for explanation why naturalisation rate is so low in Latvia

The Saeima’s Committee on Mandates, Submissions and Ethics initiated a case on violation of deputy’s ethics by the MP Juris Dobelis (FF/LNIM). The case is initiated after a complaint of the MP Aleksandrs Golubovs (Concord Centre). As reported, Juris Dobelis targeted personally Aleksandrs Golubovs when making his insulting statements from the Saeima’s tribune such as “Occupant, shut up your mouth!” and “Death to occupants!” The Committee will review the incident during its next session.

The Saeimas Committee on Mandates, Submissions and Ethics initiated a case on violation of deputys ethics by the MP Juris Dobelis (FF/LNIM). The case is initiated after a complaint of the MP Aleksandrs Golubovs (Concord Centre). As reported, Juris Dobelis targeted personally Aleksandrs Golubovs when making his insulting statements from the Saeimas tribune such as Occupant, shut up your mouth! and Death to occupants! The Committee will review the incident during its next session. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Yesterday, during the visit of the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek to Latvia, the party For Human Rights in United Latvia held a picket near the Saeima’s building with an aim to point the EP’s President at problems with human rights in the country. Organisers of the picket also sent a letter to Mr. Buzek which points at large number of non-citizens in Latvia, slow speed of naturalisation, refusal to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections and other problems.

Yesterday, during the visit of the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek to Latvia, the party For Human Rights in United Latvia held a picket near the Saeimas building with an aim to point the EPs President at problems with human rights in the country. Organisers of the picket also sent a letter to Mr. Buzek which points at large number of non-citizens in Latvia, slow speed of naturalisation, refusal to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections and other problems. Chas

The Minister of Justice Mareks Seglins replied to an appeal of the Russian speaking opposition’s parties for explanation why naturalisation rate is so low in Latvia. According to Mr. Seglins, lowering of naturalisation rate is caused by drop of patriotism due to economic and political situation in the country; by discussions on possibility of double citizenship in Latvia; and discussions on granting voting rights to non-citizens in municipal elections. At the same time, the Minister states that decrease of number of persons without citizenship and number of non-citizens is among the Latvia’s aims.

The Minister of Justice Mareks Seglins replied to an appeal of the Russian speaking oppositions parties for explanation why naturalisation rate is so low in Latvia. According to Mr. Seglins, lowering of naturalisation rate is caused by drop of patriotism due to economic and political situation in the country; by discussions on possibility of double citizenship in Latvia; and discussions on granting voting rights to non-citizens in municipal elections. At the same time, the Minister states that decrease of number of persons without citizenship and number of non-citizens is among the Latvias aims. Vesti Segodnya

• Central Statistical Bureau will try to include questions on ethnic belonging and native language in the next census
• For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM offered cooperation memorandum to the radical nationalist party All for Latvia!
• Government appointed new head of the State Language Centre

Representatives of the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) at the meeting with the Saeima’s faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM stated the CSB will try to include questions on ethnic belonging and native language in the next census. Due to cut of funding for the census, the CSB prepared two variations of the census questionnaires. The short and the cheapest version includes only questions set obligatory by the EU regulations and it excludes questions on ethnicity and language. The next census in Latvia will be held in 2011.

Representatives of the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) at the meeting with the Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM stated the CSB will try to include questions on ethnic belonging and native language in the next census. Due to cut of funding for the census, the CSB prepared two variations of the census questionnaires. The short and the cheapest version includes only questions set obligatory by the EU regulations and it excludes questions on ethnicity and language. The next census in Latvia will be held in 2011. Latvijas Avize

Diena reports that the right wing party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM offered cooperation memorandum to the radical nationalist party All for Latvia! The leader of All for Latvia! Raivis Dzintars believes that principles of cooperation offered by For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM are aimed at strengthening Latvia as a nation state and therefore are appropriate for the party All for Latvia!. Raivis Dzintars considers that the number of cooperation partners should be wider and include the New Era, the Civic Union and the Society for Different Politics.

The Government appointed Maris Baltins (ex-head of the Translation and Terminology Centre) as the new head of the State Language Centre. Mr.Baltins considers that control on usage of state language should be continued despite shortage of state funding.

The Government appointed Maris Baltins (ex-head of the Translation and Terminology Centre) as the new head of the State Language Centre. Mr.Baltins considers that control on usage of state language should be continued despite shortage of state funding. Latvijas Avize

• Constitutional Court initiated proceedings on compliance of the transitional provisions of the Citizenship Law on double citizenship with the Latvian Constitution
• MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere criticizes usage of Russian language in Latvia
• National radical calls on ethnic Latvians to use physical force against occupants, Zionists-speculators and other enemies

The Constitutional Court initiated proceedings on compliance of the transitional provisions of the Citizenship Law on double citizenship with the Latvian Constitution and the Declaration on the Restoration of Latvia’s Independence. The proceedings were initiated following a claim of the Senate of the Supreme Court of Latvia requesting abolition of time limitation for registration of Latvian citizenship of descendants of Latvian citizens living abroad and willing to keep double citizenship. The Constitutional Court asked the Saeima to present facts and legal arguments about the case. Number of the MPs interviewed by

The Constitutional Court initiated proceedings on compliance of the transitional provisions of the Citizenship Law on double citizenship with the Latvian Constitution and the Declaration on the Restoration of Latvias Independence. The proceedings were initiated following a claim of the Senate of the Supreme Court of Latvia requesting abolition of time limitation for registration of Latvian citizenship of descendants of Latvian citizens living abroad and willing to keep double citizenship. The Constitutional Court asked the Saeima to present facts and legal arguments about the case. Number of the MPs interviewed by Latvijas Avize believes that the double citizenship for Latvians living abroad and their descendants is now permissible because it would strengthen their ties with Latvia. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an article by the MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere (European People's Party). Mrs. Vaidere criticizes state officials for usage of Russian language in communication with Russian-speaking mass-media and widespread usage of Russian in communication in private sphere. Mrs. Vaidere also criticises proposal of the opposition party For Human Rights in United Latvia to allow Russian as a language of instruction in re-training of unemployed as well as the call of NGOs to re-consider recent expansion of the list of professions and occupations which require language proficiency.

Leader of unregistered movement “Active Nationalists of Ventspils”, in an article published in the radical newspaper

Leader of unregistered movement Active Nationalists of Ventspils, in an article published in the radical newspaper DDD declares Latvia – for ethnic Latvians and calls all Latvian nationalists to unite in order to fight using physical force against colonists, occupants, Zionists-speculators and other enemies of ethnic Latvians. The latest issue of DDD also features articles titled Zionist insolence, No pensions to occupants and colonists! Vesti Segodnya