• Saeima returns the draft amendments to the Civil Law to the Cabinet of Ministers
• Sestdiena features a story of a mixed family and societys attitude towards them
• FF/LNIM plans to propose to stop naturalisation

The Saeima decided to return to the Cabinet of Ministers the draft amendments to the Civil Law, which would transpose requirements set by the EU Race Equality Directive. The main argument was that the list of the grounds of discrimination provided by the draft amendments is broader than the Race Directive requires it.  

The Saeima decided to return to the Cabinet of Ministers the draft amendments to the Civil Law, which would transpose requirements set by the EU Race Equality Directive. The main argument was that the list of the grounds of discrimination provided by the draft amendments is broader than the Race Directive requires it.

Dienas supplement Sestdiena features an article about attitudes of members of Latvian society towards people with dark colour of skin. The newspaper talks to a mixed family about their experiences. George, who has been in Latvia for 11 years, states that people in Latvia are becoming less and less tolerant towards people with different colour of skin. He is convinced that when their daughter starts to attend kindergarten there will be parents who would refuse their children to go to the same group. Although he personally has not experienced any physical threats, constant staring and occasional derogative statements in his and his family address is his daily life.

FF/LNIM plans to submit proposals to stop naturalisation or at least influence the current pace of naturalisation. Members of other parties are critical about the proposal. The representative of the New Era Karlis Sadurskis says that ‘the most important is the quality not numbers. Because of few non-loyal applicants, restrictions should not be introduced.’ Also the representative of the People’s Party Dzintars Abikis does not think that naturalisation should be stopped.

FF/LNIM plans to submit proposals to stop naturalisation or at least influence the current pace of naturalisation. Members of other parties are critical about the proposal. The representative of the New Era Karlis Sadurskis says that ‘the most important is the quality not numbers. Because of few non-loyal applicants, restrictions should not be introduced. Also the representative of the Peoples Party Dzintars Abikis does not think that naturalisation should be stopped. Latvijas Avize

• Latvia will develop a new law on the status of EU permanent citizen to transpose the EU Directive 2003/109/EC
• Relations between Russians and Latvians – what both parties should understand
• Vandalism in the Jewish cemetery in Liepaja

Telegraf reports that Latvia has started to work at the transposing of the EU Directive 2003/109/EC. A new law on the status of EU permanent citizen and amendments to the Law on Immigration will be elaborated in order to transpose the Directive. According to the EU Directive as of 2006 Latvian non-citizens will acquire a new status – permanent resident of the EU. The status will not be automatically granted, the applicant will have to submit a written application. While MEP Tatyana Zdanok states that anyway in the closest future Latvian non-citizens will have the same rights as Latvian citizens do, for instance, also non-citizens will be able to travel to the EU without visa.

Chas prints an article about the relations between Russians and Latvians. The author of the article provides two lists of expectations towards Russians and Latvians. The author of the article believes that Russians, first of all, should realise that Latvia is an independent state and that Latvians is a small nation that ‘is entitled to certain specific forms of protection. While Latvians should understand that Latvia has and will never be a country only for Latvians and that also non-Latvians are paying taxes and that entitles them to receive support for the preservation and maintenance of their culture, language and education.

Diena reports about vandalism in the Jewish cemetery in Liepaja. Perpetrators have not been identified yet.

• Interview with the Integration Minister
• Comments on the establishment of the working group to develop legal norms which would regulate the use of the state language in private universities

Vesti Segodnya interviews Ainars Latkovskis, Special Assignment Minister for Social Integration. The Minister argues that in comparison to the situations in the field of ethnic integration in other European countries, such as Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK, Latvia is doing rather well. However, he admits that lately there have been individual manifestations of racism in Latvia as well. The Minister explains that ‘for decades in Latvia there were only people who belong to the white race, the Christian world, who share the same values… when people from different cultures, representing different religions and skin colour started to came to Latvia and even settle down not all people were able to accept such changes. He believes that in this situation the state, first of all, should propagate tolerance, especially among young people, and, second, take strong measures against people who express their intolerance. Further the Minister reports that the Ministry has started to update the National Programme for Integration of Society and promises to invite representatives of Russian NGOs to take part in this process. However, he notes that the Ministry co-operates with ethnic NGOs and not with extreme organisations. He strongly believes that Latvia is not the two-community country. The Minister also stresses that the state is not interested in assimilation and will not force anybody to assimilate. He concludes that the top priority of the government and politicians is to solve social issues in Latvia.

Chas looks into the plans of the working group under the auspices of the Education Ministry, which announced about the development of the amendments that would regulate the use of the state languages at private universities. The newspaper talks to a number of representatives of private universities. They are concerned that such regulations would stop applications from international students who do not have any Latvian language skills. The representatives also note that there is a lack of literature in Latvian in some specific programmes. While the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Education states that there will be no hurry with the adoption of such norms and they will be discussed in detail.

• Security Police refuse to initiate a criminal case for calls to exterminate Jews
• The World Association of Newspapers and the World Editor Forum concerned at criminal prosecution and apparent intimidation campaign against the daily Chas
• Working group plans to develop amendments to the Law on Higher Education to regulate the use of Latvian in private Russian universities
• Conference ‘Russians of the European Union: Co-operation Experiences with Local Municipalities will be held in Estonia

After a year long investigation the Security Police refused to initiate a criminal case for calls to exterminate Jews published in the web page of ultra nationalists. The Security Police claim that the material does not have the corpus delicti. Criminal law expert Aleksandrs Judins, who asked the Security Police to investigate this case, believes that the refusal is not justified, as the material, which contains an open call to exterminate a group of people of certain ethnicity, is a criminal offence. However, he admits that Latvian legislation does not provide police with effective instruments to deal with racially motivated crimes. According to Latvian legislation criminal charges for incitement to ethnic hatred may be brought only if it can be proved that a person has had an intention to incite ethnic hatred. A number of criminal law and human rights experts have advised that in cases, when it is difficult to prove that the action was intentional, administrative charges should be used. Although the necessary amendments to the Criminal Law and Administrative Violation Code have been already developed, the Saeima is hindering with the adoption.

After a year long investigation the Security Police refused to initiate a criminal case for calls to exterminate Jews published in the web page of ultra nationalists. The Security Police claim that the material does not have the corpus delicti. Criminal law expert Aleksandrs Judins, who asked the Security Police to investigate this case, believes that the refusal is not justified, as the material, which contains an open call to exterminate a group of people of certain ethnicity, is a criminal offence. However, he admits that Latvian legislation does not provide police with effective instruments to deal with racially motivated crimes. According to Latvian legislation criminal charges for incitement to ethnic hatred may be brought only if it can be proved that a person has had an intention to incite ethnic hatred. A number of criminal law and human rights experts have advised that in cases, when it is difficult to prove that the action was intentional, administrative charges should be used. Although the necessary amendments to the Criminal Law and Administrative Violation Code have been already developed, the Saeima is hindering with the adoption. Diena

Diena reports that The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and the World Editor Forum (WEF) concerned at criminal prosecution and apparent intimidation campaign against the daily Chas printed in the Russian language in Latvia. The organisations sent a letter to the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis asking to examine whether criminal charges against the daily could be politically motivated. The Ministry of Justice on the behalf of the Latvian Government responded that there has been any political motivation and stated that the Security Police have acted in accordance with the effective legislation. As reported the Security Police brought a criminal action against Chas on the basis of the application of MP Aleksandrs Kirsteins who accused the newspaper in the incitement to ethnic hatred and violation of race quality in a number of newspapers articles.

The working group under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science will examine the use of the Latvian language at private universities, which provide studies in Russian. According to the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry currently about 6-10% of total amount of studies and examinations at these universities is conducted in Latvian. However, he believes that new legal norms, which would regulate the use of Latvian and set a specific proportion of languages to be used at Russian universities, should be adopted. The Head of the Integration Department of the Ministry Evija Papule does not support the idea.

The working group under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science will examine the use of the Latvian languageat private universities, which provide studies in Russian.According to the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry currently about 6-10% of total amount of studies and examinations at these universities is conductedin Latvian. However, he believes that new legal norms, which would regulate the use of Latvian and seta specific proportion oflanguages tobe used at Russian universities, should be adopted. The Head of the Integration Department of the Ministry Evija Papule does not support the idea. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The conference ‘Russians of the European Union: Co-operation Experiences with Local Municipalities’ will be held in Estonian cities Tallinn and Narva on 7-9 October.

The conference ‘Russians of the European Union: Co-operation Experiences with Local Municipalities will be held in Estonian cities Tallinn and Narva on 7-9 October. Latvijas Avize

• Ministry of Justice and the Naturalisation Board explain what is meant by the draft amendments on the inclusion of loyalty criteria in naturalisation procedure
• Leader of a Romani NGO about the situation of Roma in Latvia
• Court: Latvia had the right to deport Aleksandr Kazakov
• MEP from Hungary about the situation of Russians in Latvia
• 20 young people protest against the attitude of Latvia towards Russians
• Vesti Segodnya prints a report on the visit of young people to the European Parliament

The Ministry of Justice and the Naturalisation Board are concerned that the mass media too broadly interprets draft amendments to the Citizenship Law, which provide the inclusion of the loyalty criteria in naturalisation procedure recently accepted by the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers. Both institutions stress that acquisition of Latvian citizenship through naturalisation is already the test of applicant’s loyalty towards the state. The Interior Minister highlights that each case is unique and should be evaluated on individual basis.

The Ministry of Justice and the Naturalisation Board are concerned that the mass media too broadly interprets draft amendments to the Citizenship Law, which provide the inclusion of the loyalty criteria in naturalisation procedure recently accepted by the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers. Both institutions stress that acquisition of Latvian citizenship through naturalisation is already the test of applicants loyalty towards the state. The Interior Minister highlights that each case is unique and should be evaluated on individual basis. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya talks to a leader of one of the Romani NGOs Gloss Leons Gindra. He states that after Latvia regained independence the situation of Roma in Latvia has worsened. The main problems are unemployment and poverty. He argues that the state has not done anything to solve the situation of Roma. His organisation has drafted a development programme and its main goal is to improve the economic situation of Roma in Latvia.

Administrative District Court (Administratīvā rajona tiesa) ruled that the decision of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Affairs to deport Aleksandr Kazakov, activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools, was legitimate. Aleksandr Kazakov will apply with European Court of Human Rights.

Administrative District Court (Administratīvā rajona tiesa) ruled that the decision of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Affairs to deport Aleksandr Kazakov, activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools, was legitimate. Aleksandr Kazakov will apply with European Court of Human Rights. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Chas talks to the MEP from Hungary Csaba Tabajdi, who is also the chair of the Inter-group of the European Parliament on Traditional Minorities. He says that ‘we are carefully following the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia. We know that the country experiences big difficulties, in particular we are concerned about mass non-citizenship…we are trying to influence the Latvian Government and Parliament.

Latvijas Avize reports on a protest meeting in the centre of Riga held by the Avant-garde of the Red Youth. About 20 people reproached Latvia for being intolerant towards Russians with slogans such as ‘Occupation built houses for you! Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya prints a detailed report on the visit of young people from the Baltic countries to the European Parliament organised a week ago. The visit was organised by MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanok. The newspaper says that a number of influential MEPs talked to the delegation and supported their concerns about the rights of Russians in the Baltic States.