• 62% of Latvian residents do not support granting Russian the status of official language in Latvia

According to a public opinion survey conducted by “TNS Latvia” and TV channel LNT, 62% of Latvian residents do not support the proposal to grant Russian language the status of official language in Latvia. 35% of respondents support such initiative. One of the initiators of the collection of signatures in support of such initiative Vladimirs Lindermans believes that the opinion poll shows that Russian speakers as linguistic minority clearly display their will and the majority should take it into account.

According to a public opinion survey conducted by TNS Latvia and TV channel LNT, 62% of Latvian residents do not support the proposal to grant Russian language the status of official language in Latvia. 35% of respondents support such initiative. One of the initiators of the collection of signatures in support of such initiative Vladimirs Lindermans believes that the opinion poll shows that Russian speakers as linguistic minority clearly display their will and the majority should take it into account. Chas

• Presidents Commission of the Historians: part of Latvian residents should accept that they are descendants of occupants
• 190 new citizens of Latvia

According to the head of the President’s Commission of the Historians Inesis Feldmanis, a part of Latvian residents should accept that they are descendants of occupants. Mr Feldmanis believes that proposal of the Concord Centre to include in the governmental coalition’s declaration a point that there are no occupants in modern Latvia would mean that Latvia has accepted consequences of occupation.

According to the head of the Presidents Commission of the Historians Inesis Feldmanis, a part of Latvian residents should accept that they are descendants of occupants. Mr Feldmanis believes that proposal of the Concord Centre to include in the governmental coalitions declaration a point that there are no occupants in modern Latvia would mean that Latvia has accepted consequences of occupation. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, 190 persons who successfully went trough the naturalisation procedure were granted Latvian citizenship. 70% of new citizens are ethnic Russians, 8% Ukrainians and 8% Belorussians.

Yesterday, 190 persons who successfully went trough the naturalisation procedure were granted Latvian citizenship. 70% of new citizens are ethnic Russians, 8% Ukrainians and 8% Belorussians. Latvijas Avize

• Raivis Dzintars: Soviet-era arrivals to Latvia are illegal under 1949 Geneva Convention
• Janis Urbanovics: voters perceive the talk of some politicians about occupants and colonists as a witch hunt

In response to the Concord Centres (CC) request to clarify whether the radical nationalist union AFL!-FFF/LNIM agrees with the statement of its activist Janis Iesalnieks who declared that Latvian citizens who voted for the CC are colonists, who came here illegally and their votes should not be taken into consideration, the leader of the union Raivis Dzintars stated that according to 1949 Geneva Convention, the origin of persons who arrived to Latvia since 1940 Soviet occupation is illegal. In the meantime, the lawyer Aleksejs Dimitrovs believes that references to the Geneva Convention are invalid, because this document does not have retroactive effect. Vesti-segodnya

In an interview to Neatkariga, the chairperson of the Concord Centre (CC) parliamentary faction Janis Urbanovics has rejected the idea that CC depends on the influence of the Russian Federation and emphasised CCs dependence on its voters, including many Russian speakers as well as up to 30% ethnic Latvians. According to Mr.Urbanovics, part of CCs voters perceive the talk of some politicians about occupants and colonists as a witch hunt and it is a matter of principle for the CC to achieve recognition of the fact that there are no occupants in Latvia now.

• The new ruling coalition will most likely be formed by Zatlers Reforms Party and the Unity; negotiations for the third partner continue
• The Concord Centre asks the radical nationalists union how it is going to classify Latvian citizens as illegal colonists

Newspapers report about the ongoing negotiations for the formation of the new ruling coalition. The most likely new government will be formed by the Zatlers Reforms Party (22 seats) and the Unity (20 seats), which falls short of majority of the 100 seats at the Saeima (Latvian Parliament). Chas, Diena, Latvijas Avize, NRA, Vesti-Segodnya

The Concord Centre (CC) publicised its address to the radical nationalist union All for Latvia! - For Fatherland and Freedom / Latvian National Independence Movement (AFL!-FFF/LNIM), asking to clarify whether the AFL!-FFF/LNIM agrees with the statements of Mr. Iesalnieks. An activist of AFL!-FFF/LNIM Janis Iesalnieks repulsed the idea of inclusion of CC into the ruling coalition, declaring that the citizens who voted for the CC are colonists, who came here illegally and their votes should not be taken into consideration. The CC also asked the AFL!-FFF/LNIM how it is going to classify Latvian citizens as illegal colonists, whether it believes that one-third of people of the country are illegal colonists, as well as what actions are planned to deal with it. Chas, Vesti-Segodnya

• Provisional results of the Saeimas snap election: the Concord Centre gets 31 seats, Zatlers Reforms Party - 22, the Unity – 20, the nationalists union AL-FF/LNIM – 14 and the Union of Greens and Farmers – 13

Newspapers report about the provisional results of the Saeima’s snap election held on 17 September. The winner of the election is the Concord Centre (CC) and it gets 31 out of 100 seats at the Parliament. The Zatlers’ Reforms Party (ZRP) gets 22 seats, the Unity – 20, the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM  (AL-FF/LNIM) – 14 and the Union of Greens and Farmers – 13 seats. Presently, the parties conduct negotiations on establishment of the governing coalition. According to the newspaper, most likely the core of the coalition will be formed by the ZRP and the Unity and both parties will have to decide which party will be the third partner – so called “pro-Russian” party the CC or the nationalists’ union AL-FF/LNIM. Newspapers also report that most likely the Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte (the Unity) did not get the seat because many voters of the Unity have “stricken-off” her name from the candidates' list.

Newspapers report about the provisional results of the Saeimas snap election held on 17 September. The winner of the election is the Concord Centre (CC) and it gets 31 out of 100 seats at the Parliament. The Zatlers Reforms Party (ZRP) gets 22 seats, the Unity – 20, the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (AL-FF/LNIM) – 14 and the Union of Greens and Farmers – 13 seats. Presently, the parties conduct negotiations on establishment of the governing coalition. According to the newspaper, most likely the core of the coalition will be formed by the ZRP and the Unity and both parties will have to decide which party will be the third partner – so called pro-Russian party the CC or the nationalists union AL-FF/LNIM. Newspapers also report that most likely the Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte (the Unity) did not get the seat because many voters of the Unity have stricken-off her name from the candidates' list. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena, Neatkariga.