• 23 % of the residents of Latvia claim to have experienced unfair attitude
• Research Obstacles in Integration of Society: Reasons and New Perspectives
• LNHRO was imposed a pecuniary penalty for placing booklets in Russian and English on information board
• Latvijas Avize prints an article on the influx of guest workers to Latvia

According to a study held by the Latvian National Human Rights Office, 23 % of the residents of Latvia claim that they have experienced unfair attitude. The most common ground in the basis of unfair attitude is respondent’s ethnicity – 11%, age – 8 %, state of health – 7%.

According to a study held by the Latvian National Human Rights Office, 23 % of the residents of Latvia claim that they have experienced unfair attitude. The most common ground in the basis of unfair attitude is respondents ethnicity – 11%, age – 8 %, state of health – 7%. Diena

More about the study in Latvian:

More about the study in Latvian: http://www.vcb.lv/default.php?open=jaunumi&this=290906.253

The Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration has presented a research “Obstacles in Integration of Society: Reasons and New Perspectives” held by the Philosophy and Sociology Institute at the University of Latvia. Authors of the research conclude that ethnic differences are not main obstacles in integration of society. According to the research there are three main obstacles that hinder integration in Latvia: increasing social inequality; different interpretation of important historic events concerning Latvia; and low state authority level.

The Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration has presented a research Obstacles in Integration of Society: Reasons and New Perspectives held by the Philosophy and Sociology Institute at the University of Latvia. Authors of the research conclude that ethnic differences are not main obstacles in integration of society. According to the research there are three main obstacles that hinder integration in Latvia: increasing social inequality; different interpretation of important historic events concerning Latvia; and low state authority level. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

NRA reports that the Latvian National Human Rights Office (LNHRO) was imposed a pecuniary penalty for placing booklets in Russian and English on its information board. However, the LNHRO considers that the Office, the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration and organisations providing social services must have legal rights to distribute public information not only in the state language but also in other languages. The LNHRO will appeal the decision of the State Language Centre to the Constitutional Court.

Latvijas Avize prints an article on the influx of undocumented guest workers to Latvia. The State Boarder Guard have drawn up administrative violation reports for illegal employment to 85 foreigners within first six months of 2006. The majority of illegal workers are citizens of Bulgaria (59), Russia (7), Israel (4), Belarus (2), and Ukraine (2).

• Chas prints opinions of several MPs about the role of the Russian-language press in todays Latvian society
• Vesti Segodnya and Telegraf print articles about activities of the LASHOR
• NRA: Latvian-oriented parties are afraid to address Russian-speaking electorate
• Chas features an interview with the members of FHRUL on issues concerning ethnic policy in Latvia
• Saeima has declined the proposals of the political party FF/ LNIM and FHRUL

Chas prints opinions of several MPs about the role of the Russian-language press in todays Latvian society. Indulis Emsis (Union of Greens and Farmers) believes that the coverage of national events is not sufficient in the Russian press and argues that it is influenced by Russias policy. Boriss Cilevics (Concord Centre) notes that the Russian press plays a crucial role in uniting the Russian speaking community in Latvia. Maris Gulbis (New Democrats) believes that the Russian press writes about the issues that Russians want to read.

Vesti Segodnya and Telegraf print articles about activities of the Latvian Association for Support of Russian Language Schools (LASHOR in its Russian acronym) which celebrates its 10th anniversary. The head of the LASHOR Igors Pimenovs in an interview with Telegraf stated that the mission of the organisation has not changed: all children have to study in their native languages as it is not only educational issue, but also concerns ones identity and culture.

According to experts interviewed by the daily

According to experts interviewed by the daily NRA so-called Latvian-oriented parties do not address Russian-speaking electorate in their pre-election campaigns because these parties are afraid to receive criticism by Latvian-speaking electorate and competitive parties.

Chas features an interview with the members of the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) Tatyana Zdanoka and Elina Cujanova on issues concerning ethnic policy in Latvia. Tatyana Zdanoka criticizes the government for its policy towards Russian speaking residents and believes that the real aim of national integration policy is assimilation of Russian speakers. Elina Cujanova believed that the aim of the governing elite is to prevent participation of Russians in decision making at high governmental level.

Yesterday the Saeima declined the proposals of the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/ LNIM to close the Naturalisation Board; to stop granting citizenship to residents of Latvia who arrived to Latvia during the Soviet period and to promote voluntary departure of these persons from Latvia. The Saeima also declined the proposal of another party For Human Rights in United Latvia to abolish all reservations introduced to the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities.

Yesterday the Saeima declined the proposals of the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/ LNIM to close the Naturalisation Board; to stop granting citizenship to residents of Latvia who arrived to Latvia during the Soviet period and to promote voluntary departure of these persons from Latvia. The Saeima also declined the proposal of another party For Human Rights in United Latvia to abolish all reservations introduced to the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities. Chas, Latvijas Avize

• FHRUL proposes to abolish all reservations introduced to the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities
• Latvijas Vestnesis prints an interview with writer Marina Kostenecka on issues concerning the up-coming Saeima elections and ethnic integration
• LASHOR celebrates its 10th anniversary

Vesti Segodnya reports that today the Saeima will review a proposal of the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to abolish all the reservations to the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities adopted by Latvia.

Latvijas Vestnesis prints an interview with writer Marina Kostenecka on issues concerning the up-coming Saeima elections and ethnic integration. Marina Kostenecka believed that the majority of Russian speaking voters are going to vote for so-called Russian oriented parties as a protest against the nationalistic policy of governing parties towards Russian speaking residents of Latvia.

The Latvian Association for Support of Schools with the Russian Language of Instruction (LASHOR in its Russian acronym) celebrates its 10

The Latvian Association for Support of Schools with the Russian Language of Instruction (LASHOR in its Russian acronym) celebrates its 10th anniversary on 29 September. Chas

• Yesterday 668 persons were granted Latvian citizenship
• Vesti Segodnya claims that leader of the political party Fatherlands Union Martins Draudins has made insulting statements towards Jews

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation to 668 persons, including 36 minors. 68% of new citizens are Russians, 12%- Ukrainians, 10% -Belorussians. Overall 116, 529 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship since the procedure was launched in 1995.

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation to 668 persons, including 36 minors. 68% of new citizens are Russians, 12%- Ukrainians, 10% -Belorussians. Overall 116, 529 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship since the procedure was launched in 1995. Vesti Segodnya, NRA

Vesti Segodnya reports that the leader of the political party Fatherlands Union Martins Draudins in an interview with a nationalistic internet portal www.latvietis.com has made insulting statements towards Jews. Martins Draudins also argued that the Adolf Hitlers book Mein Kampf is a good book.

• FF/LNIM has submitted to the Saeima the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law and Repatriation and Emigration Law
• Chas features an interview with a coordinator of a researcher Practice and Perspectives of Integration Inese Supule
• Leader of the political party The Concord Centre Nils Usakovs: the Russian language strengthens its positions

The Saeima’s faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM has submitted to the Saeima the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law and to the Repatriation and Emigration Law. FF/LNIM proposes to close the Naturalisation Board; to stop granting citizenship to residents of Latvia who arrived to Latvia during the Soviet period and to promote voluntary departure of these persons from Latvia. The Saeima is planning to review the proposals on Thursday.

The Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM has submitted to the Saeima the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law and to the Repatriation and Emigration Law. FF/LNIM proposes to close the Naturalisation Board; to stop granting citizenship to residents of Latvia who arrived to Latvia during the Soviet period and to promote voluntary departure of these persons from Latvia. The Saeima is planning to review the proposals on Thursday. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Chas features an interview with a coordinator of a researcher Practice and Perspectives of Integration conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences Inese Supule on integration processes in Latvia. Ms. Supule stated that signs of a two-community society are observable on a political scene: Parties are divided according to ethnic line and accordingly they divide the electorate. Inese Supule also considered that the main integration principle for all residents of Latvia should be a common conception about safe future.

The leader of the political party “The Concord Centre” Nils Usakovs in an interview with

The leader of the political party The Concord Centre Nils Usakovs in an interview with Telegraf argues that the Russian language strengthens its positions in Latvia, because its usage in public information becomes more frequent.