• Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks: rights of ethnic minorities in Latvia are not violated
• President of the PACE René van der Linden is arriving to Latvia today
• Federation Council of Russia has ratified the border agreement with Latvia
• State Border Guards have detained six citizens of Bangladesh in Riga
• Latvijas Avize reports that a woman who is charged with hate speech has voluntarily withdrawn from the company she worked for due to the pressure from the press

In an interview with the National Radio, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks has stated that the rights of ethnic minorities in Latvia are not violated.

In an interview with the National Radio, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks has stated that the rights of ethnic minorities in Latvia are not violated. The Minister also believes that Latvian naturalisation requirements are relatively easy to comply with. Artis Pabriks has stated that in the near future, Latvia will have to determine guest workers quotas for those spheres of economy that experience the greatest shortage of labour. Artis Pabriks believes that Latvia will have to import guest workers, because otherwise the labour force shortages may halt its economic development. Vesti Segodnya

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) René van der Linden is arriving to Latvia today with an official visit. In the framework of the visit, Mr. van der Linden is planning to meet with various state officials and representatives of minority NGOs.

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) René van der Linden is arriving to Latvia today with an official visit. In the framework of the visit, Mr. van der Linden is planning to meet with various state officials and representatives of minority NGOs. Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the Federation Council of Russia has ratified the border agreement with Latvia. As reported, Latvia has ratified the agreement in May. Further the agreement has to be signed by the President of Russia.

Yesterday, the Federation Council of Russia has ratified the border agreement with Latvia. As reported, Latvia has ratified the agreement in May. Further the agreement has to be signed by the President of Russia. Chas, Diena

Vesti Segodnya reports on six citizens of Bangladesh, who arrived to Latvia on 16 September with an aim to join the crew of Bangladeshi ship on 18 September and were granted Latvian visas. On 17 September they disappeared from the hotel in Ventspils (city in the western part of Latvia) where they were supposed to stay while waiting for the ship. .Yesterday, all six Bangladeshis were detained by the State Border Guards in Riga and placed to the Olaine Camp for illegal immigrants.

Latvijas Avize reports that a woman who is charged with hate speech has voluntary withdrawn from the company she worked for due to the pressure from the press, which has nationwide announced her name, surname and name of the employer company. As reported, the Prosecutors Office has forwarded to the Riga Regional Court a criminal case against 23-year-old woman who has placed insulting statement towards Latvia, ethnic Latvians and Latvian WWII legionnaires on an internet forum.

• Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens on integration in Latvia

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens on integration in Latvia. The Minister believes that granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections would ensure their involvement in political process and in such way would promote integration. However, Mr. Kastens believes that if non-citizens are granted voting right they may lose one of the incentives for naturalisation. The Minister also believes that cancelling naturalisation fees for older people and introduction of other additional benefits could encourage naturalisation. Oskars Kastens considers that Russian language political parties represented in Latvian parliament are contributing to stability and preventing ethnic tensions and radicalisation in the country, because Russian speakers perceive these parties as an opportunity to influence processes in country and to present their position before the state authorities.

• President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe René van der Linden is to make an official visit to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia
• Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Latvia Richard Moon: rights of any minorities in Latvia must be observed
• State Border Guards have drawn up administrative violation protocols for illegal employment of six citizens of Thailand

Chas reports that the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) René van der Linden is to make an official visit to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia from 18 to 24 September. Within the framework of the visit, Mr. van der Linden is planning to discuss broader role of the Council of Europe in promotion of common human rights values and democracy, as well as discuss the problem of new dividing lines in Europe, and problems concerning ethnic minorities.

Telegraf features an interview with the new Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Latvia Richard Moon. Mr. Moon has stated that rights of any minorities in Latvia must be observed. The Ambassador also has stated that the U.K. has a lot of experience in tackling all kinds of discrimination and the U.K. is helping Latvia in this field.

The State Border Guards have drawn up administrative violation protocols against a company employing six citizens of Thailand without Latvian working permits.

The State Border Guards have drawn up administrative violation protocols against a company employing six citizens of Thailand without Latvian working permits. Latvijas Avize

• We are Going Your Way is planning to hold an action Return our names with an aim to draw attention to the problem of Latvianisation of non-Latvian names
• Chas reports that Russian language classes in Aluksne are being closed due to the lack of number of pupils
• Telegraf reports on creation of a new internet project Evrokatalog.eu which aims to generalize information about all spheres of life of Russian speaking Europeans

An NGO “We are Going Your Way” is planning to hold an action “Return our names” with an aim to draw attention of society to the problem of Latvianisation of non-Latvian names in official documents issued in Latvia. Members of the NGO are planning to change their old passports for new ones, where English transcription of a name can be written in a separate page. Within the framework of the action, organisers will also  inform people about on how to restore correct spelling of a name.

An NGO We are Going Your Way is planning to hold an action Return our names with an aim to draw attention of society to the problem of Latvianisation of non-Latvian names in official documents issued in Latvia. Members of the NGO are planning to change their old passports for new ones, where English transcription of a name can be written in a separate page. Within the framework of the action, organisers will also inform people about on how to restore correct spelling of a name. Chas

Chas reports that Russian language classes in Aluksne (town in the Northern part of Latvia) are being closed due to the lack of sufficient number of pupils. In an interview with the newspaper, a woman - mother of two children complaints that because of this situation her children must study in classes with Latvian as the main language of instructions.

Telegraf reports on a new internet project Evrokatalog.eu which aims to generalize information about all spheres of life of Russian speaking Europeans. According to author of the project, Russian NGOs from Latvia are not keen to take part in the project because Russian speaking residents of Latvia already have access to information and services in Russian in the country.

• Social anthropologist Roberts Kilis: lack of Roma representatives in the public sphere is one of the main causes of their discrimination

In an interview with

In an interview with NRA, social anthropologist Roberts Kilis has stated that public awareness raising campaigns, which are aimed at combating negative stereotypes about Roma people, in itself are not enough to overcome the discrimination of Roma. Mr. Kilis believes that lack of Roma representatives in the public sphere is one of the main causes of their discrimination.