• Lawyer of a former Red Partisan Vasilij Kononov is planning to call a press conference alleging that Latvia attempts to change verdicts of the Nurnberg tribunal

The lawyer of a former “Red Partisan” Vasilij Kononov sentenced by Latvia for war crimes is planning to call a press conference alleging that Latvia attempts to change verdicts of the Nurnberg tribunal and politicizes Kononov’s case in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). As reported, the ECHR judgment established that Latvia violated Article 7 (no punishment without law) of the European Convention on Human Rights and obliged to pay Kononov EUR 30,000 as compensation for moral damage. Latvia, in its turn, appealed the decision, while Lithuania expressed its will to participate as a third party in the appeal process and to present its own remarks concerning evaluation of legal and historical aspects of the Second World War for the Baltic States.

The lawyer of a former Red Partisan Vasilij Kononov sentenced by Latvia for war crimes is planning to call a press conference alleging that Latvia attempts to change verdicts of the Nurnberg tribunal and politicizes Kononovs case in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). As reported, the ECHR judgment established that Latvia violated Article 7 (no punishment without law) of the European Convention on Human Rights and obliged to pay Kononov EUR 30,000 as compensation for moral damage.Latvia, in its turn, appealed the decision, while Lithuania expressed its will to participate as a third party in the appeal process and to present its own remarks concerning evaluation of legal and historical aspects of the Second World War for the Baltic States. Telegraf

• Igors Pimenovs: government should pay special attention to ethnic minority schools while optimising school system in Latvia

Telegraf reports that the MPs held a meeting with representatives of various NGOs. The MP and representative of the Latvian Association for Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction (LAShOR) Igors Pimenovs considers that ethnic minorities are among vulnerable groups of residents, therefore, the government should pay special attention to ethnic minority schools while optimising school system. Mr. Pimenovs considers that national minorities are no longer able to express the demand for education in their language because parents are forced to send their children to Latvian language schools because they feel local authorities do no protect them. Representatives of LAShOR complained that no one cares whether those children, who are studying in a language other than their family language, are able to fulfill their need for self-expression and whether such self-expression is supported.

• Latvijas Avize: the Ombudsmans Office continues its usual work

According to

According to Latvijas Avize, the Ombudsmans Office continues its usual work despite the recent conflict between the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis and his employees. In the meantime, the Ombudsman is planning staff reductions and structural changes to institution.

• Academician Mihails Hazans: 30,000 residents will emigrate from Latvia during 2009

According to an academician Mihails Hazans who recently conducted a study “EU Labour Markets after Post-Enlargement Migration”, 4,400 of Latvian residents emigrated from Latvia to the Great Britain during the first quarter of 2009 and 2,500 of Latvian residents immigrated to Ireland during eight months of 2009. Mr. Hazans also predicts that in total, around 30,000 people might emigrate from Latvia during 2009 due to economic crisis.

According to an academician Mihails Hazans who recently conducted a study EU Labour Markets after Post-Enlargement Migration, 4,400 of Latvian residents emigrated from Latvia to the Great Britain during the first quarter of 2009 and 2,500 of Latvian residents immigrated to Ireland during eight months of 2009. Mr. Hazans also predicts that in total, around 30,000 people might emigrate from Latvia during 2009 due to economic crisis. Telegraf

• Saeima in the third reading stroke out Orthodox Christian and Old-Believers Christmas from the list of dates officially celebrated in Latvia
• Saeima conceptually supported the draft amendments which allow slaughter of animals in the form of a ritual cut
• Latvijas Avize prints an article on the new draft law on electronic media which cancels state language proportion for private TV channels

Yesterday, the Saeima in the third and the final reading supported a proposal of the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to strike out Orthodox Christian and Old-Believers Christmas (6 and 7 January) from the list of dates officially celebrated in Latvia. As reported, the Saeima supported inclusion of Orthodox Christmas in such list in previous two readings. Head of the faction Concord Centre Janis Urbanovics considers that exclusion of Orthodox and Old Believers Christmas is discrimination of representatives of these traditional and numerous confessions in Latvia because Catholic and Lutheran Christmas is officially celebrated. Mr. Urbanovics considers that the law on state holidays should either include celebrations of all traditional confessions or religious celebrations should not be included at all.

Yesterday, the Saeima in the third and the final reading supported a proposal of the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to strike out Orthodox Christian and Old-Believers Christmas (6 and 7 January) from the list of dates officially celebrated in Latvia. As reported, the Saeima supported inclusion of Orthodox Christmas in such list in previous two readings. Head of the faction Concord Centre Janis Urbanovics considers that exclusion of Orthodox and Old Believers Christmas is discrimination of representatives of these traditional and numerous confessions in Latvia because Catholic and Lutheran Christmas is officially celebrated. Mr. Urbanovics considers that the law on state holidays should either include celebrations of all traditional confessions or religious celebrations should not be included at all. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, NRA

Yesterday, the Saeima discussed and supported in the first reading the draft amendments to the Law on Protection of Animals which allow slaughter of animals in the form of a ritual cut. The draft amendments allow slaughter animals for consumption in the Halal method practiced in Islam and Judaism when animals are slaughtered without being knocked out senseless.

Yesterday, the Saeima discussed and supported in the first reading the draft amendments to the Law on Protection of Animals which allow slaughter of animals in the form of a ritual cut. The draft amendments allow slaughter animals for consumption in the Halal method practiced in Islam and Judaism when animals are slaughtered without being knocked out senseless. Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Latvijas Avize prints an article on the new draft law on electronic media which cancels state language proportion for private TV channels and stipulates that 30% of audio-visual content must be made in Latvia. The effective law stipulates that 40% of media content must be in Latvian language. Executive director of the Latvian Broadcasting Association Gunta Lidaka considers that usage of Latvian language by mass media should be regulated by the market, while, the state language and Latvian identity should be protected by consequent state policy. In the meantime, an MP Inna Druviete believes that Latvian language should dominate not only in public media but also in commercial media.