• Security Police Chief on radical groups in Latvia

According to the Chief of the Security Police Janis Reiniks there are several extreme right-wing groupings in Latvia: the Latvian National Front, the open public foundation “Latvian”, and the National Power Unity. Janis Reiniks stated that the most extreme grouping is “Perkonkrusts” whose ideology is ethno-racial nationalism and their aim is to promote departure of non-Latvians from Latvia using the extreme methods.

According to the Chief of the Security Police Janis Reiniks there are several extreme right-wing groupings in Latvia: the Latvian National Front, the open public foundation Latvian, and the National Power Unity. Janis Reiniks stated that the most extreme grouping is Perkonkrusts whose ideology is ethno-racial nationalism and their aim is to promote departure of non-Latvians from Latvia using the extreme methods. Telegraf

• Five young people detained for racially motivated verbal attacks towards a dark skinned citizen of Canada in Riga
• Yesterday 649 persons were granted Latvian citizenship
• Vesti Segodnya features an interview with Boriss Cilevcs on ethnic conflicts in various EU countries

On Tuesday, five young people were detained for making racially insulting statements towards a dark skinned citizen of Canada in the centre of Riga. The Canadian man stated that that day he was walking in the Centre of Riga with his girlfriend and was exposed to insulting verbal comments based on the colour of his skin several times. At the beginning he did not respond, but when he felt that assaulters became more and more aggressive, he called the police. The police arrived immediately and detained a group of young people. The victim claimed that the police did not want to initiate a case for instigation to racial hatred, however, after all the five detained are charged with violation of ethnic and racial equality.

On Tuesday, five young people were detained for making racially insulting statements towards a dark skinned citizen of Canada in the centre of Riga. The Canadian man stated that that day he was walking in the Centre of Riga with his girlfriend and was exposed to insulting verbal comments based on the colour of his skin several times. At the beginning he did not respond, but when he felt that assaulters became more and more aggressive, he called the police. The police arrived immediately and detained a group of young people. The victim claimed that the police did not want to initiate a case for instigation to racial hatred, however, after all the five detained are charged with violation of ethnic and racial equality. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena, Rigas Balss

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation to 649 persons, including 38 minors. 71% of new citizens are Russians, 10%- Ukrainians, 9% -Belorussians. Overall 115, 201 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship since the procedure was launched in 1995.

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation to 649 persons, including 38 minors. 71% of new citizens are Russians, 10%- Ukrainians, 9% -Belorussians. Overall 115, 201 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship since the procedure was launched in 1995. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the MP and the Chairperson of the PACEs (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) Sub-Committee on Rights of Minorities Boriss Cilevcs on ethnic conflicts in various EU countries. Mr. Cilevics believed that Latvia was able to avoid outrageous ethnic conflicts because people in Latvia understand that violence is the worst way of solving conflicts. Boriss Cilevics also believed that naturalisation procedure is a rational act through which Latvia sooner or later will become an average multinational state.

• Telegraf prints an article on possible impact of choices made by recently naturalised citizens on the results of the up-coming Saeima elections
• Anonymous persons have spread anti-political leaflets in Russian against The Concord Centre

Telegraf prints an article on possible impact of choices of recently naturalised citizens on the results of the up-coming Saeima elections. According to the newspaper about 100,000 residents of Latvia have been granted citizenship through naturalisation since 1998. Sociologist Arnis Kaktins states that new citizens are potential voters for left-wing parties which in Latvia are considered Russian-oriented. He also adds that thousands of Latvians or potential voters for right-wing parties have immigrated to more developed EU countries and that may lead to a situation when left-wing parties receive greater proportion of votes. Political scientist Ilze Ostrovska agrees that left-wing parties can receive more votes than expected because new citizens have more motivation to participate in the elections.

Latvijas Avize reports that in Liepaja (town in the Western part of Latvia) anonymous persons claiming to represent Anti-fascistic Union have spread anti-political leaflets in Russian against the political party The Concord Centre. According to the leaflets one of the candidates of the party has cooperated with the leader of the extreme organisation Latvian National Front Aivars Garda in the past.

• Vesti Segodnya features an article about the national Roma integration program
• Representative of the Russian President: Latvia and Estonia could improve relations with Russia by elimination of the non-citizen status

Vesti Segodnya features an article about the draft national Roma integration program Roma in Latvia elaborated for three year period – 2007-2009. According to the newspaper the draft program will need funding in the amount of LVL 344,420 (EUR 488,642). The program is planned to be adopted by the Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers today.

The representative of the Russian President Dmitriy Peskov in an interview with

The representative of the Russian President Dmitriy Peskov in an interview with Chas stated that if Latvia and Estonia eliminates the status of ‘non-citizen it would improve their relations with Russia.

• Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis: the national policy concerning the influx of guest workers in Latvia will not be changed
• Diena: growing intolerance is one of the indicatives that Latvia began to move on from liberal to conservative society

The Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis in an interview with

The Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis in an interview with Diena stated that the national policy concerning guest workers in Latvia will not be changed. Aigars Kalvitis argued that instead of attraction foreign labour force, efficiency and capacities of local labour force by implementing new technologies should be increased. He stated: if Latvia accepts the arrival of cheap foreign labour force there will be no reason to raise wages locals and that will continue in immigration of Latvian labour force to more developed EU countries.

The columnist of

The columnist of Diena writes that growing intolerance towards others is one of the indicators proving that Latvia start to move from a liberal to a more conservative society for past four years. The director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands-Kehre in an interview with the newspaper stated that tolerance issues are mentioned very little in the pre-election programs of political parties: parties avoid bearing responsibility for prevention of violence and promotion of tolerance.