• Head of an NGO Prata Speks Igors Kuzmuks criticizes the draft integration program elaborated by the Ministry of Culture
• Diena prints an interview with the leader of the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM Raivis Dzintars
• Famous Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls: Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte speaks only about integration and does nothing for culture
• Security Police initiated a criminal proceeding for action intentionally aimed at incitement of ethnic and racial hatred and public call to destroy Latvias territorial unity

Vesti Segodnya interviews head of an NGO Prata Speks (which provides free-of-charge Latvian language courses for non-Latvians), deputy of the Riga City Council Igors Kuzmuks about the draft integration program elaborated by the Ministry of Culture. Mr Kuzmuks criticizes the program arguing that it separates the society in three major groups – ethnic Latvians, ethnic minorities who are Latvian citizens, and non-citizens who got named as long-term-immigrants. Mr Kuzmuks believes that such division by definition cannot consolidate the society. Mr Kuzmuks also notes that in the process of elaboration of the draft program none of the principle remarks made by corresponding experts got taken into consideration by the authors of the program.

Diena prints an interview with the leader of the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM Raivis Dzintars. According to Mr Dzintars, the consolidated society can be achieved by gradual transition of all society into one informative space. Mr. Dzintars believes that education system also should be gradually Latvianised arguing that bilingual education system is too expensive. Mr Dzintars positively evaluates that the draft integration program elaborated by the Ministry of Culture believing that it is prepared much better than previous programs and it has a good frame.

Famous Latvian composer, ex-MP Raimonds Pauls in an interview with

Famous Latvian composer, ex-MP Raimonds Pauls in an interview with Neatkariga criticizes the Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte. According to the composer, the Minister speaks only about integration of society and does nothing for culture in Latvia. Mr Pauls also believes that ethnic Latvians should refrain of pressuring Russia and ethnic Russians to acknowledge the occupation of Latvia by the USSR, arguing that many ethnic Latvians got engaged in the work of Cheka (Extraordinary Commission - Soviet security organisation after the revolution) in its crimes and they do not apologise for it.

The Security Police initiated a criminal proceeding for action intentionally aimed at incitement of ethnic and racial hatred or instigation of discord and public calls to destroy Latvia’s territorial unity. The criminal proceeding is initiated for dissemination of leaflets in Daugavpils (city in the Eastern part of Latvia) which assert that ethnic Latvian nationalists oppress ethnic Russian residents, the existing political regime is colonial and should be replaced by the “people’s trust front.” Author of the leaflets also believes that Latgale region (Eastern part of Latvia) should be detached from Latvia and given to Russia.

The Security Police initiated a criminal proceeding for action intentionally aimed at incitement of ethnic and racial hatred or instigation of discord and public calls to destroy Latvias territorial unity. The criminal proceeding is initiated for dissemination of leaflets in Daugavpils (city in the Eastern part of Latvia) which assert that ethnic Latvian nationalists oppress ethnic Russian residents, the existing political regime is colonial and should be replaced by the peoples trust front. Author of the leaflets also believes that Latgale region (Eastern part of Latvia) should be detached from Latvia and given to Russia. Latvijas Avize

• 81% of Latvian residents do not support allocation to Latvia of refuges from other European countries
• Radical nationalists display solidarity with British nationalists who faced manifestation of multicultural terror
• PM candidate Gaidis Berzins: we evaluate potential coalition partners through the prism of ethnic Latvianness

According the an opinion poll conducted by the research agency “TNS Latvia” and TV company LNT, 81% of Latvian residents do not support allocation in Latvia of refuges from other European countries. Only 14% of respondents support such initiative.

According the an opinion poll conducted by the research agency TNS Latvia and TV company LNT, 81% of Latvian residents do not support allocation in Latvia of refuges from other European countries. Only 14% of respondents support such initiative. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

About ten activists of radical nationalists’ party “National Union” held an action at the UK Embassy in Riga in order to display their solidarity with British nationalists “who faced manifestation of multicultural terror.” Representative of the radicals believes that British nationalists finally understood what “destructive immigration wave” is.

About ten activists of radical nationalists party National Union held an action at the UK Embassy in Riga in order to display their solidarity with British nationalists who faced manifestation of multicultural terror. Representative of the radicals believes that British nationalists finally understood what destructive immigration wave is. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Leader of the political union “All for Latvia - For Fatherland and Freedom / LNIM” and a candidate for the post of the Prime Minister Gaidis Berzins stated that his union evaluates potential governing coalition partners through the prism of ethnic Latvianness and fairness. Therefore, cooperation with the Concord Centre is impossible.

Leader of the political union All for Latvia - For Fatherland and Freedom / LNIM and a candidate for the post of the Prime Minister Gaidis Berzins stated that his union evaluates potential governing coalition partners through the prism of ethnic Latvianness and fairness. Therefore, cooperation with the Concord Centre is impossible. Chas

 

• Political scientist Ivars Ijabs: ethnic voting will not disappear as long as politicians see the benefits of raising ethnic issues
• Most popular political parties in August: Concord Centre, the Unity, and the Zatlers Reforms Party

Chas prints an article about ethnic voting in Latvia. Political scientist Ivars Ijabs believes that ethnic voting will not disappear as long as politicians see that raising ethnic issues brings them gains. Mr Ijabs believes that in the near future the situation will not change and maybe only in 20 years ethnic issues will not be so painful anymore.

According to a public opinion survey conducted by the market research company “GfK”, the most popular political parties in August are the Concord Centre (CC), the Unity, and the Zatler’s Reforms Party (ZRP). If the Saeima election are held in August, the CC would receive 36 mandates, the Unity – 22, the ZRP – 20, the Union of Greens and Farmers - 12, and the national union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM -10.

According to a public opinion survey conducted by the market research company GfK, the most popular political parties in August are the Concord Centre (CC), the Unity, and the Zatlers Reforms Party (ZRP). If the Saeima election are held in August, the CC would receive 36 mandates, the Unity – 22, the ZRP – 20, the Union of Greens and Farmers - 12, and the national union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM -10. Chas

• Election program of the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM promises to ensure that ethnic Latvians feel themselves in Latvia like at home
• President of Latvia Andris Berzins: one common communication language ensures stability in the country

According to election program of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, the union’s aim is to ensure that ethnic Latvians feel themselves in Latvia like at home – in ethnic Latvian and fair environment, in security and welfare. The union promises gradual transition of all state funded schools and kindergartens only in to Latvian language allowing ethnic minorities to learn their history and culture in their native language. The union also promises to introduce criminal liability for denial and glorification of occupation regime.

According to election program of the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, the unions aim is to ensure that ethnic Latvians feel themselves in Latvia like at home – in ethnic Latvian and fair environment, in security and welfare. The union promises gradual transition of all state funded schools and kindergartens only in to Latvian language allowing ethnic minorities to learn their history and culture in their native language. The union also promises to introduce criminal liability for denial and glorification of occupation regime. Chas

Chas prints an interview with the President of Latvia Andris Berzins. The President believes that one common communication language ensures stability in the country. The President says that he will not allow change of the article in the Constitution according to which Latvian language is the only state language in the country. At the same time, Mr Berzins states that he will continue to speak in Russian and other foreign languages in cases which do not require obligatory usage of state language.

• Newspapers report about influx of asylum seekers to Latvia
• Saeimas Committee following objections of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other employers decided to revise the draft amendments to the Labour Law regarding the prohibition to require unreasonable foreign language proficiency from employees

Vesti Segodnya reports about growing influx of number of asylum seekers and illegal immigrants to Latvia. According to the head of the State Border Guard Service Normunds Gabars, the majority of illegal immigrants arrive with fake documents and use Latvia as a transit country to other European countries. The majority of illegals ask for asylum in Latvia and stay in the country until the decision on their status. Neatkariga also prints an article about asylum seekers and possible engagement of the country in allocation of refugees from other European countries.

The Saeima’s Social and Labour Affairs Committee following objections of the Latvian Chamber of Trade and Industry and other employers decided to revise before the final reading the draft amendments to the Labour Law regarding the prohibition to require unreasonable foreign language proficiency from employees. The draft amendments stipulating that employers are not allowed to require proficiency of a foreign language if it has no direct connection with employee’s job duties got approved in two readings in the Saeima.  The Saeima’s Committee decided to establish a working group on revision of the amendments. Authors of the draft amendments, members of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM believe that ethnic Latvians with poor Russian language proficiency are being discriminating in the Latvian labour market.

The Saeimas Social and Labour Affairs Committee following objections of the Latvian Chamber of Trade and Industry and other employers decided to revise before the final reading the draft amendments to the Labour Law regarding the prohibition to require unreasonable foreign language proficiency from employees. The draft amendments stipulating that employers are not allowed to require proficiency of a foreign language if it has no direct connection with employees job duties got approved in two readings in the Saeima. The Saeimas Committee decided to establish a working group on revision of the amendments. Authors of the draft amendments, members of the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM believe that ethnic Latvians with poor Russian language proficiency are being discriminating in the Latvian labour market. Latvijas Avize