• Ex-Minister of Integration Nils Muiznieks: it is absurd that 20 years after restoration of independence children with status of non-citizen still are born in Latvia

Academician, ex-Minister of Integration Nils Muiznieks believes it is absurd that 20 years after restoration of independence children with status of non-citizen still are born in Latvia. According to Mr. Muiznieks, status of non-citizen was planned to be temporary and every child born in Latvia has right to be its citizen.

Academician, ex-Minister of Integration Nils Muiznieks believes it is absurd that 20 years after restoration of independence children with status of non-citizen still are born in Latvia. According to Mr. Muiznieks, status of non-citizen was planned to be temporary and every child born in Latvia has right to be its citizen. Vesti Segodnya

• Saeimas Human Rights in Public Affairs Committee will review proposal to grant Orthodox Christmas status of bank holiday

Yesterday, the Saeima forwarded the proposal of the Concord Centre to grant Orthodox Christmas (6 and 7 January) status of bank holiday to the Human Rights in Public Affairs Committee. According to the Concord Centre, there are about 400,000 Orthodox and Old Believers in Latvia and Christmas is one of the most important celebrations for them.

Yesterday, the Saeima forwarded the proposal of the Concord Centre to grant Orthodox Christmas (6 and 7 January) status of bank holiday to the Human Rights in Public Affairs Committee. According to the Concord Centre, there are about 400,000 Orthodox and Old Believers in Latvia and Christmas is one of the most important celebrations for them. Telegraf, Chas

• Riga City Council restored the Jewish cemetery which suffered an act of vandalism
• Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis considers that the MP Valerijs Kravcovs should resign his mandate due to insufficient state language proficiency
• International comparative study on education quality: majority of students of Latvian schools does not support granting equal rights to all ethnic minorities

The Riga City Council completely restored the Jewish cemetery which suffered an act of vandalism last week. As reported, white swastikas got painted on more than 100 gravestones.The police initiatedcriminal proceedings according to article 78 – incitement to ethnic hatred and article 228 desecration of a grave. Diena

The Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis considers that the MP Valerijs Kravcovs (Concord Centre) should resign his mandate due to insufficient state language proficiency. In the meantime, the head of the Concord Centres faction Janis Urbanovics believes that Mr. Kravcovs is legally elected to the Saeima by Latvian citizens who have the same rights as any other citizens and therefore, Mr. Kravcovs has the right to represent his voters. Neatkariga

Vesti Segodnya reports that according to an international comparative study on education quality conducted by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), majority of students of Latvian schools does not support granting equal rights to all ethnic minorities. At the same time, the majority of students support free flow of labour force in the EU. Students of schools with Latvian language of instructions have greater acknowledgment of European identity and belonging as compared with students of Russian language schools.

• Saeimas Budget and Finance Committee supported proposal to raise pecuniary penalties for insufficient usage of state language
• Society Integration Foundation allegedly will be placed under the auspices of the Prime Minister

The Saeima’s Budget and Finance Committee supported proposal of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to raise pecuniary penalties for insufficient usage of state language. Draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code stipulate that fines will be raised from LVL 25-50 (EUR 20-70) up to LVL 25-250 (EUR 35-350) and for repeated violation from LVL 100-200 (EUR 140-280) up to LVL 250-500 (EUR 350-700).

The Saeimas Budget and Finance Committee supported proposal of the nationalists union All for Latvia!/For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to raise pecuniary penalties for insufficient usage of state language. Draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code stipulate that fines will be raised from LVL 25-50 (EUR 20-70) up to LVL 25-250 (EUR 35-350) and for repeated violation from LVL 100-200 (EUR 140-280) up to LVL 250-500 (EUR 350-700). Chas, Vesti Segodnya

According to the draft amendments to the Law on the Society Integration Foundation (SIF) conceptually supported by the Saeima’s Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee, the SIF will be placed under the auspices of the Prime Minister. Thus, the SIF would keep its status of independent institution.

According to the draft amendments to the Law on the Society Integration Foundation (SIF) conceptually supported by the Saeimas Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee, the SIF will be placed under the auspices of the Prime Minister. Thus, the SIF would keep its status of independent institution. Latvijas Avize

• Memorial to saviour of Jews Zanis/Janis Lipke desecrated
• Experts comment on declining naturalisation figures

Newspapers report that the memorial to Zanis/Janis Lipke, who saved 55 people during the Nazi occupation, has been desecrated. Unknown persons painted white lines over the memorial in Riga. The Police do not link this incident to recent desecration of Jewish cemetery.

Newspapers report that the memorial to Zanis/Janis Lipke, who saved 55 people during the Nazi occupation, has been desecrated. Unknown persons painted white lines over the memorial in Riga. The Police do not link this incident to recent desecration of Jewish cemetery. Latvijas Avize, Vesti-Segodnya

Diena publishes article about the significant and persistent decline of naturalisation figures. Most of non-citizens of Latvia are over 41 and according to experts interviewed by the newspaper, many elderly are not applying because they doubt they could pass the exams, while many middle-aged persons see naturalisation procedure as a humiliation and maintain that all permanent residents of Latvia should have been recognised as citizens once Latvia restored independence. Experts also point out that the number of non-citizens applying for Russian citizenship is growing and believe that the current crisis de-motivated many potential applicants for Latvian citizenship. Experts also believe that in the near future, the number of Latvian non-citizens will only slightly decrease, and instead Latvia should prepare itself to a wave of immigrants.