• Newspapers report on unofficial immigrants from Somalia

Newspapers continue to write about seven unofficial immigrants from Somalia who were detained on Friday by the Boarder Guard Service. According to the chief of the Boarder Guard’s Immigration Department Maris Domins, finally a person who can speak Somali was found and now it is possible to communicate with the immigrants. The information provided is contradicting and it is not clear whether they reached Latvia by ship. Maris Domins states that this is a first case in last 10 years when unofficial immigrants have arrived in Latvia in such a way. Usually the Boarder Guard officers detain persons who want to go to Latvia illegally at the border. Mostly these persons are immigrants from Moldova or Ukraine, travelling through Latvia to the United Kingdom or other Western Europe countries.

Newspapers continue to write about seven unofficial immigrants from Somalia who were detained on Friday by the Boarder Guard Service. According to the chief of the Boarder Guards Immigration Department Maris Domins, finally a person who can speak Somali was found and now it is possible to communicate with the immigrants. The information provided is contradicting and it is not clear whether they reached Latvia by ship. Maris Domins states that this is a first case in last 10 years when unofficial immigrants have arrived in Latvia in such a way. Usually the Boarder Guard officers detain persons who want to go to Latvia illegally at the border. Mostly these persons are immigrants from Moldova or Ukraine, travelling through Latvia to the United Kingdom or other Western Europe countries. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vesti Segodnya

• Minister of Justice Solvita Aboltina talks about amendments to the Citizenship Law
• So-called Russian parties are not ready to collaborate with the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia
• More news on unofficial immigrants from Somalia
• Annual Livs Days in Mazirbe

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the Minister of Justice Solvita Aboltina about amendments to the Citizenship Law. According to the Minister, the amendments foresee to ease the Latvian citizenship acquisition procedure for newborn children whose parents are Latvian non-citizens. The amendments will also introduce changes in the oath given by new citizens and will set clearer criteria. Telegraf writes that the formation of a professional army in Latvia may result in the rise of naturalisation applicants. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The other so-called Russian parties – the Harmony Centre and the union of political parties Fatherland and Latvia’s Socialist Party – are not ready to respond to the call of the union For Human rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) about the consolidation of parties. The representative of the Harmony Centre Janis Urbanovics states that the proposal of FHRUL is provocative and aimed at splitting society.  Janis Urbanovics and the leader of the Motherland Jurijs Zuravlovs do not support the suggestion of FHRUL to fight for granting the Russian language the official status in Latvia. The leader of the Latvia’s Socialist Party Alfreds Rubiks believes that all children should be granted the right to learn in their mother tongue, however, he does not agree that that the rights of only one – Russian linguistic group – should be highlighted. According to Alfreds Rubiks, his party does not support the involvement of children into protest actions. According to the members of the political parties interviewed, FHRUL has not informed them about the desire to consolidate. As reported, FHRUL announced about the necessity to achieve unity among so-called Russian-parties and then achieve granting of the official status to the Russian language, the renewal of the public education system of all levels in the Russian language and solving the mass non-citizenship.

The other so-called Russian parties – the Harmony Centre and the union of political parties Fatherland and Latvias Socialist Party – are not ready to respond to the call of the union For Human rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) about the consolidation of parties. The representative of the Harmony Centre Janis Urbanovics states that the proposal of FHRUL is provocative and aimed at splitting society. Janis Urbanovics and the leader of the Motherland Jurijs Zuravlovs do not support the suggestion of FHRUL to fight for granting the Russian language the official status in Latvia. The leader of the Latvias Socialist Party Alfreds Rubiks believes that all children should be granted the right to learn in their mother tongue, however, he does not agree that that the rights of only one – Russian linguistic group – should be highlighted. According to Alfreds Rubiks, his party does not support the involvement of children into protest actions. According to the members of the political parties interviewed, FHRUL has not informed them about the desire to consolidate. As reported, FHRUL announced about the necessity to achieve unity among so-called Russian-parties and then achieve granting of the official status to the Russian language, the renewal of the public education system of all levels in the Russian language and solving the mass non-citizenship. Latvijas Avize

Newspapers continue to write about seven unoffcial immigrants from Somalia who were detained on Friday and placed in the Olaine refugee camp by the Boarder Guard. According to the newspapers, the Boarder Guard will decide whether the detainees are illegal immigrants and should be deported from Latvia. The refugees have the right to seek for asylum in Latvia.

Newspapers continue to write about seven unoffcial immigrants from Somalia who were detained on Friday and placed in the Olaine refugee camp by the Boarder Guard. According to the newspapers, the Boarder Guard will decide whether the detainees are illegal immigrants and should be deported from Latvia. The refugees have the right to seek for asylum in Latvia. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya

Diena reports on celebration of the annual Livs Days in Mazirbe last weekend.

• Seven unofficial immigrants from Somalia detained in Latvia
• Discussions on suitability of Nils Muiznieks for post of director of the Latvian National Human Rights Office

Seven people from Somalia – five men and two women - were illegally brought to Latvia. On Friday they arrived in the Riga Office of the Red Cross seeking help. None of Somalis could present any documents and, although almost none of them speak any other languages but native, could explain that they were promised to be brought to a Scandinavian country and not to Latvia.

Seven people from Somalia – five men and two women - were illegally brought to Latvia. On Friday they arrived in the Riga Office of the Red Cross seeking help. None of Somalis could present any documents and, although almost none of them speak any other languages but native, could explain that they were promised to be brought to a Scandinavian country and not to Latvia. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize continues discussions on the suitability of Nils Muiznieks for post of director of the Latvian National Human Rights Office. The newspaper admits that Nils Muiznieks is highly qualified in the field, however, it says that he should not take this post because of his former activities as a Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration which have been sharply criticised several politicians and members of society.

• FHRUL invites Russian parties to unite
• For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM: Citizenship Law should be made more restrictive

Leaders of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) Tatjana Zdanoka and Jakovs Pliners have invited the so-called Russian parties, notably Harmony Centre and Latvia’s Socialist Party, to unite before the forthcoming Saeima elections to be held in autumn 2006. The FHRUL hopes to achieve unity among the Russian-parties to seek the granting of official status to the Russian language and the renewal of the education system in the Russian language as well as ways of resolving the issue of mass non-citizenship. FHRUL also expects that these parties will offer financial and organisational support to the Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian-language schools and its organised protest actions.

Leaders of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) Tatjana Zdanoka and Jakovs Pliners have invited the so-called Russian parties, notably Harmony Centre and Latvias Socialist Party, to unite before the forthcoming Saeima elections to be held in autumn 2006. The FHRUL hopes to achieve unity among the Russian-parties to seek the granting of official status to the Russian language and the renewal of the education system in the Russian language as well as ways of resolving the issue of mass non-citizenship. FHRUL also expects that these parties will offer financial and organisational support to the Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian-language schools and its organised protest actions. Latvijas Avize prints an article by the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration Ainars Latkovskis, who believes that the activities of the Headquarters are used to increase the popularity of politicians and are not aimed at solving the problems in the realm of minority education and citizenship. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segondya

In response to the critics from the left-wing political parties regarding the draft law on benefits to national partisans, the chairman of the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM Janis Straume yesterday highlighted the need to make the Citizenship Law more restrictive. According to Straume, the FF/LNIM do not see the basis for the statements of several left-wing MPs who have branded national partisans bandits. The party also believes that the presence of MPs, ill-disposed towards Latvia, in the parliament is indicative of the existence of voters, ill-disposed towards Latvia, in society. Under these circumstances, according to the leader of the FF/LNIM, the Citizenship Law should be made more restrictive foreseeing both stronger requirements for naturalisation applicants, and provide for more possibilities to deprive an individual of the Latvian citizenship.

In response to the critics from the left-wing political parties regarding the draft law on benefits to national partisans, the chairman of the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM Janis Straume yesterday highlighted the need to make the Citizenship Law more restrictive. According to Straume, the FF/LNIM do not see the basis for the statements of several left-wing MPs who have branded national partisans bandits. The party also believes that the presence of MPs, ill-disposed towards Latvia, in the parliament is indicative of the existence of voters, ill-disposed towards Latvia, in society. Under these circumstances, according to the leader of the FF/LNIM, the Citizenship Law should be made more restrictive foreseeing both stronger requirements for naturalisation applicants, and provide for more possibilities to deprive an individual of the Latvian citizenship. Chas, Telegraf

• A draft law stipulating granting Russian the status of the official language will be prepared by the FHRUL

‘MPs of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia are planning to develop a draft law stipulating the granting of the status of the official language to Russian’, member of FHRUL and the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Vladimirs Buzajevs announced yesterday. According to Buzajevs, the adoption of such a law ‘would solve the problems of the Russian linguistic minority’.

‘MPs of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia are planning to develop a draft law stipulating the granting of the status of the official language to Russian, member of FHRUL and the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Vladimirs Buzajevs announced yesterday. According to Buzajevs, the adoption of such a law ‘would solve the problems of the Russian linguistic minority. Latvijas Avize