• Law-enforcement bodies will check more carefully identities of persons from Ingushetia and Dagestan who want to receive visa to Latvia or residence permit

The government decreed law-enforcement bodies to check more carefully identities of persons leaving or born in Ingushetia and Dagestan who want to receive visa to Latvia or residence permit. In total the list of countries whose citizens’ identity is checked more carefully contains 29 countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Tunis, Somali, Syria, Kenya, Kuwait and Palestine.

The government decreed law-enforcement bodies to check more carefully identities of persons leaving or born in Ingushetia and Dagestan who want to receive visa to Latvia or residence permit. In total the list of countries whose citizens identity is checked more carefully contains 29 countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Tunis, Somali, Syria, Kenya, Kuwait and Palestine. Chas

• Riga City Council did not issue permission to hold commemoration event of a day when Nazi troops entered Riga on 1 July 1941

The Riga City Council did not issue permission to hold commemoration event of a day when Nazi troops entered Riga on 1 July 1941 planned to be held by radical nationalists. The City Council argued that organisers of the event promote forbidden ideology and ethnic hatred.

The Riga City Council did not issue permission to hold commemoration event of a day when Nazi troops entered Riga on 1 July 1941 planned to be held by radical nationalists. The City Council argued that organisers of the event promote forbidden ideology and ethnic hatred. Chas, Telegraf

 

• National channels TV3 and LNT promise to stop free-of-charge broadcasting if the new Law on Electronic Mass Media with language quotas comes into force

National channels TV3 and LNT promise to stop free-of-charge broadcasting if the new Law on Electronic Mass Media accepted by the Saeima with language quotas comes into force. According to the new Law, at least 65% of broadcasts of national channels should be in Latvian language, 51% of programs should be made in Europe and 40% of European programs also should be in Latvian and broadcasted in the prime time. TV3 and LNT stated that they do not have enough funds to buy European programs and to translate them into Latvian language.

National channels TV3 and LNT promise to stop free-of-charge broadcasting if the new Law on Electronic Mass Media accepted by the Saeima with language quotas comes into force. According to the new Law, at least 65% of broadcasts of national channels should be in Latvian language, 51% of programs should be made in Europe and 40% of European programs also should be in Latvian and broadcasted in the prime time. TV3 and LNT stated that they do not have enough funds to buy European programs and to translate them into Latvian language. Vesti Segodnya

• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers calls upon MPs to diminish ethnic divisions
• Municipalities will have to fund state (Latvian) language courses for deputies with insufficient language proficiency

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers in his address to the Saeima called upon the MPs to diminish ethnic divisions in the society. The President considers that the political parties should formulate their ideological position instead of ethnic affiliation to electorate groups.

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers in his address to the Saeima called upon the MPs to diminish ethnic divisions in the society. The President considers that the political parties should formulate their ideological position instead of ethnic affiliation to electorate groups. Chas

The Saeima adopted in the second reading draft amendments to the Law on Status on Municipal Deputies stipulating that municipalities should fund state language courses for deputies with insufficient language proficiency.

The Saeima adopted in the second reading draft amendments to the Law on Status on Municipal Deputies stipulating that municipalities should fund state language courses for deputies with insufficient language proficiency. Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

• Saeima approved the language quotas for national TV channels
• Latvian Permanent State Development Strategy: all Latvian residents should become proficient in Latvian language by 2030

The Saeima approved the language quotas for national TV channels. According to the approved Law on Electronic Mass Media, national TV channels will have to broadcast at least 65% of the air time in Latvian language.

The Saeima approved the language quotas for national TV channels. According to the approved Law on Electronic Mass Media, national TV channels will have to broadcast at least 65% of the air time in Latvian language. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports that according to one of the aims of the Latvian Permanent State Development Strategy recently approved by the Saeima, all Latvian residents should become proficient in Latvian language by 2030.