• Yesterday 672 persons were granted Latvian citizenship

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation to 672 persons, including 35 underage persons. 69% of new citizens are Russians, 11% - Ukrainians and Belarussians each. Overall 113, 300 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship since the beginning of naturalisation in 1995.

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation to 672 persons, including 35 underage persons. 69% of new citizens are Russians, 11% - Ukrainians and Belarussians each. Overall 113, 300 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship since the beginning of naturalisation in 1995. Vesti Segodnya

• Use of Russian in signs of private companies
• Telegraf about the priorities of parties in the upcoming Saeima elections

Vesti Segodnya features an article about procedures of posting private company signs in a foreign language, in particularly Russian. According to effective legal norms, thesign should confirm the State Language Law, that is, the text on the sign should be in Latvian as well, and should be approved by the Riga City Council. According to an official of the Council, there were few applications to confirm signs in Russian last year. The author of the article concludes that Russian businesspersons themselves are not willing to promote use of the Russian language in Riga.

Telegraf talks to political scientist Viktors Makarovs about the upcoming Saeima elections. When asked why this year FF/LNIM, which usually positioned themselves as a party which main task is to protect national interests of Latvians, named solution of economic and social issues their priority, Viktors Makarovs says that people do not want to listen about nationalism when they are hungry.

• Government will review the draft amendments to the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on naturalisation procedure proposed by the Ministry of Justice
• The Concord Centre asks the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis to sign social agreement between Latvia and Russia

This week the government will review the draft amendments to the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on naturalisation procedure proposed by the Ministry of Justice. According to the draft project the graduates of minority secondary schools will be released from the naturalisation test of the Latvian language if s/he passes the Latvian language exam with one of the three grades – A, B, C. Currently graduates, who have D are also released from the test. The draft amendments also stipulate that if an applicant does not pass the tests third time, the Naturalisation Board stops revision of his/her application for naturalisation. Revision will be also stopped if the applicant does not attend the test in Latvian language and within two months fails to provide evidence justifying his/her absence.

This week the government will review the draft amendments to the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on naturalisation procedure proposed by the Ministry of Justice. According to the draft project the graduates of minority secondary schools will be released from the naturalisation test of the Latvian language if s/he passes the Latvian language exam with one of the three grades – A, B, C. Currently graduates, who have D are also released from the test. The draft amendments also stipulate that if an applicant does not pass the tests third time, the Naturalisation Board stops revision of his/her application for naturalisation. Revision will be also stopped if the applicant does not attend the test in Latvian language and within two months fails to provide evidence justifying his/her absence. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Political party “The Concord Centre” has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis asking to sign a social agreement between Latvia and Russia, which would stipulate that the number of employment years, which the non-citizen served not on the territory of Latvia during the Soviet period, would be included in the total number of employment years. As reported, according effective legal norms, the length of service of non-citizens retired after 1 January 1996 includes only time period spent on Latvian territory. “The Concord Centre” believes that the social agreement between two countries would help to improve the financial situation of a part of Latvian residents.

Political party The Concord Centre has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvitis asking to sign a social agreement between Latvia and Russia, which would stipulate that the number of employment years, which the non-citizen served not on the territory of Latvia during the Soviet period, would be included in the total number of employment years. As reported, according effective legal norms, the length of service of non-citizens retired after 1 January 1996 includes only time period spent on Latvian territory. The Concord Centre believes that the social agreement between two countries would help to improve the financial situation of a part of Latvian residents. Chas

• Romani cultural days held in Latvian towns
• Sociologist Aigars Freimanis about a young generation of Russian-speaking residents in Latvia

On Friday, Romani cultural days were hold in a number of Latvian towns. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Karina Petersone took part in a seminar “Roma in Latvia” and in the public discussion of the national Roma integration program in Madona (town in the central eastern part of Latvia).

On Friday, Romani cultural days were hold in a number of Latvian towns. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Karina Petersone took part in a seminar Roma in Latvia and in the public discussion of the national Roma integration program in Madona (town in the central eastern part of Latvia). Latvijas Avize

Sociologist and the director of the market and social research centre Latvijas fakti Aigars Freimanis in an interview with Latvijas Avize stated that a young generation of Russian-speaking residents of Latvia is well integrated into Latvian society. Mr. Freimanis believed that the majority of Russians are not oriented towards Russia anymore as it was in the beginning of the 90s. If they had believed in Russia, a larger number would have left for Russia. Latvijas Avize

• National Bolshevik Benes Ayo discharged from prison

The leader of the Latvian National Bolsheviks Benes Ayo is discharged from the prison. As reported, the Riga Regional Court charged Benes Ayo for public calls to abolish the existing state regime with violent methods and imprisoned him for nine months on February 2006. Yesterday, the Court has replaced the imprisonment with police supervision.

The leader of the Latvian National Bolsheviks Benes Ayo is discharged from the prison. As reported, the Riga Regional Court charged Benes Ayo for public calls to abolish the existing state regime with violent methods and imprisoned him for nine months on February 2006. Yesterday, the Court has replaced the imprisonment with police supervision. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize