• Ombudsman Romans Apsitis denies criticism

Yesterday, the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis issued a statement about conflict with employees

Yesterday, the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis issued a statement about conflict with employees who demanded his resignation. Mr. Apsitis denied all criticism accusing them of dishonest actions. At the meantime, several NGOs Latvian Centre for Human Rights, Transparency International Latvia - Delna and Resource Centre for Women Marta sent a letter to the head of the Saeimas Human Rights Committee calling upon the MPs to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ombudsman Offices activities. Diena

• Ministry of Education and Science prepared proposals on easing state language proficiency certificate requirements
• Telegraf prints opinions about conflict between the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis and his subordinates
• Concord Centre (SC) denies that its deputies have insufficient state language proficiency

Telegraf reports that the Ministry of Education and Science prepared proposals on easing state language proficiency certificate requirements. The Ministry proposes to extend language proficiency examination deadlines, because the Education Content and Examination Centre is unable to process all examination applications by the currently envisaged deadlines. The Ministry also proposes to free from language proficiency certificate requirements elder people who are incapable to learn Latvian language and those who have certain health problems. At the same time, the Saeimas faction For Human Rights in United Latvia appealed to the Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis also proposing to revise and ease state language attestation process.

Telegraf prints opinions about conflict between the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis and his subordinates who demanded his resignation. Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris considers that during two years in the Office Romans Apsitis was not active enough and that he should have been more assertive in relations with authorities. The MP Boris Cilevics (Concord Centre) believes that Mr. Apsitis performed better than expected. For instance, Mr. Apsitis had strict position on rights of non-citizens and language issues. The MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka (FHRUL) positively evaluates the Ombudsmans activities stressing that he held back nationalistic positions.

Latvijas Avize reports that the Riga City Councils faction the Concord Centre (SC) denies assertion of a deputy from the New Era Edgars Jaunups that some of the SC deputies have insufficient Latvian language proficiency. According to the SC factions head Nikolajs Zaharovs, those SC deputies who have low state language proficiency are improving their skills.

• Political scientist Ilze Ostrovska: ethnic Latvians believe that isolation of Russian speaking residents from state power is necessary in order to prevent return of Soviet power

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with political scientist Ilze Ostrovska. Mrs. Ostrovska considers that many ethnic Latvians believe that isolation of Russian speaking residents from state power is necessary in order to prevent return of Soviet power. Mrs. Ostrovska believes that Latvian authorities missed the time when Russian speaking residents could be integrated, because now Russian speakers do not want to be integrated anymore. According to Mrs. Ostrovska, the last moment when Russian speakers wanted to integrate passed in 2004 (when minority education schools had to switch to instruction mainly in Latvian): Russians were seeking support of ethnic Latvians but did not find it.

• Employees of the Ombudsmans Office demand resignation of the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis
• Saeima will review draft amendments stipulating state language requirements for municipal deputies and MPs
• Most popular party in June - the Concord Centre

Employees of the Ombudsman’s Office demand resignation of the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis. The employees of the Ombudsman’s Office consider that Romans Apsitis is not competent in human rights issues and his decisions are not independent. The employees also complain about waste of budgetary funds in the Office and repressions against employees. The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers considers that the conflict between the Ombudsman and his subordinates should be reviewed by the Saeima. The President also criticizes the Ombudsman for his absence at the Saeima’s session on 18 June when he was supposed to report about the Ombudsman Office’s activities.

Employees of the Ombudsmans Office demand resignation of the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis. The employees of the Ombudsmans Office consider that Romans Apsitis is not competent in human rights issues and his decisions are not independent. The employees also complain about waste of budgetary funds in the Office and repressions against employees. The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers considers that the conflict between the Ombudsman and his subordinates should be reviewed by the Saeima. The President also criticizes the Ombudsman for his absence at the Saeimas session on 18 June when he was supposed to report about the Ombudsman Offices activities. Latvijas Avize, NRA

NRA reports that the draft amendments to the Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers stipulating state language requirements for municipal deputies and MPs will be reviewed by the Saeima soon. According to the newspaper, a number of newly elected deputies in municipalities do not speak Latvian because there are no rules regulating state language proficiency of deputies.

According to the latest public opinion survey held by “Latvijas Fakti”, the most popular party in Latvia in June is the Concord Centre – 20,2% of residents supports it. The New Era and the Civil Union is supported by 8% and 6,4% accordingly. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of respondents.

According to the latest public opinion survey held by Latvijas Fakti, the most popular party in Latvia in June is the Concord Centre – 20,2% of residents supports it. The New Era and the Civil Union is supported by 8% and 6,4% accordingly. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of respondents. Diena

• Conference Russian World in Latvia in First Decade of XXI Century: Conditions and Tendencies will be held in Riga on 11 July

Conference of Russia’s compatriots “Russian World in Latvia in First Decade of XXI Century: Conditions and Tendencies” for second time will be held in Riga on 11 July. The participants of the conference will discuss strengthening of ties between Russia and Latvian regions and specific problems of Russian youth. 

Conference of Russias compatriots Russian World in Latvia in First Decade of XXI Century: Conditions and Tendencies for second time will be held in Riga on 11 July. The participants of the conference will discuss strengthening of ties between Russia and Latvian regions and specific problems of Russian youth. Chas, Vesti Segodnya