• Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris: question asked in the broadcast Un-censored was sharp but quite acceptable for democratic country

Commenting decision of the National Radio and Television Council (NRTC) to fine Channel TV5 for humiliation of national honour and dignity, director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris states that question asked in the broadcast “Un-censored” was sharp but quite acceptable for democratic country because freedom of speech is one of the basic values. Mrs. Brands Kehris believes that the question did not predetermine ethnic belonging of opinion poll’s voters and people of various ethnic backgrounds could voice their opinion about the issue. As reported, viewers of TV5 live broadcast “Un-censored” on 18 November were asked: “What was Latvia’s acquisition of independence?” and one of the offered answers was “it was a fatal mistake.” The NRTC considered that such question is inappropriate and fined TV5 with LVL1000 (EUR 1422)

Commenting decision of the National Radio and Television Council (NRTC) to fine Channel TV5 for humiliation of national honour and dignity, director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris states that question asked in the broadcast Un-censored was sharp but quite acceptable for democratic country because freedom of speech is one of the basic values. Mrs. Brands Kehris believes that the question did not predetermine ethnic belonging of opinion polls voters and people of various ethnic backgrounds could voice their opinion about the issue. As reported, viewers of TV5 live broadcast Un-censored on 18 November were asked: What was Latvias acquisition of independence? and one of the offered answers was it was a fatal mistake. The NRTC considered that such question is inappropriate and fined TV5 with LVL1000 (EUR 1422) Telegraf

• National Radio and Television Council fined Channel TV5 with LVL 1,000 for insult of national honour and dignity
• Study: guest workers in Latvia earn bigger salaries than domestic workers for the same job
• Mayor of Riga City Council Nils Usakovs met with former Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires

The National Radio and Television Council (NRTC) fined Channel TV5 with LVL 1,000 (EUR 1,422) for insult of national honour and dignity. As reported, the NRTC drew up administrative protocol against a presenter of TV5 broadcast “Un-censored” Andrejs Mamikins after complaints about one-sided questions in the 18 November broadcast’s TV viewers’ opinion poll. The NRTC also forwarded the case to the Prosecutor’s Office asking it to check whether incitement to ethnic hatred took place. TV5 is planning to dispute the NRTC’s decision in the court and to sue the NRTC for insult of Andrejs Mamikins’ honour and dignity. TV5 also accuses the NRTC of pressuring mass media and infringing the freedom of speech and demands for liquidation of the NRTC.

The National Radio and Television Council (NRTC) fined Channel TV5 with LVL 1,000 (EUR 1,422) for insult of national honour and dignity. As reported, the NRTC drew up administrative protocol against a presenter of TV5 broadcast Un-censored Andrejs Mamikins after complaints about one-sided questions in the 18 November broadcasts TV viewers opinion poll. The NRTC also forwarded the case to the Prosecutors Office asking it to check whether incitement to ethnic hatred took place. TV5 is planning to dispute the NRTCs decision in the court and to sue the NRTC for insult of Andrejs Mamikins honour and dignity. TV5 also accuses the NRTC of pressuring mass media and infringing the freedom of speech and demands for liquidation of the NRTC. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena

According to a study on establishment of integration system for third country nationals conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences, guest workers in Latvia earn bigger salaries than domestic workers for the same job. The effective rules of the Cabinet of Ministers stipulate minimum wages for foreigners: LVL 480 (EUR 683) for specialists and LVL 960 (EUR 1366) for managers. According to the study, the average wage of foreign managers is around LVL 800 (EUR 1138), while the average wage of domestic managers is under LVL 400 (EUR 569). Senior foreign specialists earn about LVL 500 (EUR 711), while domestic senior specialists – under LVL 400 (EUR 569).

According to a study on establishment of integration system for third country nationals conducted by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences, guest workers in Latvia earn bigger salaries than domestic workers for the same job. The effective rules of the Cabinet of Ministers stipulate minimum wages for foreigners: LVL 480 (EUR 683) for specialists and LVL 960 (EUR 1366) for managers. According to the study, the average wage of foreign managers is around LVL 800 (EUR 1138), while the average wage of domestic managers is under LVL 400 (EUR 569). Senior foreign specialists earn about LVL 500 (EUR 711), while domestic senior specialists – under LVL 400 (EUR 569). Diena

Latvijas Avize reports that the Mayor of Riga City Council Nils Usakovs met with representatives of the Association of Latvian National Warriors which unites former Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. According to a representative of the Association, conversation with the Mayor was mostly about social help to members of the organisation and did not touch political issues and 16 March events (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires.)

 

• Representative of the government of Moscow met with Russian compatriots in Latvia

Chas reports about a meeting of the head of the department of external economic relations of the government of Moscow Georgiy Muradov with representatives of Russian compatriots in Latvia. Mr. Muradov stated that Russia will continue to promote protection of Russian language and rights of its compatriots and help them to solve social issues.

• For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM demand for bigger control over education in ethnic minority schools

Members of political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) appealed to the head of the Control Service of Education Quality demanding to resume inspections in ethnic minority schools in order to prevent usage of education materials published in Russia, especially at history classes. As reported, earlier the FF/LNIM stated that state should guarantee free-of-charge education only in Latvian language.

Members of political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) appealed to the head of the Control Service of Education Quality demanding to resume inspections in ethnic minority schools in order to prevent usage of education materials published in Russia, especially at history classes. As reported, earlier the FF/LNIM stated that state should guarantee free-of-charge education only in Latvian language. Vesti Segodnya

• Concord Centre will demand guarantees from the Minister of Interior that naturalisation process will not become complicated or hindered
• Nils Muiznieks is elected to the post of the Chairman of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
• Saeima rejected proposal to officially use Latgalian names of lakes in two nature protected areas in Latgale
• Patients' Rights Law adopted
• Saeima rejected proposal to abolish regulation of language of instruction in state-funded universities

The Concord Centre is planning to appeal to the Minister of Interior Linda Murniece demanding for guarantees that naturalisation process will not become complicated or hindered due to liquidation of the Naturalisation Board and delegation of its functions to the Office of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) under subordination of the Ministry of Interior. Merger of the Naturalisation Board and the OCMA should be completed by 20 January 2009.

The Concord Centre is planning to appeal to the Minister of Interior Linda Murniece demanding for guarantees that naturalisation process will not become complicated or hindered due to liquidation of the Naturalisation Board and delegation of its functions to the Office of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) under subordination of the Ministry of Interior. Merger of the Naturalisation Board and the OCMA should be completed by 20 January 2009. Chas

Latvijas Avize reports that the director of the Institute of Social and Political Studies of the University of Latvia Nils Muiznieks is elected to the post of the Chairman of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe.

Yesterday, the Saeima rejected draft amendments to the laws on Razna National Park and Telci Nature Reserve (both in Latgale, Eastern Latvia). The amendments envisaged changing the official names of few lakes within these protected areas from Latvian to local Latgalian.

Yesterday, the Saeima rejected draft amendments to the laws on Razna National Park and Telci Nature Reserve (both in Latgale, Eastern Latvia). The amendments envisaged changing the official names of few lakes within these protected areas from Latvian to local Latgalian. Vesti Segodnya

After seven years of consideration, the Saeima adopted yesterday the Patients' Rights Law, envisaging,

After seven years of consideration, the Saeima adopted yesterday the Patients' Rights Law, envisaging, inter alia, a mechanism for out-of-court damages settlement. The Saeima rejected the proposal of the For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to oblige healthcare institutions to take into consideration the native language of the patient. The FHRUL claims there are cases when doctors refuse to communicate in Rusian with patients, thus putting their health in danger. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Saeima rejected proposal of the For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to amendment the Law on Higher Education, abolishing regulation of language of instruction in state-funded universities. According to Dzintars Abikis, the secretary of the Education, Culture and Science Committee, the proposal would “destroy the linguistic hierarchy and eliminate the will to learn Latvian”.

The Saeima rejected proposal of the For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to amendment the Law on Higher Education, abolishing regulation of language of instruction in state-funded universities. According to Dzintars Abikis, the secretary of the Education, Culture and Science Committee, the proposal would destroy the linguistic hierarchy and eliminate the will to learn Latvian. Chas, Vesti Segodnya