• Saeima in the final reading allowed slaughter of animals in the form of a ritual cut
• Conference of organisations representing Russian speaking residents of Europe begins today in Riga
• MP Juris Dobelis insulted another MP with words: Occupant, shut up your mouth!
• Police launched a criminal process against persons visible on a video physically attacking a man saying to him Speak to me Latvian or I will kick your head!

Yesterday, the Saeima in the second and the final reading supported draft amendments to the Law on Protection of Animals which allow slaughter of animals in the form of a ritual cut. The amendments allow slaughter of animals for consumption in the Halal method practiced in Islam and Judaism.

Yesterday, the Saeima in the second and the final reading supported draft amendments to the Law on Protection of Animals which allow slaughter of animals in the form of a ritual cut. The amendments allow slaughter of animals for consumption in the Halal method practiced in Islam and Judaism. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena

Telegraf reports that conference of organisations representing Russian speaking residents of Europe begins today in Riga. The participants will elaborate recommendations on integration of Russian speaking minorities in the EU for the European Commission. The meeting is held in the framework of the European program Grundtvig.

Yesterday, during the Saeima’s session, the MP Juris Dobelis (For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM) shouted at the MP Aleksandrs Golubovs (Concord Centre) “Occupant, shut up your mouth!” and “Death to occupants!” The Saeima’s speaker made a warning to Juris Dobelis for these statements. Mr. Golubovs is planning to turn to the Saeima’s Ethnics Committee in order to receive public apology from Mr. Dobelis.

Yesterday, during the Saeimas session, the MP Juris Dobelis (For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM) shouted at the MP Aleksandrs Golubovs (Concord Centre) Occupant, shut up your mouth! and Death to occupants! The Saeimas speaker made a warning to Juris Dobelis for these statements. Mr. Golubovs is planning to turn to the Saeimas Ethnics Committee in order to receive public apology from Mr. Dobelis. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The police launched a criminal process against persons visible on a video physically attacking a man saying to him “Speak to me Latvian or I will kick your head!” The video recently was placed on

The police launched a criminal process against persons visible on a video physically attacking a man saying to him Speak to me Latvian or I will kick your head! The video recently was placed on www.youtube.com. The police launched the criminal process for hooliganism in a group and already detained one of the attackers, while, the other attacker was not detained because he is under age. According to a representative of the Security Police, six complaints on incitement to ethnic hatred were received since the beginning of the year. In four of the cases, the Police refused to launch criminal process. Telegraf

• Chief of the State Police Valdis Voins: social and inter-ethnic tensions in Latvian society are growing
• For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM does not support draft amendments which allow slaughter of animals in the form of a ritual cut
• Deputy of the Riga City Council Ruslan Pankratov: rules on obligatory state language proficiency for the deputies of the Saeima and municipal councils are discriminatory

According to the chief of the State Police Valdis Voins, social and inter-ethnic tensions in Latvian society are growing because of economic crisis. Lately, the police registered surge of crimes committed on xenophobic grounds. According to the opinion surveys provided by the police, 45% of ethnic Latvians and 41% of ethnic minorities in Latvia have extremely negative attitude towards Muslims. Mr. Voins stated that the police reinforced control over members of right-wing and left-wing radical movements because they can become catalysts of mass disorders during the crisis. Telegraf

The Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) does not support amendments to the Law on Protection of Animals which allow slaughter of animals in the form of a ritual cut. The FF/LNIM considers that religious confessions non-traditional to Latvia, especially if their traditions contradict local traditions and ethic norms, should not be supported and strengthened in Latvia. As reported, the elaborated draft amendments allow slaughter of animals for consumption in the Halal method practiced in Islam and Judaism. Chas, Diena

Latvijas Avize reports that the deputy of the Riga City Council Ruslan Pankratov considers that the Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers stipulating obligatory highest level of state language proficiency for the deputies of the Saeima and municipal councils are discriminatory. Therefore, Mr. Pankratov is verifying whether the Regulations comply with the EU standards. In the meantime, the Head of the Control Department of the State Language Centre Antons Kursitis believes that the Regulations are not discriminatory because they determine that deputies are not more equal than others among those to whom the State Language Law applies.

• Lawyer of a former Red Partisan Vasilij Kononov is planning to call a press conference alleging that Latvia attempts to change verdicts of the Nurnberg tribunal

The lawyer of a former “Red Partisan” Vasilij Kononov sentenced by Latvia for war crimes is planning to call a press conference alleging that Latvia attempts to change verdicts of the Nurnberg tribunal and politicizes Kononov’s case in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). As reported, the ECHR judgment established that Latvia violated Article 7 (no punishment without law) of the European Convention on Human Rights and obliged to pay Kononov EUR 30,000 as compensation for moral damage. Latvia, in its turn, appealed the decision, while Lithuania expressed its will to participate as a third party in the appeal process and to present its own remarks concerning evaluation of legal and historical aspects of the Second World War for the Baltic States.

The lawyer of a former Red Partisan Vasilij Kononov sentenced by Latvia for war crimes is planning to call a press conference alleging that Latvia attempts to change verdicts of the Nurnberg tribunal and politicizes Kononovs case in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). As reported, the ECHR judgment established that Latvia violated Article 7 (no punishment without law) of the European Convention on Human Rights and obliged to pay Kononov EUR 30,000 as compensation for moral damage.Latvia, in its turn, appealed the decision, while Lithuania expressed its will to participate as a third party in the appeal process and to present its own remarks concerning evaluation of legal and historical aspects of the Second World War for the Baltic States. Telegraf

• Igors Pimenovs: government should pay special attention to ethnic minority schools while optimising school system in Latvia

Telegraf reports that the MPs held a meeting with representatives of various NGOs. The MP and representative of the Latvian Association for Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction (LAShOR) Igors Pimenovs considers that ethnic minorities are among vulnerable groups of residents, therefore, the government should pay special attention to ethnic minority schools while optimising school system. Mr. Pimenovs considers that national minorities are no longer able to express the demand for education in their language because parents are forced to send their children to Latvian language schools because they feel local authorities do no protect them. Representatives of LAShOR complained that no one cares whether those children, who are studying in a language other than their family language, are able to fulfill their need for self-expression and whether such self-expression is supported.

• Latvijas Avize: the Ombudsmans Office continues its usual work

According to

According to Latvijas Avize, the Ombudsmans Office continues its usual work despite the recent conflict between the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis and his employees. In the meantime, the Ombudsman is planning staff reductions and structural changes to institution.