• Ainars Slesers: Latvias Fist Party/Latvias Way and the Concord Centre might run for the next Saeima elections as one list

Yesterday, leader of the Latvia’s Fist Party/Latvia’s Way (LFP/LW), vice-Mayor of the Riga City Council Ainars Slesers stated that the parties LFP/LW and the Concord Centre (CC) might run for the next Saeima elections as one list. However, according to

Yesterday, leader of the Latvias Fist Party/Latvias Way (LFP/LW), vice-Mayor of the Riga City Council Ainars Slesers stated that the parties LFP/LW and the Concord Centre (CC) might run for the next Saeima elections as one list. However, according to Telegraf, other leaders of both parties were surprised by such statement and asserted that no discussions were held about the merger. Political expert interviewed by the newspaper believes that such statement might be aimed at split inside the CC. The MP Jurijs Sokolovskis (FHRUL) believes that if the two parties merge Ainars Slesers would gain votes of Russian speaking residents, while the CC would get a chance to enter the governing coalition.

• Eizenija Aldermane: ethnic minority schools could be reorganized into multifunctional centres
• Diena reports about Latvia wide bike tour Mention Tolerance

Head of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee of the Riga City Council Eizenija Aldermane considers that ethnic minority schools could be reorganized into multifunctional centres. For instance some schools could share their premises with ethnic minority NGOs.

Head of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee of the Riga City Council Eizenija Aldermane considers that ethnic minority schools could be reorganized into multifunctional centres. For instance some schools could share their premises with ethnic minority NGOs. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

Diena reports about Latvia wide bike tour Mention Tolerance held by the Latvian Red Cross. Aim of the campaign is to promote tolerance in the country.

• Vesti Segodnya reports that the Security Police initiated a case against a Russian speaking woman for a comment allegedly inciting to ethnic hatred
• NRA prints an interview with ex-Head of the Naturalisation Board (NB) Eizenija Aldermane

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Security Police (SP) initiated a case against a Russian speaking woman for a comment placed in the ethnic Latvian nationalistic internet portal www.braucmajas.lv (go home). The woman asserts that she placed a comment stating: Latvia is our motherland, while you, Latvians, should remember where you were born – in the Soviet Union. The woman tells that the SP threatened her with 10 years of imprisonment for such comment arguing that the comment incites to ethnic hatred. The newspaper also notes that the same internet portal contains several comments insulting Russian speaking residents of Latvia.

NRA prints an interview with ex-Head of the Naturalisation Board (NB) Eizenija Aldermane. Mrs. Aldermane occupied the position since establishment of the Naturalisation Board in 1995. Mrs. Aldermane considers that integration of non-citizens would be more successful if certain politicians would stop labelling them as dangerous. Mrs. Aldermane also believes that the NB is not responsible for the fact that some naturalised non-Latvians do not use Latvian language after they received citizenship. She believes it is a problem of unsuccessful integration policy. Eizenija Aldermane also believes that the new Citizenship Law should be elaborated because the current law was amended too many times so that new amendments are not permissible.

• 6,000 residents of Latvia legally moved to other countries for permanent residency in 2008
• Saeima proclaimed 23 August as commemoration day of victims of Stalinism and Nazism

NRA reports that 6,000 residents of Latvia legally moved to other countries for permanent residency in 2008. 20% emigrated to Russia, 19,7% to Ireland, 11,1% to the Great Britain, and 10,1% to Germany. 60% of residents who left the country are Latvian citizens.

The Saeima supported proposal to proclaim 23 August (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) as commemoration day of victims of Stalinism and Nazism.

The Saeima supported proposal to proclaim 23 August (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) as commemoration day of victims of Stalinism and Nazism. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, NRA

• Ombudsman Romans Apsitis reported about activities of the Ombudsmans Office before the MPs
• Latvian poet Janis Peters: two-community society will exist in Latvia very long time

Yesterday in the Saeima the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis reported about activities of the Ombudsman’s Office in 2008. According to the report, the Ombudsman received 2100 written and 2434 mutual complaints. Majority of the complaints concerned the right to fair trial, social issues, good governance and discrimination. The Ombudsman issued several opinions and statements, including statement on rights of non-citizens. Besides discussion about the Ombudsman’s activities in 2008, the MPs discussed the conflict between Romans Apsitis and employees of the Office, who demanded his resignation.

Yesterday in the Saeima the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis reported about activities of the Ombudsmans Office in 2008. According to the report, the Ombudsman received 2100 written and 2434 mutual complaints. Majority of the complaints concerned the right to fair trial, social issues, good governance and discrimination. The Ombudsman issued several opinions and statements, including statement on rights of non-citizens. Besides discussion about the Ombudsmans activities in 2008, the MPs discussed the conflict between Romans Apsitis and employees of the Office, who demanded his resignation. Latvijas Avize

Famous Latvian poet Janis Peters in an interview with

Famous Latvian poet Janis Peters in an interview with Telegraf stated that two-community society will exist in Latvia forever or for very long time because Russian speaking residents will not reject their ethnic identity and language.