• Telegraf reports that Russias NGO Russkie begun issuing card of Russian to Russian compatriots in Baltic countries, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Moldova
• Diena prints an article about the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis

Telegraf reports that Russias NGO Russkie begun issuing card of Russian to Russian compatriots in Baltic countries, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Moldova. Such initiative is negatively evaluated by the Security Police of Latvia and will be reviewed at the meeting of Saeimas National Security Committee. According to a representative of the Security Police, spread of such cards looks like political process aimed at splitting Latvian residents on different categories and it might endanger integration process and naturalisation. The director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris considers that such initiative is acceptable only if it does not have any political subtext and does not become an instrument of interference in Latvian internal affairs. According to the head of the United Congress of Russian Community in Latvia Aleksandrs Gaponenko, the card of Russian is initiative of Russias NGO and has no relation to activities of Russian government.

Diena prints an article about the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis. In an interview with the newspaper, the MP Ainars Latkovskis (a key person in elaboration of the Law on Ombudsman) states that activities of the Ombudsman do not fulfil the idea of the Ombudsmans Office because it continues to deal mostly with the same issues as the National Human Rights Office despite the fact that budget and capacity of the Ombudsmans Office are much greater. Mr. Latkovskis believes that the conflict in the Ombudsmans Office arose because of low moral authority of Mr. Apsitis in the eyes of his employees. Mr. Latkovskis considers a more suitable head of the Office would give a second breath to the institution.

• Saeimas Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee voiced support to the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis
• Vaira Vike-Freiberga: split among ethnic Latvian parties might deprive them of inclusion in the parliament

Yesterday, the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee met with the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis and employees of the Ombudsman’s Office who demanded his resignation. The MPs concluded that the Ombudsman handles his job well, while employees are unable to prove that Mr. Apsitis has failed in the fulfilment of his duties. Head of the Committee Ingirda Circene considers that arguments of his staff are emotionally grounded and that the conflict should be resolved internally in the Ombudsman’s Office.

Yesterday, the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee met with the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis and employees of the Ombudsmans Office who demanded his resignation. The MPs concluded that the Ombudsman handles his job well, while employees are unable to prove that Mr. Apsitis has failed in the fulfilment of his duties. Head of the Committee Ingirda Circene considers that arguments of his staff are emotionally grounded and that the conflict should be resolved internally in the Ombudsmans Office. Telegraf, Diena

Ex-President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga believes that split among ethnic Latvian parties may prevent them from gaining parliamentary seats and may lead to the victory of left-wing parties in the next Saeima elections.

Ex-President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga believes that split among ethnic Latvian parties may prevent them from gaining parliamentary seats and may lead to the victory of left-wing parties in the next Saeima elections. Chas

• Telegraf: number of Roma in Latvia has decreased two times during last 12 years
• 23 August most likely will be commemoration day of victims of Stalinism and Nazism in Latvia

According to

According to Telegraf, during last 12 years number of Roma in Latvia has decreased two times. Social scientist Aigars Freimanis considers that Roma always were one of the poorest ethnic minorities in Latvia and are most affected by the economic crisis affects. Roma are, therefore, forced to leave Latvia in search for better life. However, the head of Roma NGO Nevo Drom Anatolijs Berezovskis does not agree that it is crisis which forces Roma to emigrate. According to Mr. Berezovskis, economic crisis have not affected Roma as they always faced discrimination and joblessness in Latvia, and they began leaving the country long before the economic crisis started. Mr. Berezovskis also complains that Roma integration process stopped with the closure of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration in the end of 2008.

Yesterday, the governing coalition decided to support the proposal to proclaim 23 August (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) as commemoration day of victims of Stalinism and Nazism.

Yesterday, the governing coalition decided to support the proposal to proclaim 23 August (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) as commemoration day of victims of Stalinism and Nazism. Chas, Latvijas Avize

• Conference Russian World in Latvia in 2009: Situation and Tendencies of Development was held in Riga on Saturday

Conference “Russian World in Latvia in 2009: Situation and Tendencies of Development” was held in Riga on Saturday. Representatives of 196 Russian NGOs and Russia’s and Latvia’s officials took part in the conference. The participants discussed problems and perspectives of development of Russian community in Latvia during economic crisis, Russia’s law on compatriots, and problems of youth.

Conference Russian World in Latvia in 2009: Situation and Tendencies of Development was held in Riga on Saturday. Representatives of 196 Russian NGOs and Russias and Latvias officials took part in the conference. The participants discussed problems and perspectives of development of Russian community in Latvia during economic crisis, Russias law on compatriots, and problems of youth. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

• Ombudsman Romans Apsitis is not planning to leave the post

According to

According to Diena, the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis is not planning to leave the post. As reported, 26 employees of the Ombudsman Office demanded resignation of the Ombudsman arguing that Mr. Apsitis is not competent in human rights issues and his decisions are not independent. Roman Apsitis and his employees will meet tomorrow at the Saeimas Human Rights and Public Affairs Committees meeting.