• 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

• Ex-deputy of Jurmala City Council Janis Kuzins asks the court to declare invalid municipal elections
• President of Latvia holds a meeting with Forest Brothers

Ex-deputy of Jurmala City Council Janis Kuzins (FHRUL) appealed to the Riga Regional Court and the Constitutional Court asking to declare invalid municipal elections. Mr. Kuzins disputes elections on three positions: the fact that Latvian non-citizens are not allowed to participate in the elections; prohibition for citizens of EU-associated countries to take part in the elections; and the fact that elections were held on Saturday – the day when representatives of some religions cannot vote in the elections. Janis Kuzins wants the case to go to the Court of Justice of European Communities or the European Court for Human Rights.

Ex-deputy of Jurmala City Council Janis Kuzins (FHRUL) appealed to the Riga Regional Court and the Constitutional Court asking to declare invalid municipal elections. Mr. Kuzins disputes elections on three positions: the fact that Latvian non-citizens are not allowed to participate in the elections; prohibition for citizens of EU-associated countries to take part in the elections; and the fact that elections were held on Saturday – the day when representatives of some religions cannot vote in the elections. Janis Kuzins wants the case to go to the Court of Justice of European Communities or the European Court for Human Rights. Vesti Segodnya

Today, the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers holds a meeting with national partisans or so-called “Forest Brothers”. The President and national partisans will discuss patriotic education and history teaching in schools. The MP Jakovs Pliners (FHRUL) in an interview with

Today, the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers holds a meeting with national partisans or so-called Forest Brothers. The President and national partisans will discuss patriotic education and history teaching in schools. The MP Jakovs Pliners (FHRUL) in an interview with Vesti Segodnya stated that such meeting puts shame on Latvia because, in his opinion, Forest Brothers were criminals who combined fighting against supporters of soviet authorities with robbery and terror. Vesti Segodnya

• All for Latvia! considers that naturalisation process should be stopped
• Vesti Segodnya reports about a video conference between Moscow and Riga about problems of Russian speaking residents in Latvia and Estonia
• Latvijas Avize reports about a Latvian family struggling to secure the right to Latvian citizenship to their child
• Representatives of the Ministry of Education support option to teach in Russian language in state higher education establishments

According to a member of the nationalistic political party “All for Latvia!”, nationalistic parties in Riga City Council elections suffered a defeat because a large number of recently naturalised citizens voted for parties that are addressing Russian speaking voters. Therefore, member of “All for Latvia!” considers that naturalisation process should be stopped.

According to a member of the nationalistic political party All for Latvia!, nationalistic parties in Riga City Council elections suffered a defeat because a large number of recently naturalised citizens voted for parties that are addressing Russian speaking voters. Therefore, member of All for Latvia! considers that naturalisation process should be stopped. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports about a video conference between Moscow and Riga about problems of Russian speaking residents in Latvia and Estonia held by Russian NGOs from Russia and Latvia. Russias NGOs presented a report on violations of rights of Russian speakers in Latvia and Estonia. According to the report, the main problem of Russian residents in Latvia is mass scale non-citizenship.

Latvijas Avize reports about a Latvian family struggling to secure the right to Latvian citizenship to their child. The parents emigrated from Latvia during Soviet times to Germany. Both received German citizenship, yet kept Latvian citizenship. However the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs refused to register their child as a Latvian citizen because of German citizenship. The family disputes the refusal in the court.

Latvijas Avize reports that representatives of the Ministry of Education support option to teach in Russian language in state higher education establishments, because such option would attract to Latvia students from Russian speaking countries. However, presently, the draft Law on Higher Education Establishment allows teaching only in official EU languages.

• Future of the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia

Telegraf reports that some of the political scientists foresee the end of the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL). The reason of such rumours is failure of the party in the Riga municipal elections. Political scientist Aigars Freimanis believes that FHRUL lacks a bright leader like Nils Usakovs (Concord Centre) or Ainars Slesers (Latvias First Party/Latvias Way.)