• Mainstream schools in Latvia lack integration programmes for non-Latvians
• Seven Somalians have appealed the refusal to grant them the status of refugee or alternative status in Latvia
• 103,341 persons had been naturalized since 1 January, 1999
• General Prosecutors Office returned the materials on the bribery cases back to CPCB
• Russias TV company produces a documentary depicting Latvians as nazists
• Russian will press for the continuation of post-monitoring dialog with Latvia on todays PACE session

Yesterday, the researcher of the Centre for Public Policy “Providus” Maria Golubeva presented her research “The Case for Diversity Mainstreaming in the National School System.” In her presentation the researcher stated that there is lack of studies on integration of non-Latvian children into mainstream schools in Latvia. “At this moment, mainstream schools do not provide any help for the integration of non-Latvian children into school… ,  the most of teachers do not have skills to work with children coming from diverse linguistic and ethnic backgrounds,” said Golubeva. The study provides a number of recommendations, including implementation of further studies on the subject and teacher training on multicultural education..

Yesterday, the researcher of the Centre for Public Policy Providus Maria Golubeva presented her research The Case for Diversity Mainstreaming in the National School System. In her presentation the researcher stated that there is lack of studies on integration of non-Latvian children into mainstream schools in Latvia. At this moment, mainstream schools do not provide any help for the integration of non-Latvian children into school… , the most of teachers do not have skills to work with children coming from diverse linguistic and ethnic backgrounds, said Golubeva. The study provides a number of recommendations, including implementation of further studies on the subject and teacher training on multicultural education.. Diena

The Ministry of Justice reports that the seven asylum seekers from Somalia have appealed the verdict of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs which refused them the grant of the status of refugee or alternative status in Latvia. As reported, in August seven persons who claimed to be from Somalia arrived in Latvia and applied for asylum. If the appellation is turned down, Somalians  have to leave Latvia.

The Ministry of Justice reports that the seven asylum seekers from Somalia have appealed the verdict of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs which refused them the grant of the status of refugee or alternative status in Latvia. As reported, in August seven persons who claimed to be from Somalia arrived in Latvia and applied for asylum. If the appellation is turned down, Somalians have to leave Latvia. Diena, NRA

Since 1 January, 1999 to 30 November,2005, 103,341 persons, including 12,186 juveniles who were naturalized together with their parents, have been granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation,.

Since 1 January, 1999 to 30 November,2005, 103,341 persons, including 12,186 juveniles who were naturalized together with their parents, have been granted Latvian citizenship through naturalisation,. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

The General Prosecutor’s Office returned the materials on the bribery cases in the Naturalization Board in Limbazi back to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (CPCB). A representative of the Prosecutor’s Office stated that the Bureau should provide more detailed information about  the case.

The General Prosecutors Office returned the materials on the bribery cases in the Naturalization Board in Limbazi back to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (CPCB). A representative of the Prosecutors Office stated that the Bureau should provide more detailed information about the case. Vesti Segodnya

A Russia’s TV company has produced a documentary which depicts Latvians as Nazis. The documentary’s main story is about Latvian SS legionnaires who fought on the side of Germany in the World War II. While a number of Latvian historians believe that the documentary contains many historical falsifications and wants to show that Fascism is re-birthing in Latvia.

A Russias TV company has produced a documentary which depicts Latvians as Nazis. The documentarys main story is about Latvian SS legionnaires who fought on the side of Germany in the World War II. While a number of Latvian historians believe that the documentary contains many historical falsifications and wants to show that Fascism is re-birthing in Latvia. Diena

The representative of Russian delegation in the Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Valeriy Grebenshikov in the telephone interview with

The representative of Russian delegation in the Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Valeriy Grebenshikov in the telephone interview with Vesti Segodnya stated that the closure of the post-monitoring dialogue on the situation of national minorities in Latvia is absurd and Russia will press for the continuation of the post-monitoring on todays session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Valeriy Grebenshikov also believes that the majority of the Committee members will support Russias proposal.

• Naturalisation Board develops draft amendments to the Citizenship Law
• Prosecutor reverses the judgement in the bribery case of former employees of the Naturalisation Board

The Naturalisation Board has developed the draw amendments to the Citizenship Law. The draft amendments foresee a number of changes. According to the draft amendments, a naturalisation applicant who would fail to come to naturalisation exams without notification and justified reason two times in a row, will be denied the grant of citizenship. A representative of the Naturalisation Board motivates the amendments by unserious attitude of a number of applicants towards naturalisation – “last year only, 1,200 persons failed to come to exams and did not provide any notification,” said the representative.

The Naturalisation Board has developed the draw amendments to the Citizenship Law. The draft amendments foresee a number of changes. According to the draft amendments, a naturalisation applicant who would fail to come to naturalisation exams without notification and justified reason two times in a row, will be denied the grant of citizenship. A representative of the Naturalisation Board motivates the amendments by unserious attitude of a number of applicants towards naturalisation – last year only, 1,200 persons failed to come to exams and did not provide any notification, said the representative. Chas

The Public Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court has abolished the ruling in the bribery case of two ex-staff workers of the Naturalisation Board. As reported, the Court charged the two accused with four years and one and a half year of conventional imprisonment for receiving bribes for helping to receive Latvian citizenship. A representative of the Prosecutor General Office stated that the Prosecutor believes that the accused should be sentenced to actual imprisonment in this case.

The Public Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court has abolished the ruling in the bribery case of two ex-staff workers of the Naturalisation Board. As reported, the Court charged the two accused with four years and one and a half year of conventional imprisonment for receiving bribes for helping to receive Latvian citizenship. A representative of the Prosecutor General Office stated that the Prosecutor believes that the accused should be sentenced to actual imprisonment in this case. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

• Riga Regional Court adopted its final rulings in the appellation cases of 24 members of the unapproved protest action against Fascism in Latvia
• Aleksandr Kazakov, activist of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Language Schools in Latvia, appealed his expulsion from Latvia

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court announced its final rulings in the appellation cases of 24 members of the unapproved protest action. Three of appealers were justified, several were given smaller fines, however, the majority of previous rulings were not changed. As reported, the appealers were detained for ‘disturbance of public order’ when they participated in the protest action against ‘the revival of Fascism in Latvia,’ which was organized at the same place and time when a march to commemorate the controversial Latvian legionnaires of the Second World War was hold.

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court announced its final rulings in the appellation cases of 24 members of the unapproved protest action. Three of appealers were justified, several were given smaller fines, however, the majority of previous rulings were not changed. As reported, the appealers were detained for ‘disturbance of public order when they participated in the protest action against ‘the revival of Fascism in Latvia, which was organized at the same place and time when a march to commemorate the controversial Latvian legionnaires of the Second World War was hold. Chas

Activist of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools in Latvia Aleksandr Kazakov, who was expelled from Latvia in September of 2004, has appealed with the Highest Appeal Court. Aleksandr Kazakov challenges the decision of the Latvian government to include him in the list of persons who are denied entrance in Latvia. As reported, Aleksandr Kazakov was expelled from Latvia because of his activities against the implementation  of the minority education reform.

Activist of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools in Latvia Aleksandr Kazakov, who was expelled from Latvia in September of 2004, has appealed with the Highest Appeal Court. Aleksandr Kazakov challenges the decision of the Latvian government to include him in the list of persons who are denied entrance in Latvia. As reported, Aleksandr Kazakov was expelled from Latvia because of his activities against the implementation of the minority education reform. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

 

 

 

 

• Representatives of Russia meet Russias citizens in Latvia

A number of representatives of Russia held a meeting with Russia’s citizens in Riga. The Head of the Russia Citizens Association in Latvia Boriss Katkov stated that Russia is doing everything to renew its ties with Russian diasporas in other countries. The Ambassador of Russia in Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhniy stated that still there are problems with national minorities, the use of the Russian language and Russians in Latvia. “However, the stance of Russia regarding these issues and ways of solution should be changed…. Only dialog and positives steps can help to resolve the problems.” – said Kalyuzhniy.

A number of representatives of Russia held a meeting with Russias citizens in Riga. The Head of the Russia Citizens Association in Latvia Boriss Katkov stated that Russia is doing everything to renew its ties with Russian diasporas in other countries. The Ambassador of Russia in Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhniy stated that still there are problems with national minorities, the use of the Russian language and Russians in Latvia. However, the stance of Russia regarding these issues and ways of solution should be changed…. Only dialog and positives steps can help to resolve the problems. – said Kalyuzhniy. Latvijas Avize

• Research claims that TV programmes in Russian face discriminatory restrictions in Latvia

The research conducted by the Open Society Institute on TV programmes aired in Europe argues that there are discriminatory restrictions on TV programmes in the Russian language in Latvia. The research discuss the strict legal norms regulating the use of languages on public TV channels and notes “language restrictions are paradoxical considering that due to a high number of Russians in Latvia advertisers are very interested in TV programmes in Russian.”

The research conducted by the Open Society Institute on TV programmes aired in Europe argues that there are discriminatory restrictions on TV programmes in the Russian language in Latvia. The research discuss the strict legal norms regulating the use of languages on public TV channels and notes language restrictions are paradoxical considering that due to a high number of Russians in Latvia advertisers are very interested in TV programmes in Russian. Chas, Vesti Segodnya