• Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) supported Latvias appeal in the case against former Red Partisan Vasilij Kononov
• Media widely report about the reaction of the Latvian and Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs to the ECtHR judgment
• Administrative Court of Riga District issued a ruling in favour of a Latvian non-citizen disputing calculation of the total length of service

Yesterday, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) supported Latvia’s appeal in the case against the former Red Partisan Vasilij Kononov. The Grand Chamber, by 14 votes to three, ruled that Vasilij Kononov’s conviction of war crimes during WWII did not violate Article 7 (no punishment without law) of the European Convention of Human Rights. In an earlier judgment in 2008, ECtHR established that Latvia had violated Article 7 and awarded Mr. Kononov EUR 30,000 in compensation for moral damages. In 2009 the case was referred to the Grand Chamber at the Latvian government’s request. Vasilij Kononov is planning to seek the revision of the entire case.

Yesterday, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) supported Latvias appeal in the case against the former Red Partisan Vasilij Kononov. The Grand Chamber, by 14 votes to three, ruled that Vasilij Kononovs conviction of war crimes during WWII did not violate Article 7 (no punishment without law) of the European Convention of Human Rights. In an earlier judgment in 2008, ECtHR established that Latvia had violated Article 7 and awarded Mr. Kononov EUR 30,000 in compensation for moral damages. In 2009 the case was referred to the Grand Chamber at the Latvian governments request. Vasilij Kononov is planning to seek the revision of the entire case. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

Full judgment is available at the ECtHR home page:

Full judgment is available at the ECtHR home page: http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/view.asp?action=html&documentId=867803&portal=hbkm&source=externalbydocnumber&table=F69A27FD8FB86142BF01C1166DEA398649

Newspapers widely report about the reaction of the Latvian and Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and officials to the ECtHR judgement in Kononov’s case.

Newspapers widely report about the reaction of the Latvian and Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and officials to the ECtHR judgement in Kononovs case. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

The Riga Administrative District Court issued a ruling in favour of a Latvian non-citizen disputing the decision of the State Social Security Agency not to include the time worked in the Ukraine in the total length of service, which resulted in the decrease of the amount of unemployment benefit. The Court has ordered the agency to re-calculate the total length of service and include the years worked in the Ukraine, and to pay the remaining sum.

The Riga Administrative District Court issued a ruling in favour of a Latvian non-citizen disputing the decision of the State Social Security Agency not to include the time worked in the Ukraine in the total length of service, which resulted in the decrease of the amount of unemployment benefit. The Court has ordered the agency to re-calculate the total length of service and include the years worked in the Ukraine, and to pay the remaining sum. Vesti Segodnya

 

 

• One of the leaders of the political union Unity Sandra Kalniete: the main aim of the union is to win over the Concord Centre

One of the leaders of the political union “Unity” Sandra Kalniete stated the main aim of the union is to win over the party “Concord Centre”. Mrs. Kalniete believes that in the up-coming Saeima’s elections the voters should choose between Western values and “Moscow”, represented by “Unity” and “Concord Centre”. According to Mrs. Kalniete, the main principle for co-operation of the “Unity” with other parties is inviolability of the basic values – national state, state language, citizenship, education and national values.

One of the leaders of the political union Unity Sandra Kalniete stated the main aim of the union is to win over the party Concord Centre. Mrs. Kalniete believes that in the up-coming Saeimas elections the voters should choose between Western values and Moscow, represented by Unity and Concord Centre. According to Mrs. Kalniete, the main principle for co-operation of the Unity with other parties is inviolability of the basic values – national state, state language, citizenship, education and national values. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

• Constitutional Court: transitional provisions of the Citizenship Law on dual citizenship comply with the Constitution of Latvia

The Constitutional Court recognized that transitional provisions of the Citizenship Law on dual citizenship comply with the Constitution of Latvia. The Constitutional Court initiated proceedings in the case following a claim of the Senate of the Supreme Court of Latvia requesting abolition of time limitation for registration of Latvian citizenship of descendants of Latvian citizens living abroad and willing to keep dual citizenship. The Court agreed with conclusions of the Saeima and the Ombudsman who considered that the transitional provisions do not contradict the Constitution.

The Constitutional Court recognized that transitional provisions of the Citizenship Law on dual citizenship comply with the Constitution of Latvia. The Constitutional Court initiated proceedings in the case following a claim of the Senate of the Supreme Court of Latvia requesting abolition of time limitation for registration of Latvian citizenship of descendants of Latvian citizens living abroad and willing to keep dual citizenship. The Court agreed with conclusions of the Saeima and the Ombudsman who considered that the transitional provisions do not contradict the Constitution. Latvijas Avize

• Draft amendments envisage municipal deputies may be deprived of mandate if fail to improve language skills

Yesterday, the Saeima approved in the first reading amendments to the law on the status of municipal deputies. Amendments envisage that deputies that don’t have certain level of Latvian language proficiency will have to improve their proficiency and their training will be paid by municipality. If a deputy fails to attest the required level within half a year, the State Language Centre will be able to request a regional court to annul the deputy’s mandate.

Yesterday, the Saeima approved in the first reading amendments to the law on the status of municipal deputies. Amendments envisage that deputies that dont have certain level of Latvian language proficiency will have to improve their proficiency and their training will be paid by municipality. If a deputy fails to attest the required level within half a year, the State Language Centre will be able to request a regional court to annul the deputys mandate. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

• Chairs of municipal councils will be obligated to ensure that council deputies with insufficient state language proficiency master Latvian
• The State President proclaimed the amendments to the Immigration law

The Saeima Committee on Public Administration and Municipalities has drafted amendments to the Law on the Status of Municipal Deputies imposing an obligation on the heads of municipal councils to ensure that council deputies with insufficient state language proficiency master Latvian. If a deputy does not improve Latvian language proficiency during six months the State Language Centre will be able to request a regional court to annul the deputy’s mandate.

The Saeima Committee on Public Administration and Municipalities has drafted amendments to the Law on the Status of Municipal Deputies imposing an obligation on the heads of municipal councils to ensure that council deputies with insufficient state language proficiency master Latvian. If a deputy does not improve Latvian language proficiency during six months the State Language Centre will be able to request a regional court to annul the deputys mandate. Latvijas Avize

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers proclaimed the amendments to the Immigration Law which foresee the granting of residency permit to large foreign investors. The amendments will come into force on 1 July.

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers proclaimed the amendments to the Immigration Law which foresee the granting of residency permit to large foreign investors. The amendments will come into force on 1 July. Neatkariga