• Ethnic Latvian cultural workers asked high-ranking officials to prevent the restoration of inscription For Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga on the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders

Ethnic Latvian cultural workers have sent an open letter to the President of Latvia, the Saeima and the Mayor of Riga asking to prevent the restoration of inscription “For Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga” on the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. The authors of the letter believe that restoration of such inscription is provocation because it would infringe national feeling of ethnic Latvians. In the meantime, the Council on Monuments of the Riga City Council allowed the restoration of the historical inscription which was stolen in the beginning of 90’s.

Ethnic Latvian cultural workers have sent an open letter to the President of Latvia, the Saeima and the Mayor of Riga asking to prevent the restoration of inscription For Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga on the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. The authors of the letter believe that restoration of such inscription is provocation because it would infringe national feeling of ethnic Latvians. In the meantime, the Council on Monuments of the Riga City Council allowed the restoration of the historical inscription which was stolen in the beginning of 90s. Vesti Segodnya

• Riga City Council issued permission to hold public celebration events on 9 May
• Ombudsman Romans Apsitis: Latvian state must preserve ethnic Latvian identity

Yesterday, the Riga City Council issued permission to hold public celebration events on 9 May (Victory Day) near the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. The permission was issued despite the objections of the city Mayor Janis Birks who believed that such event is arranged by Russian left-wing extremists.

Yesterday, the Riga City Council issued permission to hold public celebration events on 9 May (Victory Day) near the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. The permission was issued despite the objections of the city Mayor Janis Birks who believed that such event is arranged by Russian left-wing extremists. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis. According to Mr. Apsitis, Latvia cannot exist without Latvian language and Latvian traditions and it is obligation of Latvian state to preserve ethnic Latvian identity.

• Ombudsman Romans Apsitis: state and municipal institutions working on promotion of integration and observance of human rights should be granted the right to provide information in foreign languages
• Ministry of Justice will be entrusted with integration policy

The Ombudsman Romans Apsitis replied to a request of the party For Human Rights in United Latvia regarding compliance of Article 21 of the State Language Law with Latvian Constitution. The article prohibits state and municipal institutions to provide information in foreign languages accept in particularly mentioned cases. The Ombudsman concluded that the threats to the state sovereignty are not as acute as some 10 years ago, and therefore normative regulations should be well-grounded and proportionately changed. The Ombudsman considers that state and municipal institutions which work on promotion of integration and observance of human rights should be granted the right to provide information in foreign languages without special request. According to a representative of the FHRUL, conclusion of the Ombudsman will serve as a basis for turning to the Constitutional Court, challenging the compliance of Article 21 with the Constitution.

The Ombudsman Romans Apsitis replied to a request of the party For Human Rights in United Latvia regarding compliance of Article 21 of the State Language Law with Latvian Constitution. The article prohibits state and municipal institutions to provide information in foreign languages accept in particularly mentioned cases. The Ombudsman concluded that the threats to the state sovereignty are not as acute as some 10 years ago, and therefore normative regulations should be well-grounded and proportionately changed. The Ombudsman considers that state and municipal institutions which work on promotion of integration and observance of human rights should be granted the right to provide information in foreign languages without special request. According to a representative of the FHRUL, conclusion of the Ombudsman will serve as a basis for turning to the Constitutional Court, challenging the compliance of Article 21 with the Constitution. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the government decided to divide functions of the Ministry of Children, Family and Integration Affairs among three other ministries. Elaboration and implementation of integration policy will be entrusted to the Ministry of Justice.

Yesterday, the government decided to divide functions of the Ministry of Children, Family and Integration Affairs among three other ministries. Elaboration and implementation of integration policy will be entrusted to the Ministry of Justice. NRA

• 3,465 persons from 73 countries arrived to Latvia in 2008 for permanent residency
• Chas interviews head of the Latvian Anti-fascist Committee Eduards Goncarovs who was expelled from Estonia
• Latvijas Avize reports that a conference School Revolution in Latvia (2004-2006): learning of recent history is held today in Moscow

According to the Central Statistics Bureau of Latvia, 3,465 persons from 73 countries arrived to Latvia in 2008 for permanent residency (2,2% fewer than in 2007). At the same time, 6,007 persons emigrated from Latvia to 90 countries (43,6% more than in 2007).

According to the Central Statistics Bureau of Latvia, 3,465 persons from 73 countries arrived to Latvia in 2008 for permanent residency (2,2% fewer than in 2007). At the same time, 6,007 persons emigrated from Latvia to 90 countries (43,6% more than in 2007). Chas

Chas interviews head of the Latvian Anti-fascist Committee Eduards Goncarovs. As reported, Mr. Goncarovs and his colleague travelled to Tallinn in order to take part in the press-conference on events concerning the removal of the Red Army war memorial from the centre of Tallinn in 2007 but were detained and expelled from Estonia. According to Goncarovs, they were explained that they are included into the list of persons whose entrance to Estonia is forbidden and with an escort of special mission unit they were taken to back to Latvia. Eduards Goncarovs and his colleague are planning to appeal the decision of Estonian officials in the European Court of Human Rights.

Latvijas Avize reports that a conference School Revolution in Latvia (2004-2006): learning of recent history is held today in Moscow by the NGO Historical Memory. The aim of the conference is to study activities of Russian residents of Latvia to protect secondary education in Russian language.

• Estonian police detained representatives of the Latvian Anti-fascist Committee and the MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka
• Chas prints an article about community of Old Believers in Latvia
• The most popular parties in April are the Concord Centre and the New Era

Newspapers reports that on Sunday, Estonian police detained two representatives of the Latvian Anti-fascist Committee and the MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka who travelled to Estonia in order to take part in the press-conference on events concerning the removal of the Red Army war memorial from the centre of Tallinn in 2007. According to Mrs. Zdanoka, the police released her after checking her  identity documents, while the anti-fascists were taken away by the police into an unknown destination.

Newspapers reports that on Sunday, Estonian police detained two representatives of the Latvian Anti-fascist Committee and the MEP from Latvia Tatyana Zdanoka who travelled to Estonia in order to take part in the press-conference on events concerning the removal of the Red Army war memorial from the centre of Tallinn in 2007. According to Mrs. Zdanoka, the police released her after checking her identity documents, while the anti-fascists were taken away by the police into an unknown destination. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Chas prints an article about community of Old Believers in Latvia. According to the article, Old Believers are successful in preservation of their culture trough observance of ancient religious traditions.

According to the latest public opinion survey held by the market and social research company “Latvijas fakti”, the Concord Centre and the New Era are the most popular parties in Latvia – 13.7% and 12.5% of Latvian citizens would vote for them if the Saeima elections were held in April. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of Latvian citizens. 33.2 % of respondents have not decided whom to vote for yet, while 16.7% of respondents would not participate in the elections.

According to the latest public opinion survey held by the market and social research company Latvijas fakti, the Concord Centre and the New Era are the most popular parties in Latvia – 13.7% and 12.5% of Latvian citizens would vote for them if the Saeima elections were held in April. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of Latvian citizens. 33.2 % of respondents have not decided whom to vote for yet, while 16.7% of respondents would not participate in the elections. Diena