• Ministry of Welfare in order to eliminate discrimination of non-citizens pensioners proposes to cut pensions of citizens
• Saeima refused the draft law which envisaged granting non-citizens the right to take part in the European Parliament elections
• Riga City Elections Commission accepted for revision list of non-citizens
• Riga City Council cancelled its decision to close two Russian language elementary schools

Chas reports that the Ministry of Welfare in order to eliminate discrimination of non-citizens pensioners proposes to cut pensions of citizens. According to the newspaper, the draft amendments to the Law on State Pensions prepared by the Ministry indeed use the same approach to calculate pensions of Latvian citizens and non-citizens retiring after 1 January 2010: the years of Soviet-era employment at enterprises registered in other ex-USSR countries will not be included into the total length of service if Latvia does not have social agreement with those countries. At present, only citizens have the Soviet-era employment years outside of Latvia included into the total length of service. As reported, the Ministry of Welfare prepared the draft amendments as a response to a recent judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in favour of a Latvian pensioner, non-citizen Natalija Andrejeva who objected the fact that the years of her employment during the Soviet times at an enterprise located in Latvia but registered in Moscow and Kiev is not included in the total length of service on the ground that she does not have Latvian citizenship.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused the draft law which envisaged granting non-citizens the right to take part in the European Parliament elections proposed by the party For Human Rights in United Latvia.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused the draft law which envisaged granting non-citizens the right to take part in the European Parliament elections proposed by the party For Human Rights in United Latvia. Chas

Yesterday, the Riga City Elections Commission accepted for revision a list of candidates for the Riga City Council submitted by the Osipov’s Party. The list contains only Latvian non-citizens and is headed by the leader of the Latvian National Bolsheviks Vladimir Linderman. The list was submitted as a protest against the fact that Latvian non-citizens who lived in Latvia all their lives do not have the right to take part in the municipal elections while this right is granted to citizens of other EU countries who might have lived in Latvia for a few years.

Yesterday, the Riga City Elections Commission accepted for revision a list of candidates for the Riga City Council submitted by the Osipovs Party. The list contains only Latvian non-citizens and is headed by the leader of the Latvian National Bolsheviks Vladimir Linderman. The list was submitted as a protest against the fact that Latvian non-citizens who lived in Latvia all their lives do not have the right to take part in the municipal elections while this right is granted to citizens of other EU countries who might have lived in Latvia for a few years. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Committee on Education, Youth and Sports Affairs of the Riga City Council cancelled its decision to close two Russian language elementary schools in Riga.

The Committee on Education, Youth and Sports Affairs of the Riga City Council cancelled its decision to close two Russian language elementary schools in Riga. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

• Pensions of non-citizens retired before 1 January 2010 will not be re-calculated
• European Parliament approved a report, which includes concern about the fact that Latvian non-citizens do not have voting rights in municipal elections
• Vesti Segodnya interviews ethnic Latvian entrepreneur who criticizes ethnic Latvians for their derogatory attitude towards Russians

Telegraf reports that the draft amendments to the Law on State Pensions elaborated by the Ministry of Welfare stipulating equal approach to calculation of pensions to citizens and non-citizens of Latvia will apply only on those non-citizens pensioners who will retire after the draft amendments will come into force, probably on 1 January 2010. Pensions of non-citizens retired before this date will not be re-calculated. As reported, the Ministry of Welfare elaborated such amendments after the European Court of Human Rights issued ruling in favour of a Latvian pensioner, non-citizen Natalija Andrejeva who objected the fact that the years of her employment during the Soviet times at an enterprise located in Latvia but registered in Moscow and Kiev is not included in the total length of service on the ground that she does not have Latvian citizenship.

Chas reports that yesterday, the European Parliament approved a report on activities of the Petitions Committee in 2008, which includes concern about the fact that Latvian non-citizens do not have voting rights in municipal elections.

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with an ethnic Latvian entrepreneur who criticizes ethnic Latvians for their derogatory attitude towards Russia and Russian residents living in Latvia. The entrepreneur believes that ethnic Latvians should improve relations with Russians in order to save the countrys future.

 

• Study: new large emigration wave of residents from the Baltic States is expected

According to a study conducted by a researcher of the University of Latvia Mihails Hazans, a new large emigration wave of residents from the Baltic States is expected in the near future due to economic recession. Mr. Hazans considers that the main reason which will force people to leave their country is joblessness.

According to a study conducted by a researcher of the University of Latvia Mihails Hazans, a new large emigration wave of residents from the Baltic States is expected in the near future due to economic recession. Mr. Hazans considers that the main reason which will force people to leave their country is joblessness. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

• National Power Union of Fatherland is planning to hold a public event Red Army – Liberators or War Criminals in then centre of Riga on 9 May
• Russian TV journalist Leonid Mlechin: Russians see Latvia as country-betrayer
• State Border Guard Service regularly detains citizens of Asian and African countries who attempt to travel to other European countries via Latvia illegally
• Diena prints an article about history of Riga Ghetto

The radical organisation National Power Union of Fatherland is planning to hold a public event “Red Army – Liberators or War Criminals” in then centre of Riga on 9 May (Victory Day). According to the leader of the organisation Viktors Birze, the aim of the event is to prove to the society that Red Army occupied Latvia and 9 May cannot be a day of celebration.

The radical organisation National Power Union of Fatherland is planning to hold a public event Red Army – Liberators or War Criminals in then centre of Riga on 9 May (Victory Day). According to the leader of the organisation Viktors Birze, the aim of the event is to prove to the society that Red Army occupied Latvia and 9 May cannot be a day of celebration. Chas, Telegraf

Famous Russian TV journalist Leonid Mlechin in an interview with

Famous Russian TV journalist Leonid Mlechin in an interview with Chas states that many Russians see Latvia as a country-betrayer because they believe that Latvia received a lot of help during Soviet times, however, after Latvia became independent it turned its back to Russia. Latvian policy towards Russian speaking residents and marches of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires on 16 March reinforce negative Latvias image in Russia.

Chas reports that the State Border Guard Service regularly detains citizens of Asian and African countries who attempt to travel to other European countries via Latvia illegally. Recently, a citizen of Morocco was placed in Olaine camp for illegal immigrants who tried to travel from Riga to Norway using fake Spanish residency permit.

Diena prints an article about history of Riga Ghetto which was established in 23 August 1941 and liquidated in 2 November 1943 when remainder Jews were transferred to concentration camps.

• Mayor of the Riga City Council Janis Birks: aim of the FF/LNIM is ethnic Latvian Riga
• Saeima will review a new draft law stipulating options for teaching in state higher education establishments in foreign languages including Russian
• Head of an NGO Russian Community Vjaceslavs Altuhovs: during economic crisis Russians are more vulnerable than ethnic Latvians

The Mayor of the Riga City Council Janis Birks at pre-election congress of his party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) stated that aim of the FF/LNIM is ethnic Latvian Riga. According to the newspapers, the members of the FF/LNIM are concerned about their low popularity among Riga residents and they see “pro-Russian” parties as their main enemies.

The Mayor of the Riga City Council Janis Birks at pre-election congress of his party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) stated that aim of the FF/LNIM is ethnic Latvian Riga. According to the newspapers, the members of the FF/LNIM are concerned about their low popularity among Riga residents and they see pro-Russian parties as their main enemies. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

According to a representative of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Saeima will review a new draft law which among other things might stipulate options for teaching in state higher education establishments in foreign languages including Russian. Such norm would promote export of Latvian higher education in the future, when the number of students from Latvia will decrease.

According to a representative of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Saeima will review a new draft law which among other things might stipulate options for teaching in state higher education establishments in foreign languages including Russian. Such norm would promote export of Latvian higher education in the future, when the number of students from Latvia will decrease. Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the head of an NGO Russian Community Vjaceslavs Altuhovs. According to Mr. Altuhovs, during economic crisis Russians are more vulnerable than ethnic Latvians because average earnings and job positions of Russian speaking residents are lower.