• Most popular parties in Latvia are the union Unity and the Concord Centre

According to the latest public opinion survey conducted by “Latvijas fakti”, the most popular parties in Latvia are the new union “Unity” and the Concord Centre - 17,0% and 16,2% of Latvian citizens support them accordingly. The union of Greens and Farmers is supported by 7,4%. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of respondents.

According to the latest public opinion survey conducted by Latvijas fakti, the most popular parties in Latvia are the new union Unity and the Concord Centre - 17,0% and 16,2% of Latvian citizens support them accordingly. The union of Greens and Farmers is supported by 7,4%. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of respondents. Diena

• Saeima repeatedly approved draft amendments to the Immigration Law which stipulate granting permanent residency permits to foreign investors
• Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs refused application for naturalisation from Latvian National Bolshevik Vladimirs Lindermans
• Annual report of the Security Police: extremists actively use Internet; foreign forces use youth organisations with an aim to realise undesirable processes in Latvia
• Nationalistic party All for Latvia! calls Latvian residents to ignore 9 May events

Yesterday, the Saeima repeatedly approved draft amendments to the Immigration Law which stipulate granting permanent residency permits to foreign investors. According to the amendments, permanent residence permit for time up to five years can be granted to a foreigner who invested at least LVL 25,000 in the nominal capital of an enterprise registered in Latvia and paid taxes in amount not less than LVL 20,000 residence permit also can be granted to a foreigner who bought real estate in Riga for over LVL 100,000 or in Latvian regions for over LVL 50,000. Foreigners who invested at least LVL 200,000 in Latvian credit institution also have right for residence permit. Nationally minded politicians are planning to hold a referendum protesting against these amendments.

Yesterday, the Saeima repeatedly approved draft amendments to the Immigration Law which stipulate granting permanent residency permits to foreign investors. According to the amendments, permanent residence permit for time up to five years can be granted to a foreigner who invested at least LVL 25,000 in the nominal capital of an enterprise registered in Latvia and paid taxes in amount not less than LVL 20,000 residence permit also can be granted to a foreigner who bought real estate in Riga for over LVL 100,000 or in Latvian regions for over LVL 50,000. Foreigners who invested at least LVL 200,000 in Latvian credit institution also have right for residence permit. Nationally minded politicians are planning to hold a referendum protesting against these amendments. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) refused application for naturalisation from Latvian National Bolshevik Vladimirs Lindermans. The reason for refusal is that Mr. Lindermans did not have declaration of his place of residence in Latvia during the last five years. V

The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) refused application for naturalisation from Latvian National Bolshevik Vladimirs Lindermans. The reason for refusal is that Mr. Lindermans did not have declaration of his place of residence in Latvia during the last five years. Vesti Segodnya

According to the annual report of the Security Police, various extremists actively use Internet for propaganda of their views, incitement to ethnic hatred and for recruiting of new members. The SP also considers that there are particular forces working trough youth organisations which politicize various educational and cultural events with an aim to realise undesirable processes in Latvia. Chief of the SP Janis Reiniks named an NGO “Patrioti.lv” as one of such organisation trough which Russia attempts to consolidate Russian speakers in Latvia and to widen its informative space. Leader of “Patrioti.lv” Aleksejs Hohlovs, in his turn, stated that such allegation is absurd because the NGO realises not Russia’s but Latvia’s interests on consolidation of residents of various ethnic affiliation and society integration.

According to the annual report of the Security Police, various extremists actively use Internet for propaganda of their views, incitement to ethnic hatred and for recruiting of new members. The SP also considers that there are particular forces working trough youth organisations which politicize various educational and cultural events with an aim to realise undesirable processes in Latvia. Chief of the SP Janis Reiniks named an NGO Patrioti.lv as one of such organisation trough which Russia attempts to consolidate Russian speakers in Latvia and to widen its informative space. Leader of Patrioti.lv Aleksejs Hohlovs, in his turn, stated that such allegation is absurd because the NGO realises not Russias but Latvias interests on consolidation of residents of various ethnic affiliation and society integration. Vesti Segodnya

Nationalistic party “All for Latvia!” calls Latvian residents to ignore 9 May or Victory’s Day events. “All for Latvia!” considers that residents should commemorate victims of WWII on official commemoration day on 8 May. “All for Latvia!” also cancelled its protest action on 9 May near the Monument to Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders.

Nationalistic party All for Latvia! calls Latvian residents to ignore 9 May or Victorys Day events. All for Latvia! considers that residents should commemorate victims of WWII on official commemoration day on 8 May. All for Latvia! also cancelled its protest action on 9 May near the Monument to Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. Latvijas Avize

• British businessman of Nigerian origin complains against allegedly racist statement addressed to him byon the acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Health
• MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere discussed language usage with the EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding for insulting racial statement addressed towards him

The U.K. Embassy in Latvia forwarded to Latvian state institutions a complaint from a British businessman of Nigerian origin who claims a racist statement addressed to him was made by on the acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Health Juris Bundulis for insulting racial statement addressed towards him. The statement was made at a meeting of ministers discussing measures on regulation of electronic cigarettes. When the businessman, representative of a company distributing electronic cigarettes tried to explain the ministers that these cigarettes are not equal to ordinary cigarettes, Juris Bundulis told him “You are not in the jungle!” Later Mr. Bundulis brought his apologies to the businessmen. 

The U.K. Embassy in Latvia forwarded to Latvian state institutions a complaint from a British businessman of Nigerian origin who claims a racist statement addressed to him was made by on the acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Health Juris Bundulis for insulting racial statement addressed towards him. The statement was made at a meeting of ministers discussing measures on regulation of electronic cigarettes. When the businessman, representative of a company distributing electronic cigarettes tried to explain the ministers that these cigarettes are not equal to ordinary cigarettes, Juris Bundulis told him You are not in the jungle! Later Mr. Bundulis brought his apologies to the businessmen. Chas

Latvijas Avize reports about a meeting of MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere with Viviane Reding, the European Commission Vice-President in charge of Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. The Commissioner has once again apologised for the fact that information about gender equality available at the official EU homepage and distributed in printed copies was translated not only to Latvian, but also to Russian language. The Commissioner and MEP were unanimous in opinion that integration of Russian-speakers should take place through publicising materials only in Latvian language.

• State Language Centre continues inspection in state and municipal enterprises
• Security Police (SP) detained a group of persons which organised illegal transportation of immigrants to Europe

Vesti Segodnya reports that inspectors of the State Language Centre continue inspection in state and municipal enterprises. Presently, inspectors are verifying state language proficiency of workers of the public transport service company Rigas Satiksme.

The Security Police (SP) detained a group of persons which organised illegal transportation of Afghanis from Russia to European countries through Latvia. The SP also detained nine citizens of Afghanistan transported to Latvia by the grouping.

The Security Police (SP) detained a group of persons which organised illegal transportation of Afghanis from Russia to European countries through Latvia. The SP also detained nine citizens of Afghanistan transported to Latvia by the grouping. Vesti Segodnya

• Saeima refused to grant status of politically repressed persons to non-citizens victims of Nazism
• Vesti Segodnya criticizes organisation of the Riga city school scientific conference

The Saeima refused a draft law elaborated by the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) stipulating granting status of politically repressed person to Latvian non-citizens victims of Nazism. The FHRUL notes that non-citizens had this status until 1995 and considers that now it should be restored.

The Saeima refused a draft law elaborated by the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) stipulating granting status of politically repressed person to Latvian non-citizens victims of Nazism. The FHRUL notes that non-citizens had this status until 1995 and considers that now it should be restored. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports about the Riga city school scientific conference and criticizes its organisation arguing that none of teachers from Russian language schools were included in the conferences commission. According to the newspaper, students from Russian language schools are put in less favourable position comparing with students from Latvian language schools because all papers must be defended only in Latvian