• Cabinet of Minister supported proposal to establish register of illegal immigrants

The Cabinet of Ministers has supported proposal to establish register of illegal immigrants. The register will include names of all persons who violate rules of entrance and stay in Latvia. According to the authors of such proposal, establishment of the register will ease work of border guards. 

The Cabinet of Ministers has supported proposal to establish register of illegal immigrants. The register will include names of all persons who violate rules of entrance and stay in Latvia. According to the authors of such proposal, establishment of the register will ease work of border guards. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

• European Court of Human Rights has entertained an application of the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis

The European Court of Human Rights has entertained an application of the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis. As reported, Jurijs Petropavlovskis was denied Latvian citizenship due to his political activities despite that he undergone the whole naturalisation process. Chas

• EC Commissioner for Multilingualism Leonard Orban has arrived to Riga with an aim to get acquainted with language situation in Latvia
• Riga Regional Court has acquitted the activist of Latvian National Bolsheviks Vladimir Linderman
• Chief economist of the World Bank Pradeep Mitra: large scale influx of guest workers is vitally necessary for East European countries including Latvia
• Telegraf reports that the members of the Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM might propose to re-examine Latvian language proficiency of Russian speakers

The EC Commissioner for Multilingualism Leonard Orban has arrived to Riga with an aim to get acquainted with language situation in Latvia and to promote development of multilingualism as a tool of communication and raise of competitiveness.

The EC Commissioner for Multilingualism Leonard Orban has arrived to Riga with an aim to get acquainted with language situation in Latvia and to promote development of multilingualism as a tool of communication and raise of competitiveness. Chas, Telegraf

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court has acquitted the activist of Latvian National Bolsheviks Vladimir Linderman. As reported, Vladimir Linderman was accused of calls to over through the Latvian government by force and plotting an attempt on life of the ex-President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in 2002. However, later in the process, Mr. Linderman was charged only with keeping of explosives at home. Vladimir Linderman considers that the case against him was politically fabricated.

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court has acquitted the activist of Latvian National Bolsheviks Vladimir Linderman. As reported, Vladimir Linderman was accused of calls to over through the Latvian government by force and plotting an attempt on life of the ex-President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in 2002. However, later in the process, Mr. Linderman was charged only with keeping of explosives at home. Vladimir Linderman considers that the case against him was politically fabricated. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena, NRA

According to the chief economist of the World Bank Pradeep Mitra, large scale influx of guest workers is vitally necessary for East European countries including Latvia to save their economics from unavoidable recession related with acute shortage of labour force.

According to the chief economist of the World Bank Pradeep Mitra, large scale influx of guest workers is vitally necessary for East European countries including Latvia to save their economics from unavoidable recession related with acute shortage of labour force. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Telegraf reports that following recent toughening of Estonian language legislation, the members of the Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM might propose to re-examine Latvian language proficiency of Russian speakers. Politicians allege that state language certificates of many holders do not correspond to their actual language proficiency skills and large number of residents has fake certificates.

• Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis has ordered to review and shorten the list of posts and professions which require obligatory Latvian language proficiency

The Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis has ordered to review and shorten the list of posts and professions which require obligatory Latvian language proficiency. The Prime Minister considers that the list should include only representatives of professions working in service sphere directly with clients.

The Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis has ordered to review and shorten the list of posts and professions which require obligatory Latvian language proficiency. The Prime Minister considers that the list should include only representatives of professions working in service sphere directly with clients. Vesti Segodnya

• Cabinet of Ministers has supported draft amendments prepared by the Ministry of Interior stipulating lowering of required state language proficiency level at work for firemen and boarder guards
• Latvijas Avize reports that the Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis has issued a decree on establishment of a working group against hate speech on the Internet
• Activist of an NGO Return Our Names Ruslan Pankratov is planning to turn to the Commission on Human Rights of the United Nations Organisation objecting Latvianisation of non-Latvian names
• Most popular parties in June: the Concord Centre and the Union of Greens and Farmers

The Cabinet of Ministers has supported draft amendments prepared by the Ministry of Interior stipulating lowering of required state language proficiency level at work for firemen and boarder guards. While, the Saeima’s State Language Commission has appealed to the Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis asking to make state language policy more severe and to support widening of list of posts and professions which would require obligatory Latvian language proficiency and usage.

The Cabinet of Ministers has supported draft amendments prepared by the Ministry of Interior stipulating lowering of required state language proficiency level at work for firemen and boarder guards. While, the Saeimas State Language Commission has appealed to the Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis asking to make state language policy more severe and to support widening of list of posts and professions which would require obligatory Latvian language proficiency and usage. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize reports that the Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis has issued a decree on establishment of a working group against hate speech on the Internet. The working group is under supervision of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Electronic Government Affairs and it includes representatives of the State Police, Ombudsmans Office, Integration Secretariat, Ministry of Justice and other officials. The aim of the working group is to elaborate by 2 February 2009 draft legal acts on prevention of circulation of illegal information on the Internet.

Activist of an NGO “Return Our Names” Ruslan Pankratov is planning to turn to the Commission on Human Rights of the United Nations Organisation (UN) with an appeal against Latvia objecting Latvianisation of non-Latvian names in official documents issued in Latvia. As reported, the European Court of Human Rights for more than a year considers application of Ruslan Pankratov. Mr. Pankratov believes that after recommendations of the UN Latvia will not have other choice but to change rules on spelling of foreign names.

Activist of an NGO Return Our Names Ruslan Pankratov is planning to turn to the Commission on Human Rights of the United Nations Organisation (UN) with an appeal against Latvia objecting Latvianisation of non-Latvian names in official documents issued in Latvia. As reported, the European Court of Human Rights for more than a year considers application of Ruslan Pankratov. Mr. Pankratov believes that after recommendations of the UN Latvia will not have other choice but to change rules on spelling of foreign names. Telegraf

According to the latest public opinion survey held by the market and social research company “Latvijas fakti”, only the Concord Centre and the Union of Greens and Farmers would get support by more than by 5 % of Latvian citizens if the Saeima elections are held in June – 10,5% and 6,9% accordingly. However, more than 50% of citizens are not decided whom to vote for yet or would not participate in the elections.

According to the latest public opinion survey held by the market and social research company Latvijas fakti, only the Concord Centre and the Union of Greens and Farmers would get support by more than by 5 % of Latvian citizens if the Saeima elections are held in June – 10,5% and 6,9% accordingly. However, more than 50% of citizens are not decided whom to vote for yet or would not participate in the elections. Diena