• Round-table discussion Non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia: Challenge to International Law and Standards in Human Rights Field will be held in Russias State Duma on 9 June

Vesti Segodnya reports that a round-table discussion Non-citizens in Latvia and Estonia: Challenge to International Law and Standards in Human Rights Field will be held in Russias State Duma on 9 June. Representatives of Russian NGOs from Latvia and Estonia, representatives of international organisations and state officials will take part in the round-table.

• Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court charges four skinheads with incitement to racial hatred involving violence
• Supreme Court has upheld the ruling of Regional Court acquitting former Riga City deputy Aleksandrs Gilmans
• Director of the State Language Agency: Russian language endangers the position of the Latvian language

The Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court has charged four skinheads with incitement to racial hatred involving violence. Yesterday, three of the accused persons were charged with incitement to racial hatred after attacking an Armenian couple in February 2008. Earlier in May, all four skinheads were charged with incitement to hatred after attacking two young Roma girls in October 2007. According to the Prosecutor, these two criminal cases will be joined in one case and final charges will be brought in June.

The Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court has charged four skinheads with incitement to racial hatred involving violence. Yesterday, three of the accused persons were charged with incitement to racial hatred after attacking an Armenian couple in February 2008. Earlier in May, all four skinheads were charged with incitement to hatred after attacking two young Roma girls in October 2007. According to the Prosecutor, these two criminal cases will be joined in one case and final charges will be brought in June. Chas, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld the acquittal ruling of the first instance court in the case of  Aleksandrs Gilmans former deputy of the Riga City Council and activist of the Headquarters for Defence of Russian Language Schools. As reported, Aleksandrs Gilmans was charged with incitement to forcible overthrow the government of Latvia and forcibly change the political system after having made statements on the internet forum of the Headquarters’ for the Defence of Russian Schools homepage in 2005.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld the acquittal ruling of the first instance court in the case of Aleksandrs Gilmans former deputy of the Riga City Council and activist of the Headquarters for Defence of Russian Language Schools. As reported, Aleksandrs Gilmans was charged with incitement to forcible overthrow the government of Latvia and forcibly change the political system after having made statements on the internet forum of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Schools homepage in 2005. Chas, Latvijas Avize

Chas reports that at the meeting of the Saeimas Citizenship Law Implementation Committee, director of the State Language Agency has reported about the situation of state (Latvian) language and Russian language in Latvia. According to the report, the position of the Russian language is too strong in Latvia and it endangers the Latvian language.

• First Vice-Premier of Russian government Igor Shuvalov met with representatives of Russian NGOs in Latvia
• Security Police summons Andris Grutups to explain his recent public statements about Russian speaking residents in Latvia
• Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has supported draft amendments stipulating fines for usage of foreign languages
• Study: 89,5 % of advertisers consider that it is very important to target the Russian speaking audience in advertising in Latvia

Newspapers report that yesterday, the First Vice-Premier of the Russian government Igor Shuvalov, who took part in the Baltic Sea Region Business Forum held in Riga, met with representatives of Russian NGOs in Latvia. Igor Shuvalov stated that Russia has certain responsibility towards Russian citizens and non-citizens living in Latvia, therefore, Russia will continue to monitor and defend their rights with all legal international means. 

Newspapers report that yesterday, the First Vice-Premier of the Russian government Igor Shuvalov, who took part in the Baltic Sea Region Business Forum held in Riga, met with representatives of Russian NGOs in Latvia. Igor Shuvalov stated that Russia has certain responsibility towards Russian citizens and non-citizens living in Latvia, therefore, Russia will continue to monitor and defend their rights with all legal international means. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Security Police summoned a well-known Latvian lawyer Andris Grutups to explain his recent public statements about Russian speaking residents in Latvia. As reported, the political parties „Concord Centre” and „For Human Rights in United Latvia” turned to the General Prosecutor’s Office asking to evaluate whether his statements in an interview with

The Security Police summoned a well-known Latvian lawyer Andris Grutups to explain his recent public statements about Russian speaking residents in Latvia. As reported, the political parties „Concord Centre and „For Human Rights in United Latvia turned to the General Prosecutors Office asking to evaluate whether his statementsin an interview with Latvijas Avize (on 22 May) are inciting to ethnic hatred. The political parties consider that Andris Grutups made several insulting statements towards Russians, which, inter alia, contained an open call for discrimination against Russians in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

The Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has supported the draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code stipulating fines for provision of information in foreign languages by state and municipal institutions and fines for use of other languages in letterheads, seals and stamps alongside with Latvian [if the regulations foresee the provision of such information in Latvian only.]

The Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has supported the draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code stipulating fines for provision of information in foreign languages by state and municipal institutions and fines for use of other languages in letterheads, seals and stamps alongside with Latvian [if the regulations foresee the provision of such information in Latvian only.] Vesti Segodnya

According to a study held by the company “One.lv” in co-operation with research company “Data Serviss”, 89,5 % of advertisers consider that it is very important to target Russian speaking audience in Latvia. 67% of advertisers choose to communicate with Russian speakers through press.

According to a study held by the company One.lv in co-operation with research company Data Serviss, 89,5 % of advertisers consider that it is very important to target Russian speaking audience in Latvia. 67% of advertisers choose to communicate with Russian speakers through press.

• Cabinet of Ministers postponed review of draft amendments to the Law on Higher Educational Establishments which stipulate prohibition of teaching in foreign languages in higher educational establishments including private establishments
• Government supported the proposal of the Ministry of Welfare to decrease fee for employment of guest workers from non-EU countries in Latvia
• Conference Russian World in Latvia in the First Decade of 21st Century – Course for Consolidation is planned to be held in Riga

Yesterday, following the initiative of the Prime-Minister Ivars Godmanis, the Cabinet of Ministers postponed review of draft amendments to the Law on Higher Educational Establishments which stipulate prohibition of teaching in foreign languages other than official EU languages in higher educational establishments including private institutions. The Prime-Minister considers that some provisions in the draft amendments must be specified.

Yesterday, following the initiative of the Prime-Minister Ivars Godmanis, the Cabinet of Ministers postponed review of draft amendments to the Law on Higher Educational Establishments which stipulate prohibition of teaching in foreign languages other than official EU languages in higher educational establishments including private institutions. The Prime-Minister considers that some provisions in the draft amendments must be specified. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena, NRA

Yesterday, the government supported the proposal of the Ministry of Welfare to decrease fee for the employment of guest workers from non-EU countries in Latvia. The fee will be decreased from LVL 568 (EUR 808) to LVL 183 (EUR 260). The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins criticized the government’s decision arguing that decrease of state fee will promote large influx of foreign labour force to Latvia.

Yesterday, the government supported the proposal of the Ministry of Welfare to decrease fee for the employment of guest workers from non-EU countries in Latvia. The fee will be decreased from LVL 568 (EUR 808) to LVL 183 (EUR 260). The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins criticized the governments decision arguing that decrease of state fee will promote large influx of foreign labour force to Latvia. Chas, Latvijas Avize, Diena

Chas reports that a conference Russian World in Latvia in the First Decade of 21st Century – Course for Consolidation is planned to be held in Riga on 28 June. The aim of the conference is to discuss problems of Russians in Latvia, legal rights of Russian citizens residing in Latvia, establishment of civil society, and preservation of Russian culture and education.

• Newspapers report about a presentation of a large project Jews of Latvia: Names and Fates 1941-1945 held in Riga
• Union of Belorussians in Latvia celebrated five year anniversary
• Employers Confederation of Latvia objects increasing the list of posts and professions in the private sector which would require mandatory Latvian language proficiency and usage

Newspapers

Newspapers report about a presentation of a large project Jews of Latvia: Names and Fates 1941-1945 held in Riga. Outcome of the project is a list of names of 93,479 Jews who lived in Latvia on the eve of the WWII, including 43,000 names of 70,000 Jews killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust. The list was drawn up by the Centre for Judaic Studies at the University of Latvia in co-operation with Latvian, Israeli, British and American institutions, NGOs and private persons. More information about the project is available at http://names.lu.lv Chas, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Union of Belorussians in Latvia has celebrated its five years anniversary. According to the newspaper, the Union has united all Belorussian NGOs in Latvia.

The Employers’ Confederation of Latvia objects to increasing the list of posts and professions in the private sector which would require mandatory Latvian language proficiency and usage. As reported, such list has been prepared by the Ministry of Justice and it includes around 250 posts and professions. These include posts and professions requiring contact with public and those related to customer services. The Employers’ Confederation considers that the list should be revised.

The Employers Confederation of Latvia objects to increasing the list of posts and professions in the private sector which would require mandatory Latvian language proficiency and usage. As reported, such list has been prepared by the Ministry of Justice and it includes around 250 posts and professions. These include posts and professions requiring contact with public and those related to customer services. The Employers Confederation considers that the list should be revised. Latvijas Avize