• Riga City Council has permitted only the Hawks of Daugava to hold a commemorative procession on 16 March

The Riga City Council has permitted only the organisation “Hawks of Daugava” to hold a commemorative procession on 16 March – unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionaries. The other four applications to hold events on this day were declined due to the legal and security reasons. According to the newspapers, about 300 people might take part in the procession on 16 March. 

The Riga City Council has permitted only the organisation Hawks of Daugava to hold a commemorative procession on 16 March – unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionaries. The other four applications to hold events on this day were declined due to the legal and security reasons. According to the newspapers, about 300 people might take part in the procession on 16 March. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena, NRA

• Riga Regional Court sentenced a neo-Nazi Andris Jordans to one year and six months of imprisonment for incitement to ethnic hatred
• Telegraf reports about a case of a girl born in Latvia after 1991 and refused Latvian citizenship without naturalisation
• Saeima has refused the proposal to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections
• Representative of the U.S.A. State Department Jeffrey Kril: Latvian government has to make an effort to solve the problem of large scale non-citizenship in the country

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court has sentenced a neo-Nazi Andris Jordans to one year and six months of imprisonment for incitement to ethnic hatred. As reported, a criminal proceedings against Andris Jordans were opened by the Prosecutor’s Office in February 2007 when Jordans, at a public discussion, has stated that Jews and Roma people are ‘non-humans’ and it would be preferable to exterminate them. However, the Prosecutor Ieva Garanca has decided to terminate the criminal proceedings due to the lack of features constituting criminal offence, but after an appeal to the General Prosecutor’s Office the criminal proceedings were reopened ad forwarded to the court.

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court has sentenced a neo-Nazi Andris Jordans to one year and six months of imprisonment for incitement to ethnic hatred. As reported, a criminal proceedings against Andris Jordans were opened by the Prosecutors Office in February 2007 when Jordans, at a public discussion, has stated that Jews and Roma people are ‘non-humans and it would be preferable to exterminate them. However, the Prosecutor Ieva Garanca has decided to terminate the criminal proceedings due to the lack of features constituting criminal offence, but after an appeal to the General Prosecutors Office the criminal proceedings were reopened ad forwarded to the court. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Telegraf reports about a case of a girl born in Latvia after 1991 in a family of Latvian non-citizen mother and a father- citizen of Belarus. An application to the Naturalisation Board (NB) requesting citizenship by registration was submitted by the mother only, because the girls father is deprived of custody rights and does not live with the family. The NB refused to grant the citizenship arguing that in accordance to legislation, the application should be submitted by both parents and they both should be non-citizens. The NB argues that the girl can receive citizenship by graduating Latvian language school or through naturalisation. The mother of the girl has appealed the decision of the NB in the Administrative District Court of Riga.

Yesterday, the Saeima has refused the proposal of the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections.

Yesterday, the Saeima has refused the proposal of the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, NRA

In an interview with Telegraf, representative of the State Department of the U.S.A. Jeffrey Krill has stated that the Latvian government has to make an effort to solve the problem of large scale non-citizenship in the country by motivating non-citizens to naturalise. Mr. Krill also believes that Russian speaking residents should become more active in political life.

In an interview with Telegraf, representative of the State Department of the U.S.A. Jeffrey Krill has stated that the Latvian government has to make an effort to solve the problem of large scale non-citizenship in the country by motivating non-citizens to naturalise. Mr. Krill also believes that Russian speaking residents should become more active in political life.

• Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court asked to sentence neo-Nazi Andris Jordans to two years and three months of imprisonment
• State Language Centre fined a nurse and two nannies for insufficient usage of state language at work

The Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court asked to sentence neo-Nazi Andris Jordans to two years and three months of imprisonment. As reported, at a public discussion in February 2007, Andris Jordans has stated that Jews and Roma people are ‘non-humans’ and it would be preferable to exterminate them. The Prosecutor asked to sentence Jordans for the statements inciting to ethnic hatred with 9 months of imprisonment, but considering that Jordans was previously convicted to 2 years of suspended imprisonment for hooliganism and the statements were made during the probation period, in total, the Prosecutor asked to sentence Jordans to two years and three months of imprisonment. The defendant pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court asked to sentence neo-Nazi Andris Jordans to two years and three months of imprisonment. As reported, at a public discussion in February 2007, Andris Jordans has stated that Jews and Roma people are ‘non-humans and it would be preferable to exterminate them. The Prosecutor asked to sentence Jordans for the statements inciting to ethnic hatred with 9 months of imprisonment, but considering that Jordans was previously convicted to 2 years of suspended imprisonment for hooliganism and the statements were made during the probation period, in total, the Prosecutor asked to sentence Jordans to two years and three months of imprisonment. The defendant pleaded not guilty. Chas, Latvijas Avize

The inspectors of the State Language Centre have fined with LVL 10 (EUR 14) a nurse and two nannies taking care of elder people for insufficient usage of state language at work.

The inspectors of the State Language Centre have fined with LVL 10 (EUR 14) a nurse and two nannies taking care of elder people for insufficient usage of state language at work. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

• Riga Regional Court has started hearing of neo-Nazi Andris Jordanss case charged with incitement to ethnic hatred
• The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the draft amendments to the Consumers Rights Protection Law which stipulate prohibition of discrimination
• Saeima again will review the proposal to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections
• NGO Latvian Anti-fascist Committee has submitted an application to the Riga City Council to hold a procession in the centre of Riga on 16 March
• Diena prints an article by the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens about proposal to allow dual citizenship

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court has started hearings in case of neo-Nazi Andris Jordans, who is charged with incitement to ethnic hatred. As reported, at a public discussion in February 2007, Andris Jordans has stated that Jews and Roma people are ‘non-humans’ and it would be preferable to exterminate them. According to an independent expert on Roma issues Vanda Zamicka-Bergendale who has witnessed against the neo-Nazi Andris Jordans at the court’s hearing, Roma people are often assaulted by neo-Nazis, however, Roma are afraid to turn to the police.

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court has started hearings in case of neo-Nazi Andris Jordans, who is charged with incitement to ethnic hatred. As reported, at a public discussion in February 2007, Andris Jordans has stated that Jews and Roma people are ‘non-humans and it would be preferable to exterminate them. According to an independent expert on Roma issues Vanda Zamicka-Bergendale who has witnessed against the neo-Nazi Andris Jordans at the courts hearing, Roma people are often assaulted by neo-Nazis, however, Roma are afraid to turn to the police. Chas

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the draft amendments to the Consumers Rights Protection Law which stipulate prohibition of ethnic, racial or gender discrimination.

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the draft amendments to the Consumers Rights Protection Law which stipulate prohibition of ethnic, racial or gender discrimination. Telegraf

Chas reports that tomorrow, the Saeima again will review the proposal to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. The Latvian Human Rights Committee is planning to hold a picket near the Saeima building in support of non-citizens rights.

NGO “Latvian Anti-fascist Committee” has submitted an application to the Riga City Council to hold a procession in the centre of Riga on 16 March. As reported, several national radical organisations are planning to hold commemorative processions in honour of Latvian Waffen SS legionaries. Yesterday, the Minister of Interior Mareks Seglins has appealed to the Riga City Council to schedule carefully the timing of all processions on 16 March because there is a danger of clashes between members of organisations holding opposing views.

NGO Latvian Anti-fascist Committee has submitted an application to the Riga City Council to hold a procession in the centre of Riga on 16 March. As reported, several national radical organisations are planning to hold commemorative processions in honour of Latvian Waffen SS legionaries. Yesterday, the Minister of Interior Mareks Seglins has appealed to the Riga City Council to schedule carefully the timing of all processions on 16 March because there is a danger of clashes between members of organisations holding opposing views. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, NRA

Diena prints an article by the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens about proposal to allow dual citizenship. According to the Minister, the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration has prepared the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law which would allow granting dual citizenship to children of Latvian citizens who were born abroad, to WWII Latvian refugees and to deported persons and their descendants. Oskars Kastens considers that the main aim of these amendments is to preserve the connection of these people with Latvia.

• Security Police jointly with the State Police have detained four skinheads who allegedly have attacked two Roma girls and two Armenians
• Riga Regional Court has postponed the hearing of Andris Jordanss case
• Several ethnic minority NGOs appealed to the President of Latvia, the government and the Saeima

The Security Police jointly with the State Police have detained four skinheads who allegedly have attacked two Roma girls and two Armenians. As reported, two 13-year-old girls were attacked allegedly by a group of skinheads in Riga in October. As later became known, the same group of skinheads later on the same day have attacked on Armenian man and woman. Four skinheads were detained on 25 February. The attackers are 17 to 21 years old. The Police have initiated a criminal proceeding on incitement to ethnic or racial hatred.

The Security Police jointly with the State Police have detained four skinheads who allegedly have attacked two Roma girls and two Armenians. As reported, two 13-year-old girls were attacked allegedly by a group of skinheads in Riga in October. As later became known, the same group of skinheads later on the same day have attacked on Armenian man and woman. Four skinheads were detained on 25 February. The attackers are 17 to 21 years old. The Police have initiated a criminal proceeding on incitement to ethnic or racial hatred. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, NRA

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court has postponed the hearing of Andris Jordans’s case because Jordan’s lawyer has refused to represent him in this case. Andris Jordans is charged with incitement to ethnic hatred. As reported, at a public discussion in February 2007, Andris Jordans has stated that Jews and Roma people are ‘non-humans’ and it would be preferable to exterminate them.

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court has postponed the hearing of Andris Jordanss case because Jordans lawyer has refused to represent him in this case. Andris Jordans is charged with incitement to ethnic hatred. As reported, at a public discussion in February 2007, Andris Jordans has stated that Jews and Roma people are ‘non-humans and it would be preferable to exterminate them. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Several ethnic minority NGOs have sent an appeal to the President of Latvia, the government and the Saeima asking to ratify the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and to withdraw the reservations made to the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities.

Several ethnic minority NGOs have sent an appeal to the President of Latvia, the government and the Saeima asking to ratify the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and to withdraw the reservations made to the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities. Chas