• Leader of the Latvian Youth Party Janis Kuzins proposes to exempt non-citizens from income taxation
• Political scientist Juris Rozenvalds: Latvian parties miss out a chance to consolidate the society
• Vesti Segodnya prints an article by the MPs Valerijs Buhvalovs and Jakovs Pliners about the work of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration
• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens: liquidation of the Secretariat would be an indication that Latvian politicians are not interested in societys integration
• Chairman of the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia Peteris Krigers has stated that influx of cheap labour force to Latvia should not be allowed

The leader of the Latvian Youth Party Janis Kuzins has appealed to the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers, the Saeima and government with a proposal to exempt non-citizens from income taxation. Janis Kuzins believes that non-citizens should not pay income tax because they are denied political rights.

The leader of the Latvian Youth Party Janis Kuzins has appealed to the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers, the Saeima and government with a proposal to exempt non-citizens from income taxation. Janis Kuzins believes that non-citizens should not pay income tax because they are denied political rights. Chas

In an interview with

In an interview with Vesti Segodnya, political scientist Juris Rozenvalds has stated that so called Latvian parties miss out a chance to consolidate the society because they reject so called Russian parties and refuse to include the latter into the governing coalition.

Vesti Segodnya prints an article by the MPs Valerijs Buhvalovs and Jakovs Pliners about the work of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration and its support to ethnic minorities. The MPs criticize the Secretariat for lack of national program for support of traditional ethnic minorities especially Russians. The MPs also consider that national integration policy is selective towards minority NGOs because it supports only those who do not object the political course of governing coalition.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has stated that liquidation of his Secretariat would be an indication that Latvian politicians are not interested in society’s integration.  As reported, one of the candidates for the Prime Minister’s post Edgars Zalans has stated that the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration might be closed due to the need to economize the state funds.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has stated that liquidation of his Secretariat would be an indication that Latvian politicians are not interested in societys integration. As reported, one of the candidates for the Prime Ministers post Edgars Zalans has stated that the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration might be closed due to the need to economize the state funds. Latvijas Avize

In an interview with

In an interview with Latvijas Avize, chairman of the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia Peteris Krigers has stated that influx of cheap labour force to Latvia should not be allowed because it might cause problems with future social integration of guest workers. Mr. Krigers also believes that the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration should be closed because other institutions have similar functions and activities.

• Candidate for the Prime Ministers post Edgars Zalans: the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration might be closed
• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens proposes to establish Presidents consultative body on social integration and ethnic minority issues
• Diena prints an article about a Roma woman who works as a teacher in a kindergarten
• Ombudsmans Office has received 209 complaints on discrimination during nine months of 2007
• Chas reports on 15th anniversary of the NGO Latvian Human Rights Committee

Vesti Segodnya reports that a candidate for the Prime Ministers post Edgars Zalans (the Peoples Party) has stated that the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration might be closed due to the need to economize the state funds. The Secretariat might be re-formed into the integration department under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Justice.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has proposed the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers to establish a consultative body on social integration and ethnic minority issues. Oskars Kastens believes that establishment of such body would be a confirmation of a goodwill to build open and consolidated society in Latvia.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has proposed the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers to establish a consultative body on social integration and ethnic minority issues. Oskars Kastens believes that establishment of such body would be a confirmation of a goodwill to build open and consolidated society in Latvia. Latvijas Avize

Diena prints an article about a 50-years-old Roma woman who works as a teacher in a kindergarten. The woman has started to work in the kindergarten couple years ago in the framework of a project Qualitative Education for Roma Children and Roma Child in a Welcoming School! implemented by the Centre for Education Initiatives. At the beginning she worked as teachers assistant in communication with Roma children and it was her first official job ever. Presently the woman is studying at a university and working as teacher at the same kindergarten.

The Ombudsman’s Office has received 209 complaints on discrimination during nine months of 2007. The Ombudsman’s Office also has received 702 complaints on violation of children rights and 318 complaints on non-observance of the principle of good governance in state and municipal institutions.

The Ombudsmans Office has received 209 complaints on discrimination during nine months of 2007. The Ombudsmans Office also has received 702 complaints on violation of children rights and 318 complaints on non-observance of the principle of good governance in state and municipal institutions. NRA

Chas reports on 15the anniversary of the NGO Latvian Human Rights Committee (LHRC). About 50,000 persons were given legal consultations on various issues since the Committee launched its work in 1992.

• Ministry of Justice has elaborated draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code stipulating increase of pecuniary penalties for inaccurate usage of Latvian language
• Chas reports on 1-year anniversary of the Russian House in Liepaja

The Ministry of Justice has elaborated draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code stipulating increase of pecuniary penalties for inaccurate usage of Latvian language in usage instructions for products, inaccuracy in blanks, documents, and conversation with clients.

The Ministry of Justice has elaborated draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code stipulating increase of pecuniary penalties for inaccurate usage of Latvian language in usage instructions for products, inaccuracy in blanks, documents, and conversation with clients. Chas

Chas reports on 1-year anniversary of the Russian House of the Russian Community in Liepaja (RCL). According to the head of the RCL Valerijs Kravcovs, the Russian House has united all Russian NGOs in Liepaja.

• Businessman Jevgenijs Gombergs: Latvianisation of non-Latvian names in official documents issued in Latvia is not a violation of human rights

Telegraf prints an interview with a businessman Jevgenijs Gombergs. Mr. Gombergs considers that Latvianisation of non-Latvian names in official documents issued in Latvia is not a violation of human rights because, for example, adding ending –s to the name is made in accordance with the rules of Latvian grammar. Mr. Gombergs believes that spelling particularly of Russian names is a technical problem caused by transliteration of Cyrillic alphabet into Latvian alphabet.

• Chas reports about a seminar on history of Russians in Latvia
• Chas prints an interview with the members of the NGO Pribaltijskij kazacij krug (Baltic Cossacks Circle)

Chas reports about a seminar on history of Russians in Latvia held by the NGO of Russian Culture in Jelgava (city in the central part of Latvia) Veche. The participants of the seminar have discussed preservation of Russian culture and its history.

Chas prints an interview with the members of the NGO Pribaltijskij kazacij krug (Baltic Cossacks Circle) established in 2004 with an aim to revive Russian community in Latvia. According to the members of the NGO, Russians and the Slavs have lived in Latvia for centuries, therefore, it is false to assert that all Russians arrived to Latvia as occupants during the Soviet times. The NGO considers that Russian should be granted official status in Latvia; all Russian speakers should be granted citizenship without naturalisation process; and Russian speakers should have rights to receive education in their native language.