• President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe René van der Linden is to make an official visit to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia
• Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Latvia Richard Moon: rights of any minorities in Latvia must be observed
• State Border Guards have drawn up administrative violation protocols for illegal employment of six citizens of Thailand

Chas reports that the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) René van der Linden is to make an official visit to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia from 18 to 24 September. Within the framework of the visit, Mr. van der Linden is planning to discuss broader role of the Council of Europe in promotion of common human rights values and democracy, as well as discuss the problem of new dividing lines in Europe, and problems concerning ethnic minorities.

Telegraf features an interview with the new Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Latvia Richard Moon. Mr. Moon has stated that rights of any minorities in Latvia must be observed. The Ambassador also has stated that the U.K. has a lot of experience in tackling all kinds of discrimination and the U.K. is helping Latvia in this field.

The State Border Guards have drawn up administrative violation protocols against a company employing six citizens of Thailand without Latvian working permits.

The State Border Guards have drawn up administrative violation protocols against a company employing six citizens of Thailand without Latvian working permits. Latvijas Avize

• We are Going Your Way is planning to hold an action Return our names with an aim to draw attention to the problem of Latvianisation of non-Latvian names
• Chas reports that Russian language classes in Aluksne are being closed due to the lack of number of pupils
• Telegraf reports on creation of a new internet project Evrokatalog.eu which aims to generalize information about all spheres of life of Russian speaking Europeans

An NGO “We are Going Your Way” is planning to hold an action “Return our names” with an aim to draw attention of society to the problem of Latvianisation of non-Latvian names in official documents issued in Latvia. Members of the NGO are planning to change their old passports for new ones, where English transcription of a name can be written in a separate page. Within the framework of the action, organisers will also  inform people about on how to restore correct spelling of a name.

An NGO We are Going Your Way is planning to hold an action Return our names with an aim to draw attention of society to the problem of Latvianisation of non-Latvian names in official documents issued in Latvia. Members of the NGO are planning to change their old passports for new ones, where English transcription of a name can be written in a separate page. Within the framework of the action, organisers will also inform people about on how to restore correct spelling of a name. Chas

Chas reports that Russian language classes in Aluksne (town in the Northern part of Latvia) are being closed due to the lack of sufficient number of pupils. In an interview with the newspaper, a woman - mother of two children complaints that because of this situation her children must study in classes with Latvian as the main language of instructions.

Telegraf reports on a new internet project Evrokatalog.eu which aims to generalize information about all spheres of life of Russian speaking Europeans. According to author of the project, Russian NGOs from Latvia are not keen to take part in the project because Russian speaking residents of Latvia already have access to information and services in Russian in the country.

• Social anthropologist Roberts Kilis: lack of Roma representatives in the public sphere is one of the main causes of their discrimination

In an interview with

In an interview with NRA, social anthropologist Roberts Kilis has stated that public awareness raising campaigns, which are aimed at combating negative stereotypes about Roma people, in itself are not enough to overcome the discrimination of Roma. Mr. Kilis believes that lack of Roma representatives in the public sphere is one of the main causes of their discrimination.

• Diena features an article on application of the Section 78 of the Criminal Code which stipulates punishment for incitement and instigation to ethnic or racial hatred
• Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the leader of radical political organisation Latvian National Democratic Party Jevgenijs Osipovs
• Columnist of Latvijas Avize criticizes a company which employs a woman who is charged for hate speech
• NRA reports on a case when a Roma man was refused a job because of his ethnicity
• Saeima has supported the draft amendments to the Law On State Secrets which stipulate access of the Ombudsman to state secrets

Diena features an article on application of the Section 78 of the Criminal Code which stipulates punishment for incitement and instigation to ethnic or racial hatred. The newspaper compares two cases initiated by the Security Police: one against a neo-Nazi Andris Jordans who has publicly stated that it would be preferable to exterminate Jews and Roma people as ‘non-humans and another case against a 23-year-old woman who placed insulting statement towards Latvia, ethnic Latvians and Latvian legionnaires on an internet forum. The Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court Ieva Garanca terminated criminal proceedings in the first case arguing that there is a lack of features constituting criminal offence, however, she referred the second case to the court. In an interview with Diena, Ieva Garanca has stated that these two cases are not identical therefore application of the Section 78 differs. The Prosecutor also has stated that cases concerning ethnic and racial hatred are complicated due to the investigation difficulties and lack of court practice. Ieva Garanca considers that liability for less grave crimes could be set in the Code of Administrative Violations. Director of the Human Rights Institute of the University of Latvia Arturs Kucs also considers that implementation of administrative liability could be a solution in the cases when legal acts stipulate severe punishment for violations. However, lawyer of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilvija Puce has stated that incitement to ethnic hatred is not administrative violation. According to Ms. Puce, the Section 78 is poorly formulated, therefore, intentions of the offender are hard to prove in practice. Ilvija Puce also believes that community service would be a good punishment for the first-time offenders.

Columnist of

Columnist of Latvijas Avize criticizes a company which employs a woman who is charged with hate speech. As reported, the Prosecutors Office has forwarded to the Riga Regional Court a criminal case against 23-year-old woman who has placed insulting statement towards Latvia, ethnic Latvians and Latvian legionnaires on an internet forum. According to a representative of the company, no decision will be made regarding the accused employee until her guilt is proven.

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the leader of radical political organisation Latvian National Democratic Party Jevgenijs Osipovs. Mr. Osipovs believes that despite the fact that the Riga City Council banned Russian March, this event was reported by all mass media and it broke the silence about the problems that the government is unwilling to talk about. Jevgenijs Osipovs also believes that a meeting which was held instead of march proved that the officials were wrong about extremist and radical nature of the event.

NRA reports about a Roma man who was refused employment because of his ethnicity. The man explained that an employer has openly stated to him we do not hire Roma people. According to a representative of the Ombudsmans Office, the Office is ready to defend the Roma man if he submits a complaint. In total, the Ombudsmans Office has received 17 mutual and 1 written complaints since January until 1 September 2007.

The Saeima has supported the draft amendments to the Law “On State Secrets” which stipulate access of the Ombudsman to state secrets. According to

The Saeima has supported the draft amendments to the Law On State Secrets which stipulate access of the Ombudsman to state secrets. According to Diena, the access to state secrets will help the Ombudsman to review all cases comprehensively.

• MP Valerijs Agesins has prepared draft amendments to the Punishment Execution Code which stipulate granting interpreter for prisoners if necessary
• Telegraf reports on a new mathematics manual for first grade
• Latvijas Avize reports that the MPs doubt the usefulness of the merge the Naturalisation Board and the State language proposed by the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins
• Latvijas Avize features an interview with the MEP, member of the political party FF/LNIM Inese Vaidere
• NRA features an interview with the EMP from Latvia Girts Valdis Kristovskis and other EMPs on issues concerning integration and racism in Europe

The MP Valerijs Agesins (the Concord Centre) has prepared draft amendments to the Punishment Execution Code which stipulate granting interpreter for prisoners if necessary. Valerijs Agesins believes that every persons must be granted a chance to defend her/him self even if s/he does not speak Latvian.

The MP Valerijs Agesins (the Concord Centre) has prepared draft amendments to the Punishment Execution Code which stipulate granting interpreter for prisoners if necessary. Valerijs Agesins believes that every persons must be granted a chance to defend her/him self even if s/he does not speak Latvian. Chas

Telegraf reports on a new mathematics manual for first grade. The manual was edited by two mathematics teachers from Russian language schools and is designed to help teachers implementing bilingual programs in minority schools.

Latvijas Avize reports that the MPs doubt the usefulness of the merge of the Naturalisation Board and the State language centre into one institution proposed by the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins. The Head of the Naturalsation Board Eizenija Aldermane also doubts the proposal. Mrs. Aldermane considers that the NB has to remain as a separate institution because it has sufficient workload at the moment and in the future the workload might increase because the guest workers arriving in Latvia today will probably like to naturalize. Mrs. Aldermane also believes that the State Language Centre could be strengthen and developed into full-fledge institution.

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the MEP, member of the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) Inese Vaidere. Ms. Vaidere believes that the FF/LNIM has to change its policy so that it would be supported by the majority of ethnic Latvians and which would strengthen ethnic aspect, especially, state language. As reported, according to the latest opinion poll, rating of the FF/LNIM is only 2,9%.

NRA features an interview with the EMP from Latvia Girts Valdis Kristovskis and EMPs from Estonia, the United Kingdom and Ireland on issues concerning integration and racism in Europe. According to Mr. Kristovskis, Latvian residents are suspicious about guest workers because Latvians are afraid that foreigners might endanger them as titular nation. Mr. Kritovskis believes that Latvia has to develop skilful policy at this field for prevention of possible further social conflicts between immigrants and domestic residents. NRA (12.09)