• Newspapers report on a conference Citizenship and Voting Rights. The Red Lines of Intolerance
• 91 persons were granted departure benefits in total amount of LVL 91, 860 (EUR 130,705) in 2006

On 21 April, the political party “Latvia’s Way” has held a conference “Citizenship and Voting Rights. The Red Lines of Intolerance” The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane has stated that the rate of naturalisation has slowed down since non-citizens were granted rights to travel within the EU countries without visas and due to the lack of patriotism and sense of belonging to Latvia. Eizenija Aldermane believed that discussions on granting voting rights to non-citizens also reduced number of applicants for Latvian citizenship. However, member of the “Latvia’s Way’s” board Eduards Inkens has stated that the non-citizens have to be granted voting rights in municipal elections.

On 21 April, the political party Latvias Way has held a conference Citizenship and Voting Rights. The Red Lines of Intolerance The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane has stated that the rate of naturalisation has slowed down since non-citizens were granted rights to travel within the EU countries without visas and due to the lack of patriotism and sense of belonging to Latvia. Eizenija Aldermane believed that discussions on granting voting rights to non-citizens also reduced number of applicants for Latvian citizenship. However, member of the Latvias Ways board Eduards Inkens has stated that the non-citizens have to be granted voting rights in municipal elections. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 91 persons, including 53 Russia’s WWII pensioners and their family members, were granted departure benefits in total amount of LVL 91, 860 (EUR 130,705) in 2006. During the first three months of 2007, 20 persons were granted departure benefits in total amount of LVL 30,510 (EUR 43,411)

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 91 persons, including 53 Russias WWII pensioners and their family members, were granted departure benefits in total amount of LVL 91, 860 (EUR 130,705) in 2006. During the first three months of 2007, 20 persons were granted departure benefits in total amount of LVL 30,510 (EUR 43,411) Chas

• Conference Mobility of Labour Force and Migration Policy in the EU and Latvia held in Riga
• Centre of Russian Culture in Daugavpils has opened its information centre and internet site www.rusdom.lv
• Saeima has refused a proposal of the political faction FHRUL to the Law on Higher Educational Establishments and Law on Professional Education

On 20 April, the European Parliament’s Information Bureau and European Commission’s Representation in Latvia have held a conference “Mobility of Labour Force and Migration Policy in the EU and Latvia” in Riga.

On 20 April, the European Parliaments Information Bureau and European Commissions Representation in Latvia have held a conference Mobility of Labour Force and Migration Policy in the EU and Latvia in Riga. Diena features an interview with an expert on migration issues from Ireland, economist John Beggs who took part in the conference.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Centre of Russian Culture in Daugavpils (city in the Eastern part of Latvia) has opened its information centre and internet site www.rusdom.lv which informs on activities of the centre and gives an insight into Russian folk culture and traditions.

Latvijas Avize reports that the Saeima has refused a proposal of the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia to the Law on Higher Educational Establishments and Law on Professional Education. FHRUL proposed to enable students in state higher education establishments to receive education not only in Latvian language but also in foreign languages. Also the FHRUL proposed to allow non-Latvians to receive professional education in state establishments in other languages.

• Centre for the Protection of Consumer Rights has fined an enterprise Buvniecibas ABC in amount of LVL 5,000 (EUR 7,144) for racially discriminating advertisement
• FHRUL starts collection of signatures under a mass petition on granting Latvian non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections
• Latvian historians are preparing an exhibition on history of Russians in Latvia which will be held in the premises of the European Parliament
• Russia asks the PACE to resume monitoring procedure in Latvia

The Centre for the Protection of Consumer Rights (CPCR) has fined an enterprise “Buvniecibas ABC” in amount of LVL 5,000 (EUR 7,144) for racially discriminating advertisement placed in the newspaper and on the street stands in Riga. As reported, the advertisement shows an African man who in broken Latvian says “I to want building yours house” and the text behind the advertisement says “All for construction and repair work but foreign labour force.” 

The Centre for the Protection of Consumer Rights (CPCR) has fined an enterprise Buvniecibas ABC in amount of LVL 5,000 (EUR 7,144) for racially discriminating advertisement placed in the newspaper and on the street stands in Riga. As reported, the advertisement shows an African man who in broken Latvian says I to want building yours house and the text behind the advertisement says All for construction and repair work but foreign labour force.Latvijas Avize, Diena

Today, the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia has started collection of signatures under a mass petition to the European Parliament on granting Latvian non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections.

Today, the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia has started collection of signatures under a mass petition to the European Parliament on granting Latvian non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya and Chas report that a group of Latvian historians is preparing an exhibition on history of Russians in Latvia which will be held in the premises of the European Parliament in winter 2007-2008.

Vesti Segodnya reports that, yesterday, on the meeting of the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Head of Russias delegation Konstantin Kosachov has stated that the PACE has to resume monitoring procedure on situation in Latvia. Konstatin Kosachov considered that problem of mass non-citizenship is still urgent in Latvia, therefore, the Council of Europe must press on Latvias government to solve the problem.

• Articles on the debates on human rights and democracy in the PACE
• Vesti Segodnya: domestic construction enterprises believe that Latvia has to open its labour market for guest workers from CIS countries
• Article by Chas columnist on the reasons why non-citizens do not naturalise

Vesti Segodnya and Chas feature articles on the debate on human rights and democracy in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). In an interview with Vesti Segodnya and Chas, the Chairperson of the PACEs Sub-Committee on Rights of Minorities Boriss Cilevics has pointed to the report on human rights in Europe presented at the PACEs session. According to the PACEs representative, the report addresses the problem of mass non-citizenship in some member states of the Council of Europe and calls for granting citizenship to persons who have lost their nationality involuntary. Boriss Cilevics believed that this PACEs concern is caused by citizenship situation in Latvia and Estonia.

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Vesti Segodnya reports that domestic construction enterprises are concerned with the lack of labour force. Some employers believe that Latvia should open its labour market for guest workers from CIS countries.

Chas prints an article by a columnist on the reasons why he and other Latvian non-citizens do not naturalize. The columnist believes that naturalisation procedure is humiliating and Latvian citizenship had to be granted him automatically given that he was born in Latvia. The columnist also is not willing to pass the history test in which a person has to agree that Latvia was occupied by Soviet Union.

• Security Police has asked the Prosecutors Office to start a criminal prosecution against two young people for violation of ethnic and racial equality
• Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs: Russia will continue to insist on the implementation of all recommendations in the area on minority rights
• Chas reports on an advertisement of a judicial service bureau providing 50% discount for Russian speakers
• One-third of Latvian residents have stated that ethnic groups make feel them insecure

Diena reports that the Security Police has asked the Prosecutors Office to start a criminal prosecution against two young people under Section 78 of the Criminal Law for violation of ethnic and racial equality. As reported, in December 2006, a young girl, citizen of Brazil, accompanied by two locals, was attacked by a group of skinheads in the centre of Riga. The group of skinheads blocked girls and her companions way and made racist statements. Afterwards one member of the group threw a bottle of beer at the girl. Fortunately, the girl avoided the bottle, however, she got some injuries in her leg. The girl and her companions managed to escape. Two of the skinheads were detained shortly after the incident.

Yesterday, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov has stated that Russia will continue monitoring the situation of Russian speaking residents in Latvia and will insist on the implementation of all recommendations made by the United Nations, European Council and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in the area of minority rights. Sergey Lavrov has stated that the rights of non-citizens, minority education reform, and the slow naturalisation rate are the core issues of Russia’s concern.

Yesterday, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov has stated that Russia will continue monitoring the situation of Russian speaking residents in Latvia and will insist on the implementation of all recommendations made by the United Nations, European Council and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in the area of minority rights. Sergey Lavrov has stated that the rights of non-citizens, minority education reform, and the slow naturalisation rate are the core issues of Russias concern. Vesti Segodnya

Chas reports on an advertisement placed in one of the newspapers in Daugavpils (city in the Eastern part of Latvia) of a judicial service bureau providing 50% discount for Russian speakers. According to the advertisement, the bureau also does not provide the judicial service to representatives of sexual minorities. The person who has placed the advertisement has stated that the bureau applies the principle of positive discrimination by means of providing a discount for a particular part of residents because of discrimination of Russian speaking residents in various spheres during the last 15 years.

According to a study by “Eurobarometer”, a third of Latvian residents agree with the statement that ethnic groups in Latvia make feel them insecure. 56% of respondents have disagreed with this position.

According to a study by Eurobarometer, a third of Latvian residents agree with the statement that ethnic groups in Latvia make feel them insecure. 56% of respondents have disagreed with this position. Latvijas Avize