• Article on proposals encouraging the return of Latvian emigrants
• The Constitutional Court terminated proceedings on the case of double citizenship
• Russian-language newspapers report on the planned closure of Russian-language class and Russian-language school

Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Society integration has elaborated proposals encouraging the return of Latvian emigrants. Among other, the proposals stipulate the granting of double citizenship to the children of Latvian citizens who are born abroad. The ministry also proposes to evaluate a possibility to grant double citizenship to the spouses of Latvian citizens.

Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Society integration has elaborated proposals encouraging the return of Latvian emigrants. Among other, the proposals stipulate the granting of double citizenship to the children of Latvian citizens who are born abroad. The ministry also proposes to evaluate a possibility to grant double citizenship to the spouses of Latvian citizens. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Chas

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia decided to terminate the proceedings on the case of double citizenship. The claim was submitted by Marks Locovs, a citizen of Israel and Latvia, and his wife Diana Locova. Their daughter was not registered as a citizen of Latvia. The claimants contested that Item 2 of the First Paragraph of Article 3 and the First Paragraph of Article 9 of the Citizenship Law do not comply with the principles of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in the Article 91 of the Constitution. Item 2 of the First Paragraph of Article 3 of the Citizenship Law determines that a child born outside of Latvia shall be recognised as a citizen of Latvia if the parent with whom the child lives was permanently residing in Latvia on the day of the child’s birth, while the First Paragraph of Article 9 of the Law determines that the granting of Latvia citizenship to a person shall not lead to dual citizenship. The Constitutional Court decided that the contested norms were not applicable to their case and therefore their fundamental rights were not violated. The Constitutional Court decision is final and cannot be appealed.

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia decided to terminate the proceedings on the case of double citizenship. The claim was submitted by Marks Locovs, a citizen of Israel and Latvia, and his wife Diana Locova. Their daughter was not registered as a citizen of Latvia. The claimants contested that Item 2 of the First Paragraph of Article 3 and the First Paragraph of Article 9 of the Citizenship Law do not comply with the principles of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in the Article 91 of the Constitution. Item 2 of the First Paragraph of Article 3 of the Citizenship Law determines that a child born outside of Latvia shall be recognised as a citizen of Latvia if the parent with whom the child lives was permanently residing in Latvia on the day of the childs birth, while the First Paragraph of Article 9 of the Law determines that the granting of Latvia citizenship to a person shall not lead to dual citizenship. The Constitutional Court decided that the contested norms were not applicable to their case and therefore their fundamental rights were not violated. The Constitutional Court decision is final and cannot be appealed. Latvijas Avize

Russian-language newspapers report on the planned closure of Russian-language class and Russian-language school.

Russian-language newspapers report on the planned closure of Russian-language class and Russian-language school. Vesti Segodnya informs that first grade for Russian-speaking students of the only Lielvarde two-stream school will not be opened due to the lack of students. According to the newspaper, there is no Russian-language kindergarten in this town, hence most of the parents of Russian-speaking children bring their children to Latvian-language kindergarten and afterwards also to the Latvian-language schools. The newspaper also features a story about the Russian family living in Lielvarde, who have to bring their children to the near town to provide them an education in their native language. At the same time Chas informs about the liquidation of the Russian-language Secondary School Nr.17 in Riga allegedly also due to prolonged inability to gather first grade in it. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

• Days of Latgale Belorussians takes place in Riga this weekend

Latvijas Avize features an article about Days of Latgale (region in the southeastern part of Latvia) Belarussians. The Days of Belorussians will take place on Friday and Saturday in Riga enabling society to learn more about the Belorussian culture, traditions, values and literature. The event is supported financially by the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration.

• State Language Centre initiates inspection against the organisers of the concert
• Articles about demonstration planned by the radical National Democratic Party and the union Dzimtene on 8 September

Russian-language newspapers report on inspection initiated by the State Language Centre against the organisers of the concert of pop-groups

Russian-language newspapers report on inspection initiated by the State Language Centre against the organisers of the concert of pop-groups Boney M and Eruption. According to the newspapers, the inspection is dissatisfied with the fact that expressions of the musicians during the concert were translated in Russian instead of Latvian as demanded by the law. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Russian-language newspapers feature articles about demonstration planned by the radical National Democratic Party (NDP) and the union Dzimtene on 8 September. The slogans used by the organisers of the demonstration are traditional, for example, granting of Latvian citizenship to all the residents of Latvia, granting the official status to Russian language and others. The leader of the NDP Jevgenijs Osipovs has stressed that more radical activities, ‘similar to those in France’, could follow if the demands of this demonstration will not be taken into account by the government. The character of these ‘radical activities’ was not specified by Jevgenijs Osipovs.

Russian-language newspapers feature articles about demonstration planned by the radical National Democratic Party (NDP) and the union Dzimtene on 8 September. The slogans used by the organisers of the demonstration are traditional, for example, granting of Latvian citizenship to all the residents of Latvia, granting the official status to Russian language and others. The leader of the NDP Jevgenijs Osipovs has stressed that more radical activities, ‘similar to those in France, could follow if the demands of this demonstration will not be taken into account by the government. The character of these ‘radical activities was not specified by Jevgenijs Osipovs. Telegraf, Chas

• State Security Police could recommend to refuse the authorisation of a demonstration planned by NDP

State Security Police tends to recommend Riga City Council to refuse the authorisation of a demonstration planned by the radical National Democratic Party on 8 September. It is planned to demand the granting of voting rights for Latvian non-citizens during the demonstration.

State Security Police tends to recommend Riga City Council to refuse the authorisation of a demonstration planned by the radical National Democratic Party on 8 September. It is planned to demand the granting of voting rights for Latvian non-citizens during the demonstration. Neatkariga Rita Avize

• Latvian language newspapers continue discussion about possible opening of Latvian labour market to guest workers
• Chas prints an article about the possible consolidation of the Latvias First Party/Latvias Way and the Concord Centre
• A demonstration to demand the granting of voting rights to Latvian non-citizens is planned by the National Democratic Party
• FHRUL launches a campaign Threatened monuments

Latvian language newspapers continue discussion about possible opening of the Latvian labour market to guest workers. The Minister of Transport Ainars Slesers (Latvia’s First Party/Latvian Way) in an interview to the business portal

Latvian language newspapers continue discussion about possible opening of the Latvian labour market to guest workers. The Minister of Transport Ainars Slesers (Latvias First Party/Latvian Way) in an interview to the business portal Baltic Business Service stresses that the labour market could be opened for high-qualified labour force, especially in the building sector. The minister does not foresee high interest of the citizens of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia in becoming guest workers in Latvia due to the rapid growth of construction sector in these states. According to him, in the future Latvia will be forced to import labour force from Germany and other EU member states as well as Eastern countries. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize

Chas features opinions of the leader of the union of Latvias First Party/Latvias Way Ainars Slesers and the head of the Saeima Concord Centre parliamentary faction Janis Urbanovics regarding a possible consolidation of these political forces in order to attract the votes of ‘new citizens. Neither of them foresees merging of these two parties in the near future, at the same time not excluding such a possibility in future.

Leader of the radical National Democratic Party Jevgenijs Osipovs is planning to organise a demonstration on 8 September in order to demand the granting of voting rights for Latvian non-citizens. The union For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM is planning to adopt a statement calling upon the Riga City Council to refuse the proceeding of this demonstration in the centre of Riga.

Leader of the radical National Democratic Party Jevgenijs Osipovs is planning to organise a demonstration on 8 September in order to demand the granting of voting rights for Latvian non-citizens. The union For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM is planning to adopt a statement calling upon the Riga City Council to refuse the proceeding of this demonstration in the centre of Riga. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize

For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) has announced about the launching of the campaign “Threatened monuments” in order to protest against the plans of the municipality of Bauska to relocate the memorial stone dedicated to the soviet soldiers from the centre of town to cemetery. FHRUL has named the plans of the municipality as part of ‘planned destruction of the memorial sites of the WWII realised by the nationalists of the Baltic States’.

For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) has announced about the launching of the campaign Threatened monuments in order to protest against the plans of the municipality of Bauska to relocate the memorial stone dedicated to the soviet soldiers from the centre of town to cemetery. FHRUL has named the plans of the municipality as part of ‘planned destruction of the memorial sites of the WWII realised by the nationalists of the Baltic States. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Telegraf