• 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.

• Union of Christian Democrats proposes to severe norms of the State Language Law with an aim to ensure domination of Latvian language in all spheres of public life
• MP Karlis Sadurskis proposes several draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code
• Vesti Segodnya prints an article by the authors of a study on impact of education reform on education quality in ethnic minority schools
• Chas prints an interview with a new member of the radical organisation LNDP - ex-staff member of the Security Police Aleksandrs Bogdanovs

The political party Union of Christian Democrats (UCD) proposes to severe norms of the State Language Law with an aim to ensure domination of Latvian language in all spheres of public life. Members of the UCD consider that only music in Latvian should be played in shops, cafes, public transport and others public places. To play foreign music, the owner of a place should receive permission of the State Language Centre after explaining he/she needs it. The UCD also considers that all private TV channels and radio stations must broadcast at least 10 % of programs in Latvian language.

The political party Union of Christian Democrats (UCD) proposes to severe norms of the State Language Law with an aim to ensure domination of Latvian language in all spheres of public life. Members of the UCD consider that only music in Latvian should be played in shops, cafes, public transport and others public places. To play foreign music, the owner of a place should receive permission of the State Language Centre after explaining he/she needs it. The UCD also considers that all private TV channels and radio stations must broadcast at least 10 % of programs in Latvian language. Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, at a meeting of the Saeima’s Legal Affairs Committee, the MP Karlis Sadurskis (the New Era) has proposed several draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code. The MP proposes to increase pecuniary penalties for disuse of Latvian language.

Yesterday, at a meeting of the Saeimas Legal Affairs Committee, the MP Karlis Sadurskis (the New Era) has proposed several draft amendments to the Administrative Violations Code. The MP proposes to increase pecuniary penalties for disuse of Latvian language. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya prints an article by the members of the Association of Russian Culture, Education and Science, authors of a study on impact of education reform (launched in 2004) on education quality in ethnic minority schools. As reported, according to the study education quality in Russian language schools has dropped considerably in mathematics and history because these subjects are taught in Latvian language. The authors continue their analysis by comparing examination results in Rigas Latvian and Russian language schools and again conclude that level of proficiency of students from Russian language schools in subjects taught in Latvian language has dropped. The authors also believe that there must be an independent international expertise on results of the ‘reform.

Chas prints an interview with ex-staff member of the Security Police Aleksandrs Bogdanovs who recently has become a new member of the radical political organisation Latvian National Democratic Party (LNDP). Mr. Bogdanovs explained that he joined the LNDP with an aim to stop ethnic discrimination in Liepaja (city in the Western part of Latvia).

• Chas prints an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens and two ex- Integration Ministers Nils Muiznieks and Ainars Latkovskis about the work of the IUMSILS and its further perspectives
• Most popular parties in Latvia: the Concord Centre, the New Era, the Union of Greens and Farmers

Chas prints an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens and two ex- Integration Ministers Nils Muiznieks and Ainars Latkovskis about the work of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym) during the five years of its existence and about its further prospects. Oskars Kastens has stated that the IUMSILSs work was successful and that one of its main outcomes is a change in attitude of ethnic minorities towards Latvian state. Mr. Kastens believes that the IUMSILS should continue its course and activities. Nils Muzinieks has stated that work of the IUMSILS is hindered by the fact that neither the government, nor the opposition recognise ethnic integration as a priority. Mr. Muiznieks believes that because of the growing migration from the EU and other countries the importance of the IUMSILS will grow. Ainars Latkovskis considers that functions of the IUMSILS are essential in the system of the state government. However, Mr. Latkovskis does not rule out possibility that in the future the IUMSILS might be closed and its functions assigned to other ministries.

According to the latest public opinion survey held by the market and social research company “Latvijas fakti”, the Concord Centre is the most popular party in Latvia – 10,8 % of Latvian citizens would vote for it if the Saeima’s elections were held now. The New Era is supported by 7,8 % of citizens, the Union of Greens and Farmers by 6,2 %, and People’s party by 5,1 %. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of Latvian citizens.

According to the latest public opinion survey held by the market and social research company Latvijas fakti, the Concord Centre is the most popular party in Latvia – 10,8 % of Latvian citizens would vote for it if the Saeimas elections were held now. The New Era is supported by 7,8 % of citizens, the Union of Greens and Farmers by 6,2 %, and Peoples party by 5,1 %. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of Latvian citizens. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

• Chamber of Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court will continue the review of a case of ex-deputy of the Riga City Council Aleksandrs Gilmans in June 2008
• Weekly magazine Nedela prints an article about foreign labour migration to Latvia

Latvijas Avize reports that the Chamber of Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court will continue the review of a case of ex-deputy of the Riga City Council Aleksandrs Gilmans in June 2008. As reported, Aleksandrs Gilmans is charged for anti-governmental statements made on the internet forum of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Schools homepage. In November, the Court has received repeated linguistic expertise made by the Latvian Association of Independent Experts.

Weekly magazine

Weekly magazine Nedela prints an article about foreign labour migration to Latvia. Columnist of the magazine considers that Latvia should keep and even strengthen existing bureaucratic obstacles to the influx of cheep labour force from non-EU countries, while migration of highly qualified labour force should be promoted. The Columnist also believes that Latvia should develop a system on full-fledge involvement of domestic labour force into Latvian labour market.