• Draft concept on national mass media envisages broadcasts in minority languages
• MPs and Latvian academics discussed return of record on ethnic affiliation in passports

Vesti Segodnya reports about elaboration of a draft concept on national mass media. According to the newspaper, it is planned that the national mass media will broadcast some programs in Russian and languages of other ethnic minorities with an aim to strengthen their loyalty towards the state. The newspaper also notes that it is still unclear how do the national TV channels will attract Russian speakers to watch their broadcasts as the cable TV is very popular and widespread around the country.

Members of the Saeima’s Committee on Society Consolidation discussed with Latvian academics a proposal to restore ethnic affiliation record in passports. The MP Andrejs Judins highlighted the reality of those persons who feel themselves belonging to ethnic Latvian environment but do not belong to Latvian ethnicity genetically and asked what should these persons do if the ethnicity record is restored. According to academic Leo Dribins, today, ethnic affiliation is indicated not by genetics but by culture. Academic Juris Rozenvalds, in his turn, believes that the issue is controversial, because there were cases in Latvian history when such record was used against people. Vesti Segodnya

• Vladimirs Lindermans: draft amendments to the Citizenship Law are nonsense

According to Telegraf, the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law stipulating that granting of Latvian citizenship might be refused to persons who endanger state and society security, democratic constitutional order, state’s independence and territorial integrity most likely got elaborated specially with an aim to prevent granting of citizenship to leaders of the party “For Native Language” Vladimirs Lindermans and Jevgenijs Osipovs. The evaluation on whether an applicant for citizenship endangers the state should be given by the security services. Mr Lindermans believes that such amendments are nonsense because only court can decide whether the person in guilty or not. And if there is no such ruling actions made by person cannot be considered as unlawful.

• MP Janis Dombrava labels part of the population as “civil occupants” and calls the U.S. Ambassador to support their repatriation before speaking about granting of citizenship to children

Vesti Segodnya reports about reaction of Latvian nationalists to the statement about automatic granting of citizenship to children at birth made by the Council of Europe Commissioner for  Human Rights Nils Muiznieks and the U.S. Ambassador’s to Latvia Mark Pekala’s proposal to discuss the issue. The MEP from Latvia Krisjanis Karins stated he would support such proposal only if children of non-citizens would study in Latvian language solely. The MP Janis Dombrava (nationalists’ union), in his turn, labelled part of Latvia’s population as “civil occupants” and called the U.S. Ambassador to support their repatriation before discussions on granting of citizenship to children. As reported earlier, the Commissioner Nils Muiznieks stated that states should grant citizenship automatically at birth to children born in their territory who would otherwise be stateless and not permit parents to choose an option that is clearly not in the child’s interest.

• Deputy believes tax benefits for citizens could solve problem of non-citizenship
• Non-citizens hold an action remembering broken promises by the Popular Front in 1991

A deputy of the Riga City Council Janis Martins Skuja (Democratic Patriots) believes that mass-scale non-citizenship in Latvia could be solved by granting citizens tax benefits. Mr Skuja believes option would help non-citizens to choose to become citizens.  Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the Congress of Non-citizens laid flowers with a violet ribbon at the Monument of Freedom in Riga as an action remembering promises of the Popular Front to grant all Latvian residents citizenship made in 1991 at the barricades for Latvia’s independence. However, later, when Latvia became independent, these promises were not fulfilled splitting the society into citizens and non-citizens. Vesti Segodnya

• Growing Chinese interest for residence permits in Latvia
• U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Mark Pekala raises discussion on granting citizenship automatically at birth to children

Vesti Segodnya reports about the growing interest of the Chinese about the possibility to receive a residence permit in Latvia  by investing in real estate. According to a representative of a real estate company which has already sold some 40 real estate objects to the Chinese, their aim is a Schengen visa and closer exit to Russia’s and CIS countries’ market through opening companies and their branches in Latvia. In comparison with Russian citizens who buy expensive real estate mostly in Riga and Jurmala, the Chinese buy less expensive property in other Latvian regions.

Following the comment by the Council of Europe Commissioner for  Human Rights Nils Muiznieks about automatic granting of citizenship to children at birth, the U.S.. Ambassador to Latvia Mark Pekala in his Twitter account invited others to share their opinion about the issue. As reported earlier, Commissioner Muiznieks stated that states should grant citizenship automatically at birth to children born in their territory who would otherwise be stateless and not permit parents to choose an option that is clearly not in the child’s interest. Diena