• MP Peteris Tabuns asked to punish the MP Jakovs Pliners for speaking Russian with representatives of Russias Parliaments delegation
• Book Ways that We Choose on Russians in Latvia
• 124,153 persons have received Latvian citizenship through naturalisation since 1995

The MP Peteris Tabuns (For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM) has appealed to the Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee with a complaint that the head of the Saeima’s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia, MP Jakovs Pliners spoke Russian with representatives of Russia’s Parliament’s delegation. According to Peteris Tabuns, Jakovs Pliners had to speak only in Latvian because it is the only state language in Latvia. However, the Committee has refused to punish Mr. Pliners with an argument that MPs often speak other languages during meetings with foreign parliamentarians.

The MP Peteris Tabuns (For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM) has appealed to the Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee with a complaint that the head of the Saeimas faction For Human Rights in United Latvia, MP Jakovs Pliners spoke Russian with representatives of Russias Parliaments delegation. According to Peteris Tabuns, Jakovs Pliners had to speak only in Latvian because it is the only state language in Latvia. However, the Committee has refused to punish Mr. Pliners with an argument that MPs often speak other languages during meetings with foreign parliamentarians. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, NRA

Chas and Vesti Segodnya report that the president of the Russian Community of Latvia Vjaceslavs Altuhovs has issued a book Ways that We Choose on Russians in Latvia.

Vesti Segodnya reports that 124,153 persons have received Latvian citizenship through naturalisation since the procedure was launched in 1995.

• Three NGOs are planning to ask the new President of Latvia Valders Zatlers to support granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections
• 1, 512 foreigners have been granted working permits in Latvia during the first five months of 2007

The NGOs Union of Citizens and Non-citizens, “Humanitarian Perspective”, and the Russian Community of Liepaja (city in the Northern part of Latvia) have prepared an appeal to the newly elected President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers. In the appeal, the NGOs ask the President to support granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. The official appeal will be sent to the President in autumn.

The NGOs Union of Citizens and Non-citizens, Humanitarian Perspective, and the Russian Community of Liepaja (city in the Northern part of Latvia) have prepared an appeal to the newly elected President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers. In the appeal, the NGOs ask the President to support granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. The official appeal will be sent to the President in autumn. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 1,512 foreigners have been granted working permits in Latvia during the time period from 1 January to 31 May 2007. The majority of guest workers have arrived from Russia (383) and from Moldova (226). Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers has reviewed a draft framework on migration policy concerning employment prepared by the Ministry of Interior. The draft framework includes provisions to ease the procedure for granting working permits to foreigners. The government will continue the elaboration of the framework.

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 1,512 foreigners have been granted working permits in Latvia during the time period from 1 January to 31 May 2007. The majority of guest workers have arrived from Russia (383) and from Moldova (226). Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers has reviewed a draft framework on migration policy concerning employment prepared by the Ministry of Interior. The draft framework includes provisions to ease the procedure for granting working permits to foreigners. The government will continue the elaboration of the framework. Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize

• Cabinet of Ministers reviews a draft framework on migration policy in the area of employment
• BBC Russian services representative has arrived to Riga to obtain information on the Russian-speakers situation

Today, the Cabinet of Ministers reviews a draft framework on migration policy in the area of employment prepared by the Ministry of Interior. The draft framework aims to prevent a decrease of labour force in Latvia. According to the Residents’ Register, most of guest workers arrived to Latvia in 2006 have been employed in construction, manufacturing industry, trade and repair works, service and other fields. 20.5% of the guest workers have come from Russia, 12.9% - from Ukraine, 9.1% - from Lithuania, and 5.2% - from the USA.

Today, the Cabinet of Ministers reviews a draft framework on migration policy in the area of employment prepared by the Ministry of Interior. The draft framework aims to prevent a decrease of labour force in Latvia. According to the Residents Register, most of guest workers arrived to Latvia in 2006 have been employed in construction, manufacturing industry, trade and repair works, service and other fields. 20.5% of the guest workers have come from Russia, 12.9% - from Ukraine, 9.1% - from Lithuania, and 5.2% - from the USA. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, NRA

Chas reports that a representative from the BBC Russian service has arrived to Riga in the framework of a project Word for You with an aim to be informed on the situation of Russian speaking residents in Latvia. A radio program Word for You with participation of various experts will be broadcasted today on a Latvian national radio channel.

• Russian Federations MPs discuss non-citizens rights at Riga City Council
• FHRUL MPs announced the results of a survey of Russian language secondary schools students

Chas reports about a discussion between the Russian Federations MPs and representatives of Riga City Council. The Russian delegation believed that granting non-citizens voting rights at municipal elections would help to narrow a gap between the communities and pointed to similar European Parliament recommendations. According to the Riga mayor deputy Janis Dinevics, the residents of Riga are split roughly in two. However, Janis Dinevics has also insisted that Russian-speakers should know the state language and history while non-citizens should naturalize if they wish to acquire voting rights.

Vesti Segodnya reports on the results of a survey commissioned by opposition MPs Jakovs Pliners and Valerijs Buhvalovs (FHRUL) on minority education. 292 students of Russian language secondary schools from grades 10 and 11 of 10 schools throughout Latvia were surveyed. Majority of the surveyed students noted that they did not have at their disposal bilingual books or workbooks and they spent between 2,5 to 5 hours a day to prepare their homework. 30% were not aware of any events within the school curricula aimed at familiarising the students with their native culture.

• The European Court of Human Rights received over 2000 complaints from residents of Latvia during the last 9 years
• Delegation of Russian MPs visit Latvia

Latvias residents filed 2047 human rights violations complaints to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) during the last 9 years. 1276 complaints have been declared admissible. 20 ECHR judgements have entered into force so far and in 18 cases Latvia was found in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. Most often, Latvias residents complaints were related to the length of pre-trial detention and trial proceedings.NRA

Newspapers report on the visit of the delegation of the Russian Federation’s MPs to Latvia. The delegation has met with the Ombudsman and Latvian MP’s to discuss situation of Russian speaking minorities. The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhny has pointed to Latvia’s adopted reservations to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities concerning minority language use with administrative authorities and topographical and street signs. He has also noted that the definition of minorities applied to citizens only. Anita Kovalevska representing the Ombudsman’s Office has emphasized the importance of the Convention’s ratification, even with the reservations. According to the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis, granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections would their decrease motivation to naturalize. Dainis Turlais, the head of the Saeima group for cooperation with the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (Latvian First Party/Latvian Way), has admitted that the procedure registration of non-citizens’ children born after 1991 as Latvia citizens could be simplified.

Newspapers report on the visit of the delegation of the Russian Federations MPs to Latvia. The delegation has met with the Ombudsman and Latvian MPs to discuss situation of Russian speaking minorities. The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhny has pointed to Latvias adopted reservations to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities concerning minority language use with administrative authorities and topographical and street signs. He has also noted that the definition of minorities applied to citizens only. Anita Kovalevska representing the Ombudsmans Office has emphasized the importance of the Conventions ratification, even with the reservations. According to the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis, granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections would their decrease motivation to naturalize. Dainis Turlais, the head of the Saeima group for cooperation with the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (Latvian First Party/Latvian Way), has admitted that the procedure registration of non-citizens children born after 1991 as Latvia citizens could be simplified. Latvijas Avize reports on the delegations visit to a Riga Russian language school in order to discuss minority education reform, state exams, and the situation of minority language in education. Some the schools representatives expressed their concern that the education process and graduation have become more difficult as the result of the education reform. Chas, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize