• Riga City Council has issued permission to the extreme ultra-right organisation National Power Union to hold a protest action against celebration of Victory Day on 9 May
• Leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers proposes to hold a national referendum to decide whether non-citizens have to be granted voting rights in municipal elections
• Tatjana Zdanoka has established a foundation in support of Russian language schools in Latvia

The Riga City Council has issued permission to members of extreme ultra-right organisation National Power Union (NSS in its Latvian acronym) to hold a protest action against celebration of “Victory Day” on 9 May. Members of the NSS are planning to put flowers in memory of “the victims of Bolshevik terror” beneath the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. At the same day several other organisations are planning to hold events in the honour of “Victory Day” and Soviet soldiers near the Monument. Leader of the Latvian Socialist party Alfreds Rubiks in an interview with

The Riga City Council has issued permission to members of extreme ultra-right organisation National Power Union (NSS in its Latvian acronym) to hold a protest action against celebration of Victory Day on 9 May. Members of the NSS are planning to put flowers in memory of the victims of Bolshevik terror beneath the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. At the same day several other organisations are planning to hold events in the honour of Victory Day and Soviet soldiers near the Monument. Leader of the Latvian Socialist party Alfreds Rubiks in an interview with Vesti Segodnya has stated that the action of the NSS may provoke conflicts with WWII veterans. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, NRA

Latvijas Avize and Telegraf report that the leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers has proposed to hold a national referendum to decide whether non-citizens of Latvia have to be granted voting rights in municipal elections. Ainars Slesers considered that such referendum could be held at the same time with municipal elections in 2009.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the MEP from Latvia, member of the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka has established a foundation in support of Russian language schools in Latvia. The foundation is planning to hold various projects with an aim to preserve Russian schools and to inform students and their parents on issues concerning education.

• Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has reviewed draft amendments to the Criminal Law

Yesterday, the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has reviewed draft amendments to the Criminal Law supported by the Saeima in the second reading. The Committee has supported the proposals stipulating criminal liability for a person who made an attempt to pass naturalisation exam or state language proficiency test instead of a real applicant for citizenship or for state language proficiency certificate. Such persons might be punished with imprisonment or pecuniary penalty. Also, the Committee has refused a proposal to set criminal liability for violation of prohibition of any discrimination. Accordingly, at present, the draft amendments stipulate criminal liability only for violation of national, ethnic, racial or religious prohibition of discrimination.

Yesterday, the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has reviewed draft amendments to the Criminal Law supported by the Saeima in the second reading. The Committee has supported the proposals stipulating criminal liability for a person who made an attempt to pass naturalisation exam or state language proficiency test instead of a real applicant for citizenship or for state language proficiency certificate. Such persons might be punished with imprisonment or pecuniary penalty. Also, the Committee has refused a proposal to set criminal liability for violation of prohibition of any discrimination. Accordingly, at present, the draft amendments stipulate criminal liability only for violation of national, ethnic, racial or religious prohibition of discrimination. Latvijas Avize

• State Language Centre continues to examine state language proficiency of the Latvian Railways workers
• IUMSILS has granted funding in amount of LVL 4,198 (EUR 5,973) to Roma NGOs
• National Power Union is planning to put flowers in memory of the victims of Bolshevik terror beneath the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders on 9 May
• Article by the head of the Council of Daugavpils branch of Russian Community in Latvia on the reformation of national education system

Vesti Segodnya reports that the State Language Centres inspectors continue to examine state language proficiency of the Latvian Railways workers. In an interview with the newspaper, the member of the Saeimas Social Affairs Committee Andrejs Klementjevs believed that such inspections are humiliating for non-service workers. Andrejs Klementjevs considered that the Ministry of Transport must interfere into the situation and to stop language inspections.

NRA reports that the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym) has granted funding in amount of LVL 4,198 (EUR 5,973) to Roma NGOs for support of programs aimed at promotion of tolerance and combating of intolerance towards Roma people.

Extreme ultra-right organisation National Power Union (NSS in its Latvian acronym) is planning to put flowers in memory of “the victims of Bolshevik terror” beneath the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders on 9 May. As reported, several other organisations are planning to hold events in the honour of “Victory Day” and soviet soldiers near the Monument.

Extreme ultra-right organisation National Power Union (NSS in its Latvian acronym) is planning to put flowers in memory of the victims of Bolshevik terror beneath the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders on 9 May. As reported, several other organisations are planning to hold events in the honour of Victory Day and soviet soldiers near the Monument. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Chas prints an article by the head of the Council of Daugavpils branch of Russian Community in Latvia Aleksejs Vasiljevs on the reformation of national education system. Mr. Vasiljevs criticizes a decision of the Ministry of Education to adopt Latvian language learning program which stipulates passing a common centralized examination in the state language for students both at Latvian and non-Latvian-language secondary schools. Aleksejs Vasiljevs believes that Russian speaking students will not be able to pass examination at the same level as Latvians.

• 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.