• Latvijas Avize reports about ethnic situation in Jekabpils

Latvijas Avize reports about ethnic situation in Jekabpils (city in the Central-Eastern part of Latvia). In total, there are representatives of more than 44 various ethnicities living in Jekabpils. According to the newspaper, ethnic Latvian residents of Jekabpils complain that Russian speaking residents do not want to speak Latvian language.

• Saeima has refused a proposal to grant the status of official festivity to the Orthodox and Old-Believers Easter
• Saeima has refused a proposal to set criminal punishment for public denial of occupation of Latvia
• Kulturas Diena prints an article by academician Nils Muiznieks on possible development of ethnic relations in Latvia in 2020

The Saeima has refused a proposal of the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia to grant the status of official festivity to the Orthodox and Old-Believers’ Easter. According to Chas, there are 350,000 Orthodox Christians and 80,000 Old-Believers in Latvia.

The Saeima has refused a proposal of the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia to grant the status of official festivity to the Orthodox and Old-Believers Easter. According to Chas, there are 350,000 Orthodox Christians and 80,000 Old-Believers in Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Saeima has refused a proposal of the parliamentary faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) to set criminal punishment for public denial of fact that Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union. The FF/LNIM proposed to punish the denial of occupation with up to three years of imprisonment or with pecuniary penalty in amount of 60 minimum wages.

The Saeima has refused a proposal of the parliamentary faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) to set criminal punishment for public denial of fact that Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union. The FF/LNIM proposed to punish the denial of occupation with up to three years of imprisonment or with pecuniary penalty in amount of 60 minimum wages. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Kulturas Diena prints an article by academician Nils Muiznieks on possible development of ethnic relations in Latvia in 2020. According to Nils Muiznieks, development of ethnic relations in Latvia will be impacted by several factors: migration; national policy regarding migrants; national ethnic policy; extent to which social economic cleavages coincide with ethnicity; and Russias policy towards Latvia in general or towards Russian speakers in Latvia.

• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens: naturalisation rate will grow as soon as the prestige of Latvian citizenship is raised
• Several newspapers continue to report on recent court decisions concerning incitement of ethnic hatred
• Saeimas Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee has discussed possible ways to curtail the circulation of information prohibited by law on the Internet

In an interview with

In an interview with Telegraf, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens, has stated that the Secretariat jointly with the Naturalisation Board is conducting a study which analyses reasons for decline of naturalisation rate. The Minister believes that naturalisation rate will grow as soon as the prestige of Latvian citizenship is raised. In the meantime, the MP Boriss Cilevics in an interview with the newspaper has stated that there are three groups of non-citizens who do not naturalise: elder people with low education level who are afraid of any kind of examinations; those who are not sure whether Latvian legislation entitles them to naturalise; and those who believe that naturalisation process is unfair.

Several newspapers continue to report on recent court decisions concerning incitement of ethnic hatred. Columnist of

Several newspapers continue to report on recent court decisions concerning incitement of ethnic hatred. Columnist of Chas believes that ruling in the case of neo-Nazi Andris Jordans (sentenced to 1 year and six months of imprisonment for statements inciting to ethnic hatred) in many aspects is a political decision, because he was sentenced on the eve of 16 March. Latvia will probably be reproached again for commemorative events in honour of Latvian Waffen SS legionaries, but now the authorities will be able to point at the Jordans case as an example that the state is combating extremist expressions. In the meantime, Latvijas Avize reports that the girl sentenced to 120 hours of community service (for insulting statement towards Latvia and Latvians) has already served a quarter of imposed penalty.

Newspapers report that the Saeima’s Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee has discussed possible ways to curtail the circulation of information prohibited by law on the Internet.  According to a representative of the Security Police, gaps in Latvian legal acts hinder control of information on the Internet: the Internet is not defined as mass media, therefore, editors of internet portals are not responsible for content placed by portal’s users; besides, Latvian legislation has a very narrow perspective of hate speech, because article 78 of the Criminal Code envisages criminal liability only for instigation of ethnic, racial and religious hatred.

Newspapers report that the Saeimas Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee has discussed possible ways to curtail the circulation of information prohibited by law on the Internet. According to a representative of the Security Police, gaps in Latvian legal acts hinder control of information on the Internet: the Internet is not defined as mass media, therefore, editors of internet portals are not responsible for content placed by portals users; besides, Latvian legislation has a very narrow perspective of hate speech, because article 78 of the Criminal Code envisages criminal liability only for instigation of ethnic, racial and religious hatred. Diena

• Mayor of Riga Janis Birks will take part in the commemorative procession of Latvian Waffen SS legionaries on 16 March
• Dialogi.lv has launched a project informing non-citizens about possibilities to grant Latvian citizenship to their children
• Vice-chairman of the Latvian Anti-fascist Committee Josefs Korens: number of followers of neo-Nazi ideology in Latvia is growing
• Ministry of Justice jointly with the State Language Centre is elaborating a document on establishment of a new institution which would work on implementation of state language policy

The Mayor of Riga Janis Birks (FF/LNIM) is planning to take part in the commemorative procession on 16 March – unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionaries. Janis Birks believes that it is a display of respect towards Latvian history and ancestors. In an interview with

The Mayor of Riga Janis Birks (FF/LNIM) is planning to take part in the commemorative procession on 16 March – unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionaries. Janis Birks believes that it is a display of respect towards Latvian history and ancestors. In an interview with Vesti Segodnya, activist of the national radical political organisation All for Latvia! Raivis Dzintars also has stated that 16 of March is the date to honour Latvian ancestors who have fought for Latvian independence. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

NGO “Dialogi.lv” has launched a project “For the sake of your child” which is aimed at informing Latvian non-citizens about possibilities to grant Latvian citizenship to their children. The project is funded by the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration.

NGO Dialogi.lv has launched a project For the sake of your child which is aimed at informing Latvian non-citizens about possibilities to grant Latvian citizenship to their children. The project is funded by the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration. Chas

In an interview with

In an interview with Vesti Segodnya, vice-chairman of the Latvian Anti-fascist Committee Josefs Korens has stated that number of followers of neo-Nazi ideology in Latvia is growing. According to Mr. Korens, there are several hundred of neo-Nazis in Latvia, although only 30-40 of them are active.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins. According to the Minister, the Ministry of Justice jointly with the State Language Centre is elaborating a document on establishment of a new institution which would work on implementation of state language policy. The document is to be forwarded to the State Chancellery in April.

• Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins: Latvia is not planning to ratify the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens about the Guidelines for Social Integration Policy 2008-2018

Chas reports that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins has replied to the appeal of several ethnic minority NGOs who have asked to ratify the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and to withdraw the reservations made to the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities. The Minister has stated that Latvia is not planning to ratify the Language Charter, while, discussion on withdrawal of the reservations to the Framework Convention is not worthwhile because the opinion of the Consultative Council on Implementation of the Framework Convention is not known yet.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens about the Guidelines for Social Integration Policy 2008-2018. According to the Minister, the aim of the document is to make sure that all people regardless of ethnicity or culture feel that Latvia needs them and that they belong to this country. Mr. Kastens considers that the Guidelines do not promote or legalise multiculturalism but stresses that development of cultural diversity is not sufficiently recognized, promoted and valued.