• Telegraf reports that the number of applicants for naturalisation has grown
• Telegraf: dismissed employees submit complaints to the State Language Centre in order to avenge their former employers

Telegraf reports that the Naturalisation Board received 417 applications for naturalisation in February 2009 which is nearly twice the number of applications submitted in December 2008. According to the Head of the NB Eizenija Aldermane, more than a half of applicants are motivated to receive Latvian citizenship in order to leave Latvia in search of employment. Other applicants are motivated by opportunities of greater civil participation.

According to Telegraf, in the circumstances of financial crisis, more people complain to the State Language Centre (SLC) about their ex-employers in order to take revenge for their dismissal. The head of the SLCs state language control department Antons Kursitis acknowledges that there are cases when people write complaints to avenge others, but insists that the SLC has to inspect every complaint.

• New Era: events planned to be held on 9 May also should be forbidden
• Tukums City Council refused to grant funding for the only Russian language first grade class in the city

Head of the Riga City Council’s faction New Era Olafs Pulks, commenting the City Council’s decision to forbid 16 March events near the Monument of Liberty in Riga, stated that events planned to be held on 9 May near the Monument to the Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders also should be forbidden if the same security treats will emerge. As reported, the Riga City Council decided to forbid all public events in Riga on 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires).

Head of the Riga City Councils faction New Era Olafs Pulks, commenting the City Councils decision to forbid 16 March events near the Monument of Liberty in Riga, stated that events planned to be held on 9 May near the Monument to the Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders also should be forbidden if the same security treats will emerge. As reported, the Riga City Council decided to forbid all public events in Riga on 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires). Chas, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Tukums City Council refused to grant funding for the first grade class with Russian language of instructions in the 3rd secondary school for new school year 2009/2010 despite the fact that 15 students enlisted to attend the class. In the meantime, the Council granted funding for the first grade class with Latvian language of instructions in the same school which enlisted 14 students. The 3rd secondary school is the only school in Tukums which has Russian language classes. According to the newspaper, such decision is political and unjustified.

• Riga City Council forbade all public events near the Monument of Liberty in Riga on 16 March
• Chas prints an interview with the head of the Presidents Advisory Council of Ethnic Minorities Romualds Razuks
• Vesti Segodnya: management of a children shop Lacuks regrets the situation around the sale of childrens game with usage instructions in Latvian language and Russian language at different prices
• State Border Guard Service: every day the border guards detain 5-6 persons who attempt to enter Latvia illegally

The Riga City Council forbade all public events near the Monument of Liberty in Riga on 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires). The City Council based its decision on recommendations of law enforcement bodies, including the Security Police, according to which there is danger of possible mass clashes and disturbances because of a number of factors, such as political instability, social-economical crisis, 13 January events, radicalisation of society. According to newspapers,

The Riga City Council forbade all public events near the Monument of Liberty in Riga on 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires). The City Council based its decision on recommendations of law enforcement bodies, including the Security Police, according to which there is danger of possible mass clashes and disturbances because of a number of factors, such as political instability, social-economical crisis, 13 January events, radicalisation of society. According to newspapers, all the organisations which planned to arrange events on 16 March (anti-fascist organisations and organisations supporting legionnaires) are planning to appeal the Councils decision in the court. The newspapers also report that a number of Latvian residents living in London are planning to hold a manifestation against the marches of former Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires in Riga near the Latvian Embassy in U.K. on 16 March. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

Chas prints an interview with the head of the Presidents Advisory Council of Ethnic Minorities Romualds Razuks. According to Mr. Razuks, the Councils task is to mark the main problems of ethnic minorities and to help the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers to launch a dialogue between ethnic Latvians and ethnic minorities in order to consolidate the society.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the management of a childrens toys shop Lacuks regrets the situation reported by the newspaper on 4 March. The shop sold a childrens game with usage instruction only in Latvian at a discount price while the same game with the instruction in Russian was sold at the original price. Shops management states they never sorted people by ethnic affiliation and this misunderstanding was caused by technical mistake because the game with Russian instruction has different commercial code and a salesperson was not aware of it.

According to a representative of the State Border Guard Service, every day the border guards detain 5-6 persons who attempt to enter Latvia illegally. The number of such violators in 2008 has grown by 80 % as compared to 2007. More than 40 persons were placed in the centre for illegal migrants in Olaine and in other police detention facilities recently.

According to a representative of the State Border Guard Service, every day the border guards detain 5-6 persons who attempt to enter Latvia illegally. The number of such violators in 2008 has grown by 80 % as compared to 2007. More than 40 persons were placed in the centre for illegal migrants in Olaine and in other police detention facilities recently. Vesti Segodnya

 

• Central Election Commission will provide information about the European Parliaments elections in Latvia only in Latvian language
• Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reproaches Latvia for events planned to be held on 16 March in commemoration of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires

Chasreports that the Central Election Commission will provide information about the European Parliaments elections in Latvia only in Latvian language. According to the Latvias representative in the PACE, MP Boriss Cilevics, the election observers from the OSCE and other organisations several times criticized Latvia for lack of information in minority languages because it puts ethnic minorities in unequal circumstances with ethnic Latvians.

Latvijas Avize reports that Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reproaches Latvia for heroisation of Nazism and events planned to be held on 16 March in Riga in commemoration of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers that such events compromise reputation of Latvia and all EU countries and should be forbidden.

• Saeima approved draft amendments on criminal liability for justification of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes
• Concord Centre is planning to contest in the Constitutional Court several provisions stipulating penalties for insufficient usage of the state language

Yesterday, the Saeima approved in the second reading draft amendments to the Criminal Law on criminal liability for the justification of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. The draft amendments criminalise public glorification, denial and justification of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, and foresee a prison sentence of up to five years or community service. As reported, draft amendments initially prepared by the Ministry of Justice foresaw criminal liability for the public glorification or justification of regimes that have committed genocide or a person convicted of genocide or denial of genocide, thus attempting to include also the crimes committed by the Stalinist regime.  The current amendments are now in line with the recently adopted Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia

Yesterday, the Saeima approved in the second reading draft amendments to the Criminal Law on criminal liability for the justification of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. The draft amendments criminalise public glorification, denial and justification of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, and foresee a prison sentence of up to five years or community service. As reported, draft amendments initially prepared by the Ministry of Justice foresaw criminal liability for the public glorification or justification of regimes that have committed genocide or a person convicted of genocide or denial of genocide, thus attempting to include also the crimes committed by the Stalinist regime. The current amendments are now in line with the recently adopted Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia Vesti Segodnya

The Concord Centre (CC) is planning to contest in the Constitutional Court several provisions of the Administrative Offences Code which stipulate punishment for insufficient usage of state (Latvian) language as required for the fulfilment of professional dutiesand the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on the procedure of language proficiency inspections. The CC considers that some of the provisions are in contradiction with the Constitution of Latvia.

The Concord Centre (CC) is planning to contest in the Constitutional Court several provisions of the Administrative Offences Code which stipulate punishment for insufficient usage of state (Latvian) language as required for the fulfilment of professional dutiesand the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on the procedure of language proficiency inspections. The CC considers that some of the provisions are in contradiction with the Constitution of Latvia. Telegraf