• Diena features an article about skinheads in Latvia
• Yesterday, the Saeima has refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law proposed by the FHRUL
• U.S. Embassy to Latvia holds the Afro-American History Month in February
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga criticizes a proposal of Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens

Diena prints an article about skinheads in Latvia. A representative of the Security Police in an interview with the newspaper states that in Latvia skinheads are not very well organised and there are several, however not very big groups. According to the Security Police, there are about 150 skinheads in Latvia, of them 50 could be considered aggressive. The average age is from 14 to 30 years. The newspaper also interviews several representatives of visually different minorities residing in Latvia. An Indian man says he experiences negative attitude every day, however, he believes that it was even worse couple years ago. While another representative - a rabbi - argues that the situation has worsened and he hears offensive statements on regular basis. A Korean man who arrived to Latvia six months ago states that the situation in Latvia in comparison to other European countries is the worst. However, a Chinese man who lives in Latvia for seven years announces that he has never experienced any negative attitude.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law proposed by the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) which stipulated granting the official status to ethnic minority languages in territories densely inhabited by ethnic minorities.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law proposed by the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) which stipulated granting the official status to ethnic minority languages in territories densely inhabited by ethnic minorities. Chas

In February, the U.S. Embassy to Latvia holds the Afro-American History Month. Yesterday,  representatives of the Afro-Latvian association and U.S. Embassy held a meeting with school children in Vainode (a small parish in the northern part of Latvia) and shared their experiences. It is planned to hold similar meetings in other schools as well.

In February, the U.S. Embassy to Latvia holds the Afro-American History Month. Yesterday, representatives of the Afro-Latvian association and U.S. Embassy held a meeting with school children in Vainode (a small parish in the northern part of Latvia) and shared their experiences. It is planned to hold similar meetings in other schools as well. Diena

Yesterday, the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in an interview to the commercial TV channel LNT has criticized a proposal of the leader of the Latvia’s First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections. The President argued that that if non-citizens have the same rights as citizens do, then citizenship would loose its meaning.

Yesterday, the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in an interview to the commercial TV channel LNT has criticized a proposal of the leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections. The President argued that that if non-citizens have the same rights as citizens do, then citizenship would loose its meaning. Chas, Telegraf

• Riga Regional Court sentenced two men to six and eight months imprisonment for racially motivated assault on a dark skinned man under Section 78.2
• Yesterday, the European Parliaments Petitions Committee reviewed 14 applications on citizenship and minority rights in Latvia

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court has sentenced two men to six and eight months imprisonment for racially motivated assault on a dark skinned man in the centre of Riga in summer 2006. It is a first time when persons charged under Section 78 of the Criminal Law were sentenced to real imprisonment. The leader of the Afro-Latvian Association Christopher Ejugbo in an interview with Chas stated that after the incident the police have promised to place video surveillance cameras and to intensify policing places where skinheads have been seen. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena, NRA

Yesterday, the European Parliaments Petitions Committee has reviewed 14 applications on citizenship and minority rights in Latvia, including a petition of Jurijs Petropavlovskis who was refused Latvian citizenship though he had passed naturalisation procedure. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena

• Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis: proposal of Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens is ill-considered
• FHRUL forwards their draft amendments to the State Language Law to the Saeima
• Chas prints an article about Russian NGOs in Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya reports on a discussion Roma Integration into Society and Employment
• Vesti Segodnya features an interview with Russian linguist Tatyana Liguta

Yesterday, the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis stated that a proposal of the leader of the Latvia’s First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens is ill-considered. The Prime Minister stated that the proposal is not in line with a national integration policy arguing that granting of voting rights would negatively impact motivation of non-citizens to get naturalised.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis stated that a proposal of the leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens is ill-considered. The Prime Minister stated that the proposal is not in line with a national integration policy arguing that granting of voting rights would negatively impact motivation of non-citizens to get naturalised. Chas, Latvijas Avize, NRA

The Saeima’s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has forwarded their draft amendments to the State Language Law to the Saeima. The FHRUL proposes to grant ethnic minority languages the official status in territories densely inhabited by ethnic minorities. The draft amendments stipulate use of minority languages in written communication with all  authorities, including judicial and education institutions, use of languages in geographical names and  personal names in original spelling in official documents.

The Saeimas faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has forwarded their draft amendments to the State Language Law to the Saeima. The FHRUL proposes to grant ethnic minority languages the official status in territories densely inhabited by ethnic minorities. The draft amendments stipulate use of minority languages in written communication with all authorities, including judicial and education institutions, use of languages in geographical names and personal names in original spelling in official documents. Chas, Latvijas Avize

Chas prints an article about Russian NGOs in Latvia. The author of the article claims that Russia fails in providing sufficient support to these NGOs because they are too many.

Vesti Segodnya reports on a discussion Roma Integration into Society and Employment. The discussion was a concluding phase of the project on Roma training in computer skills implemented by the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration in co-operation wit an enterprise Microsoft Latvia. Participants of the discussion concluded that a successful Roma integration depends on four interlinked actors: state, municipalities, and private sector, as well as on motivation of Roma people.

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with academician, Russian linguist Tatyana Liguta about the Russian language in Latvia and its interaction with the Latvian language. Tatyana Liguta argues that the Russian language is not endangered in Latvia as it is widely used in society and there are possibilities to study in Russian.

• Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis states that integration of society is in the interests of the state
• Latvias First Party wants to form a new political force based on family values and unity in the society
• Latvian National Human Rights Office has received 9 complaints on alleged racial and ethnic discrimination and 14 complaints on alleged language discrimination in 2006
• Weekly Nedela prints an article on skinhead groups in Latvia
• New members of the Consultative Council on Ethnic Minority Education held their first meeting

Telegraf prints an interview with the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis. Aigars Kalvitis has stated that integration of society is in the interests of the state. He argues that there is no ethnic discrimination in Latvia. Regarding possible attraction of a foreign labour force, Mr. Kalvitis commented that the government should discuss attraction of only highly qualified guest workers as an influx of a cheap labour force might have a negative impact on salaries.

On Saturday, the Latvia’s First Party held a party’s congress. Participants adopted a resolution on a formation of a new political force based on family values and unity in the society. The leader of the party Ainars Slesers stressed that efforts should be made to integrate Russian speakers into a Latvian society, as well as the government should  launch discussions on granting voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections.

On Saturday, the Latvias First Party held a partys congress. Participants adopted a resolution on a formation of a new political force based on family values and unity in the society. The leader of the party Ainars Slesers stressed that efforts should be made to integrate Russian speakers into a Latvian society, as well as the government should launch discussions on granting voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, NRA

NRA reports that in 2006, the Latvian National Human Rights Office (LNHRO) received 9 written complaints on alleged racial and ethnic discrimination and 14 written complaints on alleged discrimination on the basis of language. The LNHRO has provided 55 verbal consultations on discrimination on the above mentioned basis.

The weekly N

The weekly Nedela prints an article on skinhead groups in Latvia. Over last two years a number of assaults on dark skinned persons were reported to the police in Latvia in 2006. According to the article, the Security Police (SP) carefully follow activities of Latvias skinheads and conducts monitoring of various internet sites. A representative of the SP in an interview with Nedela has stated that the SP in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration plan to develop and distribute materials on extremism and racism in Latvia.

Chas reports that new members of the Consultative Council on Ethnic Minority Education held their first meeting on Sunday. The Council includes 16 members – representatives of various Latvian schools and NGOs.

• Prosecutor asks one year imprisonment for attack on a dark-skinned man
• Chas prints comments of representatives of several political parties on a proposal of the leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections
• Latvia and Russia signed a protocol on cooperation aimed at prevention of undocumented migration
• Saeima repeatedly did not support the proposals of the FF/LNIM to ban persons whose state language skills are insufficient from running for municipal elections

On Friday, the Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court asked the court to sentence two accused charged with a racially motivated assault on a dark skinned man in the centre of Riga in summer 2006  to one year imprisonment. As reported, the two men are charged with violation of racial equality under Section 78 of the Criminal Law.

On Friday, the Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court asked the court to sentence two accused charged with a racially motivated assault on a dark skinned man in the centre of Riga in summer 2006 to one year imprisonment. As reported, the two men are charged with violation of racial equality under Section 78 of the Criminal Law. Latvijas Avize, Diena

Chas prints comments of representatives of several political parties on a proposal of the leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections. The MP Mareks Seglins (Peoples Party) has stated that Latvian non-citizens have to become citizens of Latvia to take part in the states political life. Mareks Seglins also believes that his party most likely will not support the proposal. Similar opinions have been voiced by MP August Brigmanis (Union of Greens and Farmers) and Solvita Aboltina (New Era). The MP Vitalijs Orlovs (The Concord Centre) has stated that the Slesers proposal is in agreement with the program of The Concord Centre and he hopes that the proposal will gain support of politicians.

Chas reports that representatives of Latvia and Russia have signed a protocol on the coordination of cooperation between special units of two countries to prevent undocumented migration.

Latvijas Avize reports that the Saeima repeatedly did not support the proposal of the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) to ban persons whose Latvian language skills are insufficient running for municipal elections.