• Riga Regional Court hears the case of two persons charged with allegedly racially motivated assault on a dark-skinned man
• Chief of the State Border Guard Gunars Dabolins talks about unofficial immigration tendencies
• Leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers plans to launch discussions about necessity to grant voting rights to non-citizens in municipal elections

The Riga Regional Court has started hearing of a case of two men charged with violation of racial equality under Section 78 of the Criminal Law. As reported, the two men attacked a dark-skinned man who happened to be a member of the Afro-Latvian Association in the centre of Riga last summer.

The Riga Regional Court has started hearing of a case of two men charged with violation of racial equality under Section 78 of the Criminal Law. As reported, the two men attacked a dark-skinned man who happened to be a member of the Afro-Latvian Association in the centre of Riga last summer. Latvijas Avize, Chas

The majority of unofficial immigrants who have arrived in Latvia are from the former CIS, has stated the Chief of the State Border Guard Gunars Dabolins stressing that in total the number of immigrants from non-EU states has not increased. He reports that at the beginning of the year, 40,380 foreigners resided in Latvia and 9,656 of them have the temporary residence permit and 30,724 – the permanent residence permit.

The majority of unofficial immigrants who have arrived in Latvia are from the former CIS, has stated the Chief of the State Border Guard Gunars Dabolins stressing that in total the number of immigrants from non-EU states has not increased. He reports that at the beginning of the year, 40,380 foreigners resided in Latvia and 9,656 of them have the temporary residence permit and 30,724 – the permanent residence permit. Neatkariga Rita Avize

The leader of the Latvia’s First Party Ainars Slesers is planning to launch discussions about necessity to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections.

The leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers is planning to launch discussions about necessity to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections. Diena believes that the initiative is related with the plans of Slesers to consolidate centrist political forces, in particular The Concord Centre. However, the newspaper also points to the lack of the support from the governing coalition to the proposal. Diena

• Discussions on possibilities to consolidate the Russian community
• European Parliaments Committee on Petitions is planning to discuss the situation of non-citizens in Latvia

Chas prints a comprehensive article about a meeting of representatives of political parties, religious confessions and non-governmental organisations representing the interests of Russians. During the meeting possibilities to consolidate the Russian community on the grounds of common values were discussed.

Latvijas Avize reports on planned discussions about the situation of non-citizens in Latvia at the European Parliaments Committee on Petitions. The discussion is organised by the MP of the European Parliament Tatjana Zdanoka (For Human Rights in the United Latvia).

• Telegraf reports on draft Framework Document on Labour Force Migration
• Comprehensive article about a study ‘Integration of Latvian youth and changes of values
• Vesti Segodnya writes about activities of the European Russian Alliance
• Mayor of Ventspils Aivars Lembergs speaks about integration of society

Telegraf reports on a draft Framework Paper on Labour Force Migration and points to the critical attitude of the Employers Confederation of Latvia (ECL) towards the document. According to the newspaper, the ECL has stressed that the draft document does not analyse important aspects of migration and integration of society. The Confederation also forecasts the further outflow of the labour force as well as the increase of the number of unofficial immigrants in Latvia if the government does not take control over migration processes.

Telegraf prints a comprehensive article about the study ‘Integration of Latvian youth and changes of value, conducted by students of the University of Latvia. The study reflects views of young people on minority education reform, the choice of language in everyday communication and relationships between the youth of different ethnic background.

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with Miroslavs Mitrofanovs about activities of the European Russian Alliance.

Chas prints an interview with the Mayor of Ventspils Aivars Lembergs. When speaking about integration of society, Lembergs believes that in future persons ethnicity will not have a primary importance if ethnic issues artificially prioritised.

• Interview with the head of the non-governmental organisation Prata Speks Igors Kuzjmuks

Chas prints an interview with the head of the non-governmental organisation Prata Speks Igors Kuzjmuks. He argues that integration of society is only a theoretical concept and does not work in life. When speaking about the possibilities to promote Latvian language learning, Kuzjmuks states that the state should develop a mechanism stipulating moral and material rewards for Latvians teaching the Latvian language to their non-Latvian neighbours or colleagues.

• Interview with the head of the State Language Commission
• Institute of History of Latvia publishes a new compilation of articles on the Holocaust in Latvia

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the head of the State Language Commission Andrejs Veisbergs and the deputy head of the State Language Commission Daiga Joma on the situation of the Latvian language in Latvia. Referring to the study results, Daiga Joma states that only 12% non-Latvians do not know the Latvian language. She argues that the main issue is refusal of non-Latvians to speak Latvian.

New compilation of articles on the Holocaust in Latvia has been published by the Institute of History of Latvia of the University of Latvia. The compilation includes the materials of the international conference on the Holocaust which took place in Riga in 2004 and the latest surveys on the issue.

New compilation of articles on the Holocaust in Latvia has been published by the Institute of History of Latvia of the University of Latvia. The compilation includes the materials of the international conference on the Holocaust which took place in Riga in 2004 and the latest surveys on the issue.