• Performing arts competition in the framework of festival Tatyanas Day

Chas reports on the performing arts competition on the theme ‘Person and Nature in Russian Music which has taken place in the framework of the festival Tatyanas Day organized by the Latvian Association for Support of Schools with Russian Language (LAShOR) in Riga last week.

• Diena on prevention of racist attacks
• Official of the Office of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs is suspected of taking a bribe
• Article calling for Russians more active participation in defending their rights

Diena prints articles on the racist attack on two Somalis and on the possible measures to prevent racist crimes. According to Diena, two Somalis who were recently attacked by several persons presumably skinheads in the centre of Riga are afraid of next possible assaults. The Vice President of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance Nils Muiznieks has pointed to two possible measures to prevent racially motivated assaults which have not been effectively applied in Latvia so far - sentencing to imprisonment and the polices preventive work with skinheads. The head of the Riga municipal police informs about the placing of video surveillance cameras in several places in Riga. However, the Chair of the Afrolatvian Association Christopher Ejugbo believes that the number of surveillance cameras is quite small. According to the press secretary of the State Security Police Kristine Apse – Krumina, there are several groups of skinheads being under the observation of the police. The official also points to the contacts of these groups with several radical political and civic organisations.

Chas reports that the prosecutor has brought a charge against a senior expert of the Ventspils department of the Office of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs for his alleged taking a bribe of amount Ls400 (EUR570) from a person willing to postpone his residence permit in Latvia.

Chas features an article by a columnist condemning passivity of many Russians in protests against education reform and calling the representatives of the Russian community to increase efforts in defending their interests.

• Life of a Romani woman who won the first-ever ethnic discrimination case in Latvia

 

Diena features a comprehensive story of a Romani woman who last year May won a case against a private company that refused her job because of her ethnicity. The court established the fact of ethnic discrimination. The newspaper provides a detailed description of a case and notes that although the woman won the case, she still has not succeeded in finding a job.

 

 

• FF/LNIM drafted amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating criminal liability for public denial of Latvias occupation by the Soviet Union in 1940
• Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane: speed of naturalisation will decrease
• FHRUL supports the proposals to grant non-citizens rights to participate municipal elections
• LASHOR holds a festivity of Russian culture and education in Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya prints an article on a book Latvian-Russian Relations: Internal and International Dimensions
• About 300 residents of Latvia are planning to leave for Russia
• Rigas Balss prints an article on use of the Latvian and Russian language in Latvia

The right-wing political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) has drafted amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating criminal liability for public denial of Latvia’s occupation by the USSR in 1940. The proposed sentence for the denial of occupation is up to three year imprisonment or up to 60 times minimal wage. The head of the FF/LNIM Saeima’s faction Maris Grinbalts has stated that there must be a common understanding of the key facts in the Latvian history.

The right-wing political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) has drafted amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating criminal liability for public denial of Latvias occupation by the USSR in 1940. The proposed sentence for the denial of occupation is up to three year imprisonment or up to 60 times minimal wage. The head of the FF/LNIM Saeimas faction Maris Grinbalts has stated that there must be a common understanding of the key facts in the Latvian history. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, at the meeting of the Saeima’s Citizenship Law Implementation Committee the Head of the Naturalisation Board (NB) Eizenija Aldermane has stated that the speed of naturalisation probably will decrease because of cancelling of visa requirements for non-citizens to travel within the EU. Therefore the NB is planning to reduce the number of its examination commissions by one as well as other units which were formed due to the increased number of applicants for citizenship. Eizenija Aldermane considered that the number of naturalised persons might decrease by 800 persons a year. In total, about 11,000 persons were granted citizenship through naturalisation in 2006, and more than 100, 000 persons since the process was launched in 1998.

Yesterday, at the meeting of the Saeimas Citizenship Law Implementation Committee the Head of the Naturalisation Board (NB) Eizenija Aldermane has stated that the speed of naturalisation probably will decrease because of cancelling of visa requirements for non-citizens to travel within the EU. Therefore the NB is planning to reduce the number of its examination commissions by one as well as other units which were formed due to the increased number of applicants for citizenship. Eizenija Aldermane considered that the number of naturalised persons might decrease by 800 persons a year. In total, about 11,000 persons were granted citizenship through naturalisation in 2006, and more than 100, 000 persons since the process was launched in 1998. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

The Saeima’s faction for Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has reviewed an application of the NGOs “The Union of Citizens and Non-citizens” and “Humanitarian Perspective” sent to all Saeima’s factions. The NGOs propose to grant Latvian non-citizens the rights to participate in municipal elections. The FHRUL argues that the proposal complies with practices implemented by a majority of EU countries as well the recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Saeimas faction for Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has reviewed an application of the NGOs The Union of Citizens and Non-citizens and Humanitarian Perspective sent to all Saeimas factions. The NGOs propose to grant Latvian non-citizens the rights to participate in municipal elections. The FHRUL argues that the proposal complies with practices implemented by a majority of EU countries as well the recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Chas

Newspapers report that the Latvian Association for Support Russian Language Schools (LASHOR in its Russian acronym) in cooperation with several Russian NGOs holds the Days of the Russian culture and education in Latvia. A number of activities will be organised till 27 January. The aim of the activities and events is promotion of education in the Russian language and preservation of the Russian culture in Latvia.

Newspapers report that the Latvian Association for Support Russian Language Schools (LASHOR in its Russian acronym) in cooperation with several Russian NGOs holds the Days of the Russian culture and education in Latvia. A number of activities will be organised till 27 January. The aim of the activities and events is promotion of education in the Russian language and preservation of the Russian culture in Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya prints an article on a book Latvian-Russian Relations: Internal and International Dimensions edited by the former Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Nils Muiznieks. The book tells about mutual problems between Latvia and Russia and Eastern-Slavic minorities in Latvia.

Telegraf reports that according to the Russias Migration Service about 300 residents of Latvia are planning to leave permanently for Russia through the Russias repatriation program for compatriots.

Rigas Balss prints an article on use of the Latvian and Russian language in Latvia. The columnist argues that the Russian languages positions in Latvia become more secure thus endangering use of the Latvian language. According to the market research company TNS Latvia 94 % of Latvian residents speaks the Latvian language and 96 % are able to communicate in Russian.

• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens proposes to evaluate a possibility to hold double citizenship

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens considers that the government has to evaluate a possibility to grant double citizenship for Latvian citizens’ children born outside Latvia. The Minister argues that recently a large number of children are born abroad and parents of these children choose foreign citizenship for them.

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens considers that the government has to evaluate a possibility to grant double citizenship for Latvian citizens children born outside Latvia. The Minister argues that recently a large number of children are born abroad and parents of these children choose foreign citizenship for them. Chas