• Riga Regional Court sentenced four skinheads who attacked two Roma girls and an Armenian couple to five years of suspended imprisonment
• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers: discrimination of Roma in Latvia is not a problem
• Vesti Segodnya reports on a case of Anatolijs Zuravlovs who recently was deprived of Latvian citizenship

The Riga Regional Court sentenced four skinheads for incitement to racial hatred to five years of suspended imprisonment and three years of probation period. As reported, the four men attacked two Roma girls in October 2007 and an Armenian couple in February 2008. The skinheads stated that they regret attacking the girls, but claim that they wanted to attack those who sell drugs. The Armenians were attacked because the skinheads mistakenly thought they were Roma. Suspended imprisonment was applied because the defendants pleaded guilty. The convicted persons also will have to pay compensation to two Roma girls in amount of LVL 12,000 (EUR 17,000) and LVL 8,000 (EUR 11,382). Mother of one of the girls in an interview with

The Riga Regional Court sentenced four skinheads for incitement to racial hatred to five years of suspended imprisonment and three years of probation period. As reported, the four men attacked two Roma girls in October 2007 and an Armenian couple in February 2008. The skinheads stated that they regret attacking the girls, but claim that they wanted to attack those who sell drugs. The Armenians were attacked because the skinheads mistakenly thought they were Roma. Suspended imprisonment was applied because the defendants pleaded guilty. The convicted persons also will have to pay compensation to two Roma girls in amount of LVL 12,000 (EUR 17,000) and LVL 8,000 (EUR 11,382). Mother of one of the girls in an interview with Telegraf said that suspended imprisonment is inadequate punishment and probably it will be appealed. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena

NRA reports that the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers at a meeting with students during his visit to Ventspils (city in the North-western part of the country) stated that discrimination of Roma in Latvia is not a problem. According to Mr. Zatlers, Latvia does not have Roma problem, they just live here and that is all.

Vesti Segodnya reports on a case of Anatolijs Zuravlovs who recently was deprived of Latvian citizenship by the decision of the Zemgale Regional Court. According to the newspaper, Mr. Zuravlovs was granted Latvian citizenship in 2000 on the basis that his step-father was ethnic Latvian. The fact that Mr. Zuravlevs was adopted by his stepfather was confirmed by a court decision in Russia. However, the Naturalisation Board submitted a claim to deprive Anatolijs Zuravlevs of Latvian citizenship arguing that the Russias courts decision is invalid. Mr. Zuravlovs already appealed the decision in the Supreme Court and sent open letters to the Presidents of Latvia and Russia and other state officials in both countries.

• Today, the Riga Regional Court will announce its ruling in a case of four skinheads who attacked two Roma girls and an Armenian couple
• Cabinet of Ministers refused the draft amendments stipulating that labour contract should specify level of state language proficiency required for a post or profession
• Register of Enterprises registered Osipovs Party
• Finnish and Estonian anti-fascists are planning to take part in the protest action against procession of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires on 16 March

Today, the Riga Regional Court will announce its ruling in a case of four skinheads accused of incitement to racial hatred. As reported, the four men attacked two Roma girls in October 2007 and an Armenian couple in February 2008. The Prosecutor asked the Court to sentence the defendants to five years of suspended imprisonment and three years of probation period. The defendants pleaded guilty. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, the Cabinet of Ministers refused the draft amendments to the Labour Law proposed by the Ministry of Justice stipulating that labour contract should specify level of state language proficiency required for a post or profession. The Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis criticized the draft amendments arguing that those would create additional bureaucracy and difficulties. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the Register of Enterprises registered Osipovs Party headed by the ex-leader of the Latvian National Democratic Party Jevgenijs Osipovs. According to Chas, the main task of the Osipovs Party is to achieve equality of Russian speaking residents with ethnic Latvians and grant Russian language the status of second official language in Latvia. Chas, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, a group of Finnish and Estonian anti-fascists visited Riga by invitation of Latvian Anti-Fascist Committee. Finnish and Estonian anti-fascists are planning to take part in the protest action against procession of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires on 16 March in Riga (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires.) Chas

• Cabinet of Ministers reviews the draft amendments which stipulate that labour contract should specify level of state language proficiency
• Roma teachers assistants will start work in inclusion classes

Today, the Cabinet of Ministers reviews the draft amendments to the Labour Law proposed by the Ministry of Justice which stipulate that labour contract should specify level of state language proficiency required for a post or profession.

Today, the Cabinet of Ministers reviews the draft amendments to the Labour Law proposed by the Ministry of Justice which stipulate that labour contract should specify level of state language proficiency required for a post or profession. Chas

Diena reports that this year, eight ethnic Roma teachers assistants will start work in inclusion classes in Latvian pre-schools and elementary schools, where Roma children study together with children of other ethnicities. The Ministry of Children, Family and Social Integration Affairs will search for funding for four more teachers assistants who could start work in September 2009.

• Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights will announce its judgement in a case of a Latvian non-citizen Natalja Andrejeva vs. Latvia on 18 February

On 18 February, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will announce its judgement in a case of a Latvian non-citizen Natalja Andrejeva vs. Latvia. As reported, Natalja Andrejeva applied to the ECHR claiming that Latvia should cancel discriminating restrictions on non-citizens’ pensions which exclude the years of work outside of the country from the total length of service.

On 18 February, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will announce its judgement in a case of a Latvian non-citizen Natalja Andrejeva vs. Latvia. As reported, Natalja Andrejeva applied to the ECHR claiming that Latvia should cancel discriminating restrictions on non-citizens pensions which exclude the years of work outside of the country from the total length of service. Chas

• Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov: marches of former Waffen SS legionnaires are impermissible for a civilised country
• Saeima refused proposal to grant Orthodox Christmas status of bank holiday

The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov in an interview with

The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov in an interview with NRA states that marches of former Waffen SS legionnaires are impermissible for a civilised country. The Ambassador also states that Russias position regarding 16 March events (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires) will remain unchangeable.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused proposal of the faction Concord Centre to grant Orthodox Christmas status of bank holiday. As reported, last week, the majority of MPs supported similar proposal of the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia in the second reading. The final reading of the draft amendments to the Law on Holidays, Remembrance and Celebration Days will most likely grant the status of a celebration day to Orthodox Christmas.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused proposal of the faction Concord Centre to grant Orthodox Christmas status of bank holiday. As reported, last week, the majority of MPs supported similar proposal of the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia in the second reading. The final reading of the draft amendments to the Law on Holidays, Remembrance and Celebration Days will most likely grant the status of a celebration day to Orthodox Christmas. Chas, Vesti Segodnya