• Saeimas Mandate and Submissions Committee and the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs discuss reasons why an increasing number of Latvian residents receive Russian citizenship
• Saeimas Education, Culture and Science Committee: ban for traditional Muslim hidjabs in schools is not topical issue for Latvia
• Latgalian received language representation code ltg

Today, members of the Saeima’s Mandate and Submissions Committee meet with representatives of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in order to discuss reasons why an increasing number of Latvian residents received Russian citizenship recently. As reported, during 2009, the number of persons who refused the status of Latvian non-citizen and received Russian citizenship increased several times, especially in Latgale (region in the eastern part of Latvia).

Today, members of the Saeimas Mandate and Submissions Committee meet with representatives of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in order to discuss reasons why an increasing number of Latvian residents received Russian citizenship recently. As reported, during 2009, the number of persons who refused the status of Latvian non-citizen and received Russian citizenship increased several times, especially in Latgale (region in the eastern part of Latvia). Chas

Chas reports that members of the Saeimas Education, Culture and Science Committee consider that ban for traditional Muslim hidjabs in schools is not topical issue for Latvia. At the same time, the MPs decided to study information on religious processes in Latvian schools more thoroughly.

Latvijas Avize reports that Latgalian received language representation code ltg at SIL-International (US-based registration authority responsible for maintaining ISO 639-3 standard). According to a person, who filed the request in July 2009, this opens new opportunities for usage of Latgalian language in modern information technologies (development of office software support, electronic education tools) as well as facilitate further standardisation of literary Latgalian.

• Telegraf prints an article by a lawyer Aleksejs Dimitrovs on prohibitions of public manifestation of religious elements in European countries
• Social agreement between Russia and Latvia might harm Russian citizens who live in Latvia and receive two pensions from both countries

Telegraf prints an article by a lawyer Aleksejs Dimitrovs on prohibitions of public manifestation of religious elements in European countries. Mr. Dimitrovs considers that those countries which outlaw various religious elements are not consistent regarding elements of all religions but mostly do it regarding Islam elements because elements of traditional religions such as Catholicism or Protestantism officially are not prohibited and even supported. He also considers that Latvia will definitely face such issues in future like recent sharp discussions about slaughter of animals in a way of ritual cut or Halal method.

Telegraf reports that social agreement between Russia and Latvia might harm Russian citizens who live in Latvia and receive two pensions from both countries. As reported, according to the social agreement ratified by both countries in 2008 but not effective yet pensions of non-citizens will be raised due to the inclusion of years worked in Russia during Soviet times in the total length of their service. At the same time, the agreement excludes possibility to receive pensions from Russia and Latvia simultaneously which was possible for those Russian citizens who worked in Latvia until 1991.

• All for Latvia! tells students about nationalism
• Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs insists on observation of rights of Russian speakers in Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya reports about a case of a former Latvian non-citizen who accepted Russian citizenship and now wants to return to Latvia

Vesti Segodnya reports that activists of the nationalistic party All for Latvia! almost every week hold meetings with students of secondary schools telling them about nationalism and necessity for nationally minded people to take power in Latvia. The party also calls on students to become partys members.

Representative of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Titov who visited Riga last week in an interview with

Representative of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Titov who visited Riga last week in an interview with Vesti Segodnya stated that during the consultations with Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs he raised issues regarding rights of Russian speaking residents of Latvia arguing that those are still important for Russia. Vladimir Titov states that Russia calls Latvia to implement recommendations of international organisations regarding rights of ethnic minorities and non-citizens.

Vesti Segodnya reports about a case of a former Latvian non-citizen who accepted Russian citizenship with an aim to settle in Russia, however, did not succeed there. The man wanted to return back to Latvia to reunite with his mother, wife and child. Being a foreigner without residency permit he broke the rules of stay in the country and was placed to the camp for illegal immigrants. According to representatives of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, the man does not have legal basis to stay in Latvia because his mother is non-citizen and neither he nor his wife can assure that he has means for subsistence in amount of LVL180 per month.

• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers received invitation to participate in celebrations of Victorys Day on 9 May in Moscow

Newspapers report that the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers received invitation from Russian officials to participate in celebrations of 65

Newspapers report that the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers received invitation from Russian officials to participate in celebrations of 65th anniversary of Victorys Day on 9 May in Moscow. The President will decide in February whether to accept the invitation. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

• Vesti Segodnya prints an article about dual citizenship
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the MP Dzintars Rasnacs (FF/LNIM)

According to

According to Vesti Segodnya, children who were born abroad in families of Latvian citizen and foreign citizen often have dual citizenship. The newspaper reports about number of cases when child of Latvian and Russian citizens is registered in both countries as its citizen and has two passports. According to a representative of the Latvian Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office, although dual citizenship officially is not allowed in Latvia, such manipulations with citizenship of under age children are not prohibited.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the MP Dzintars Rasnacs (FF/LNIM) about proposal of his party to switch all Latvian state funded schools into Latvian language. According to Mr. Rasnacs believes that such reform is the only way which could help to eliminate consequences of Soviet occupation in Latvia, preserve ethnic Latvians from Russification and Englification and dominance of foreign languages in Latvia.