• Latvijas Avize interviews Ilze Brands Kehris about human rights issues and integration of society in Latvia
• Renewal of the Days of Russian culture

Latvijas Avize interviewed the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris. The interview highlights a broad range of human rights issues, including effective independent investigation of cases of police brutality, freedom of assembly and the importance of selecting a suitable independent candidate for the post of the Ombudsman and the need to strengthen its capacity in monitoring human rights. She addresses the issues of identity underlining that a modern perspective of integration implies non-discrimination, sense of belonging to the country and common work of different groups.

Vesti Segodnya writes about the renewal of the Days of Russian culture, which were traditionally held in independent Latvia during 1925-1940. The festival is planned for May-June 2011 and the initiative group is currently communicating with potential participants as well as the state and municipal bodies and NGOs regarding possible venues and financial support. One of the goals of the festival is to show the commonality of Latvian and Russian cultures.

• Working group will look at options to deprive mandates of MPs with insufficient state language proficiency
• Latvijas Avize reports about a court hearing of Valerijs Karvcovs vs. State Language Centre

Yesterday, the Saeima’s Legal Affairs Committee decided to establish a working group which would elaborate proposals to change parliamentary regulations regarding those MPs who have insufficient state language proficiency. The decision was made after discussing whether the Saeima has right to deprive mandate of the MP Valerijs Kravcovs, alleging that his Latvian proficiency is insufficient.

Yesterday, the Saeimas Legal Affairs Committee decided to establish a working group which would elaborate proposals to change parliamentary regulations regarding those MPs who have insufficient state language proficiency. The decision was made after discussing whether the Saeima has right to deprive mandate of the MP Valerijs Kravcovs, alleging that his Latvian proficiency is insufficient. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

Latvijas Avize reports about a court hearing on a case of ex-deputy of the Liepaja City Council and presently MP Valerijs Kravcovs, who objects to the fine imposed on him by the State Language Centre for insufficient state language proficiency while being a municipal deputy. As reported, the SLC punished Mr. Kravcovs in 2009. According to the Mr. Kravcovs lawyer, legal acts regulating state language usage contradict each other.

• 17,000 children of non-citizens have the right to receive Latvian citizenship
• Common examination on state language for students of all schools starting with the next school year
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the advisor of the Minister of Culture on integration issues Andrejs Berdnikovs
• Ruling coalition have difficulty finding candidates for the post of the Ombudsman
• Saeimas Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee did not support proposal to proclaim 16 March as the official commemoration day

According the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, there are 17,000 children of non-citizens who have the right to receive Latvian citizenship. Parents of these children for various reasons did not register them as citizens.

According the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, there are 17,000 children of non-citizens who have the right to receive Latvian citizenship. Parents of these children for various reasons did not register them as citizens. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports that starting with the next school year there will be a common examination on state language for students of Latvian language schools and minorities schools. According to a representative of the Ministry of Education, Latvian language is not foreign language for ethnic minorities because it is the state language. All studies conducted by the Ministry show that ethnic non-Latvian children show high results in Latvian and the level of language proficiency considerably increased after the reformation 2004.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the advisor to the Minister of Culture on integration issues Andrejs Berdnikovs. According to Mr. Berdnikovs, the main task of integration is to overcome two-community society and to establish state nation with clear elements of political nation. The foundation for such state nation, in the vision of the Ministry, is Latvian language, ethnic Latvian culture, Latvian citizenship, loyalty towards the state. Mr. Berdnikovs believes that such model of integration policy allows residents to maintain various identities in private sphere.

Diena reports that members of the ruling coalition have difficulty finding candidates for the post of the Ombudsman. According to the newspaper, several persons refused to aspire to the post due to humiliating procedure of approval of the Ombudsman when candidates against their will are brought under political manipulations.

The Saeima’s Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee did not support proposal of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to proclaim 16 March as the official commemoration day of Latvian national warriors. So far, 16 March is known as unofficial day of commemoration of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires.

The Saeimas Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee did not support proposal of the nationalists union All for Latvia!/For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to proclaim 16 March as the official commemoration day of Latvian national warriors. So far, 16 March is known as unofficial day of commemoration of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

• Chas prints an interview with the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris
• Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs officially refused the ex-Mayor of Moscow Yury Luzhkov residence permit in Latvia

Chas prints an interview with the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris. Ms Brands Kehris believes that Latvian politicians have minimum interest towards the formulation of effective integration policy. According to Ms Brands Kehris, the concept of integration policy proposed by the Ministry of Culture, which is based on the Latvian language and ethnic Latvian cultural values, is too narrow in terms of understanding of the rights of national minorities and integration. No mater how unique the situation is in the country, including its tragic history, it cannot justify the non-observance of human rights principles. Ms. Brands Kehris believes that while 20 years ago Latvian language was in danger, this is no longer the case now; in the meantime, language became an ideology in Latvia.

The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs sent the ex-Mayor of Moscow Yury Luzhkov an official refusal on granting residence permit in Latvia. As reported earlier, shortly after Mr. Luzhkov submitted an application for residence permit, he was included into the list of persons who have been banned entry into Latvia.

The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs sent the ex-Mayor of Moscow Yury Luzhkov an official refusal on granting residence permit in Latvia. As reported earlier, shortly after Mr. Luzhkov submitted an application for residence permit, he was included into the list of persons who have been banned entry into Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

• 25% of Russian speaking residents of Latvia believe that there is discrimination based on ethnic origin in Latvia

According to the EU-wide survey on discrimination of immigrants and minorities conducted by the Fundamental Rights Agency, 25% of Russian speaking residents of Latvia believe that there is discrimination based on ethnic origin in Latvia. 3% of Russian speakers faced discrimination in Latvia.

According to the EU-wide survey on discrimination of immigrants and minorities conducted by the Fundamental Rights Agency, 25% of Russian speaking residents of Latvia believe that there is discrimination based on ethnic origin in Latvia. 3% of Russian speakers faced discrimination in Latvia. Latvijas Avize