• Leader of the Concord Centre: naturalisation process must become more preferential
• Latvian Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature celebrates 10 year anniversary

The leader of the political party “The Concord Centre” Nils Ushakovs in an interview with

The leader of the political party The Concord Centre Nils Ushakovs in an interview with Latvijas Avize stated that the naturalisation process must become more preferential. We need to adopt new exemptions, for example, for those who have reached the age of retirement naturalisation exams should be easier and the state fee should be smaller. … Such things would make Latvias residents to feel closer to the country, considers Nils Ushakovs.

On 18 March the Latvian Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

On 18 March the Latvian Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Chas

• President of Latvia believes that there are no grounds to claim rebirth of Nazism in Latvia

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga believes that there are no reasons to claim rebirth of Nazism in Latvia. The President argued, “The number of Neo-Nazi groups in Latvia is very small. They are trying very hard, but without any success.”

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga believes that there are no reasons to claim rebirth of Nazism in Latvia. The President argued, The number of Neo-Nazi groups in Latvia is very small. They are trying very hard, but without any success. Chas

• Police prevented attempts to hold unauthorized demonstrations related to remembrance of Latvian WWII legionaries in Riga
• Head of the Saeimas Citizenship Law Implementation Committee criticizes the work of the Naturalisation Board
• Republika.lv about Latvians and Russians in Latvia

Yesterday, the Police have prevented attempts to hold unauthorized demonstrations related to remembrance of Latvian WWII legionaries in the centre of Riga. In the noon, in the centre of the Old City there were people who tried to held a commemorative procession to the Monument of Freedom, while a number of people tried to stop them calling “Down with Fascism!” The Police arrested about 60 most active participants – mostly members of radical organisations, including the leader of the Latvian National Front Aivars Garda and the head of the National Force Union Viktors Brize on charges of violation of public order.

Yesterday, the Police have prevented attempts to hold unauthorized demonstrations related to remembrance of Latvian WWII legionaries in the centre of Riga. In the noon, in the centre of the Old City there were people who tried to held a commemorative procession to the Monument of Freedom, while a number of people tried to stop them calling Down with Fascism! The Police arrested about 60 most active participants – mostly members of radical organisations, including the leader of the Latvian National Front Aivars Garda and the head of the National Force Union Viktors Brize on charges of violation of public order. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena, NRA, Rigas Balss

Telegraf prints the interviews with Eizenija Aldermane, Head of the Naturalisation Board (NB), and Anta Rugate (Peoples Party), Head of the Saeimas Committee on the Implementation of the Citizenship Law. Anta Rugate reported that the Committee is receiving applications about alleged corruption in the NB, and which criticise the methods used by Mrs Aldermane. Eizenija Aldermane responded that if there are signals about corruption, the Committee should forward them to the NB, so it could investigate them. Eizenija Aldermane also believes politicians interests about naturalisation are directly linked with the upcoming elections.

The magazine

The magazine Republika.lv prints several articles and interviews on Latvian Russian relations in Latvia. Representatives of both communities agree that Latvians and Russians differ, however, there are things, such as sport, art, social problems, that unite them.

• Police arrested member of the Riga City Council for placing posters in the centre of Riga
• Naturalisation Board received 2.498 naturalisation applications for last two months
• Saeimas Citizenship Law Implementation Committee will grant citizenship to an athlete

Yesterday, the State Police arrested the member of the Riga City Council Genadijs Kotovs (FHRUL) for placing posters in the centre of Riga. The posters called people to be alert  and as explained Genadijs Kotovs, the main goal of the posters is to warn people about aggressive nationalism and those who are planning to hold commemorative processions of Latvian WWII legionaries. As reported, today several radical organisations in Riga and Liepaja are planning to hold commemorative processions and anti-demonstrations. 

Yesterday, the State Police arrested the member of the Riga City Council Genadijs Kotovs (FHRUL) for placing posters in the centre of Riga. The posters called people to be alert and as explained Genadijs Kotovs, the main goal of the posters is to warn people about aggressive nationalism and those who are planning to hold commemorative processions of Latvian WWII legionaries. As reported, today several radical organisations in Riga and Liepaja are planning to hold commemorative processions and anti-demonstrations. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

For last two months, the Naturalisation Board received 2,498 naturalisation applications. Overall, since the beginning of the naturalisation process in 1995 Latvian citizenship has been granted to 106,324 persons.

For last two months, the Naturalisation Board received 2,498 naturalisation applications. Overall, since the beginning of the naturalisation process in 1995 Latvian citizenship has been granted to 106,324 persons. Chas

The Saeima’s Committee on the Implementation of the Citizenship Law approved the proposal to grant Latvian citizenship to the modern pentathlon athlete Mihail Jefremenko, who is planning to represent Latvia on the Olympic Games in 2008.

The Saeimas Committee on the Implementation of the Citizenship Law approved the proposal to grant Latvian citizenship to the modern pentathlon athlete Mihail Jefremenko, who is planning to represent Latvia on the Olympic Games in 2008. Diena

• Conference on combating of intolerance on the Internet
• Liepaja City Council did not authorize public events on 16 March

Yesterday, the public policy portal

Yesterday, the public policy portal www.dialogi.lv held a conference Internet Without Hate with a participation of international and local human rights experts, representatives of state institutions and internet portals. The presentations focused on the existing tendencies and solutions dealing with hate speech on the Internet. Attention was also paid to the situation in Latvia. The managing director of the internet portal www.apollo.lv stated that recently the police have started to pay more attention to manifestations of intolerance on the Internet. It is also confirmed by the data of initiated criminal cases for incitement to ethnic and racial hatred in 2005: 6 of 13 cases was regarding incitement of ethnic and racial hatred on the Internet. Integration expert Nils Muiznieks called not to pay too much attention to the manifestations of racism on the Internet, as people who propagate racism are heard only within their own circles and not in a broader public. Researcher of Providus Andrejs Judins commented that in some cases criminal liability is too severe measure for expressions of intolerance, therefore administrative penalties should be provided by Latvian legislation. Telegraf
More information about the project in Latvian and in Russian.

Yesterday, Liepaja (city in the western part of Latvia) City Council did not authorise a commemorative procession of Latvian WWII legionaries and “demonstrations against expressions of fascism” on 16 March.

Yesterday, Liepaja (city in the western part of Latvia) City Council did not authorise a commemorative procession of Latvian WWII legionaries and demonstrations against expressions of fascism on 16 March. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena, Telegraf, NRA