• Professor of the Baltic International Academy, former MP Konstantins Matvejevs believes that Latvian non-citizens should demand material compensation
• New draft amendment to the Law on Electronic Mass Media gives advantage to those applications for TV or radio frequencies which envisage broadcasting in Latvian language
• Number of guest workers in Latvia continues to fall

Professor of the Baltic International Academy, former MP Konstantins Matvejevs believes that Latvian non-citizens should demand material compensation for damages caused by their “unique” status.  According to Mr. Matvejevs, non-citizens are deprived of elementary democratic freedoms and are less competitive as citizens.

Professor of the Baltic International Academy, former MP Konstantins Matvejevs believes that Latvian non-citizens should demand material compensation for damages caused by their unique status. According to Mr. Matvejevs, non-citizens are deprived of elementary democratic freedoms and are less competitive as citizens. Chas

The Saeima’s Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee supported draft amendment to the Law on Electronic Mass Media which gives advantage to those applications for TV or radio frequencies which envisage broadcasting in Latvian language. Media experts interviewed by Telegraf consider that such amendments will not change situation for electronic mass media because the media companies usually ignore or change broadcasting format indicated in the primary broadcasting application. 

The Saeimas Human Rights and Social Affairs Committee supported draft amendment to the Law on Electronic Mass Media which gives advantage to those applications for TV or radio frequencies which envisage broadcasting in Latvian language. Media experts interviewed by Telegraf consider that such amendments will not change situation for electronic mass media because the media companies usually ignore or change broadcasting format indicated in the primary broadcasting application. Telegraf

Telegraf reports that number of guest workers in Latvia continues to fall. 1156 guest workers received working permits in 2009 which is almost three times less comparing to 2008. Majority of guest workers were from Ukraine and Russia. The biggest number of foreigners was employed in manufacturing, logistics, and hotel and restaurant business.

• State Language Centre upheld the decision to punish the deputy of the Liepaja City Council Valerijs Kravcovs
• Liquidation of the Naturalisation Board will be completed by 1 March 2010

The State Language Centre upheld the decision to punish the deputy of the Liepaja City Council Valerijs Kravcovs for insufficient Latvian language proficiency fining him with LVL 35 (EUR 50). As reported, Mr. Kravcovs appealed the decision because he believes that a deputy cannot be considered a worker of municipal institution; therefore, the State Language Law does not apply to him. Head of the Language Control Department Antons Kursitis asserts that the state language proficiency requirements for deputies are stipulated by law. Mr. Kursitis also considers that the deputy cannot use interpreters because it is not stipulated by law. Valerijs Kravcovs is planning to appeal the decision of the State Language Centre in the court. Chas

Chas reports that liquidation of the Naturalisation Board (NB) by handing its functions to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs will be completed by 1 March 2010. As reported, the NB was subordinated to the Ministry of Interior since 1 January 2010.

• Exhibition Sentenced by Nazism in Riga

Vesti Segodnya reports that an exhibition Sentenced by Nazism will be opened on 19 January in the House of Moscow in Riga. Photo testimonies of Nazi crimes conducted in concentration camps Riga-Kaiserwald and Salaspils and Latvian Ghettos will be viewed in the exhibition.

• Russias Embassy in Latvia received around 4,000 applications for Russian citizenship from Latvian residents in 2009
• Latvijas Avize reports about the first meeting of the Presidents Advisory Council on Ethnic Minorities

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Russias Embassy in Latvia received around 4,000 applications for Russian citizenship from Latvian residents in 2009. This is twice more than in 2008. According to the Russian Consul General in Daugavpils (city in the Eastern part of Latvia), majority of persons applying for Russian citizenship are non-citizens of retirement or pre-retirement age who allegedly make such decisions mainly because pensions in Russia are increasing and because the retirement age in Russia is still 55 years for women and 60 for men while in Latvia the retirement age is 62 for both genders.

Latvijas Avize reports about the first meeting of the Presidents Advisory Council on Ethnic Minorities held recently. The Council will mark issues for discussions between ethnic Latvians and Russian speakers in order to promote consolidation of society. The Council also discussed financial problems of the Latvian Association of National Cultural Societies which is facing bankruptcy.

• Saeima in the second reading supported draft amendments to the Immigration Law
• Academic linguists: Latgalian language should be grated status of regional language
• Diena prints an article about possible implementation of new school reform which would stipulate that the only language of instructions in all schools in Latvia is Latvian language

Yesterday, the Saeima in the second reading supported draft amendments to the Immigration Law stipulating temporary residence permits for foreign investors. According to the draft amendments, temporary residency permit for up to five years can be granted to persons who invested at least LVL 25,000 into the fixed capital on an enterprise or created at least five vacancies, as well as to persons who bought real estate in Latvia for at least LVL 100,000, and those who invested in Latvian credit institutions at least LVL 200,000.

Yesterday, the Saeima in the second reading supported draft amendments to the Immigration Law stipulating temporary residence permits for foreign investors. According to the draft amendments, temporary residency permit for up to five years can be granted to persons who invested at least LVL 25,000 into the fixed capital on an enterprise or created at least five vacancies, as well as to persons who bought real estate in Latvia for at least LVL 100,000, and those who invested in Latvian credit institutions at least LVL 200,000. Latvijas Avize

Academic linguists of the University of Latvia and Rezekne Higher Education Institution in an interview with

Academic linguists of the University of Latvia and Rezekne Higher Education Institution in an interview with Latvijas Avize state that Latgalian language should be granted status of regional language which would allow usage of both languages equally in Latgale region. Academicians believe that strengthening of Latgalian language at official level would help to preserve Latgalian identity and culture and to overcome stigmatisation. The newspaper also publishes opinion of another linguist Dzintra Hirsa who does not support granting the status of regional language to Latgalian, as she believes legislation already provides sufficient recognition and instead of status, the language should be given greater support by developing special Latgalian programme.

Diena prints an article about possible implementation of new school reform which would stipulate that the only language of instructions in all schools in Latvia is Latvian language. As reported, such proposal is raised by the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM. Various experts interviewed by the newspaper differently evaluate such option. Thus, some believe that implementation of such reform is possible but will be very expensive because it demands for additional Latvian language classes in schools with Russian language of instructions and training of teachers. Experts on bilingual education believe that bilingual model of education is successful in Latvian school and should not be changed, while only its quality should be improved.