• Saeima refused the draft amendments to the Labour Law limiting usage of foreign languages in labour market
• Latvijas Avize prints opinion of the Council of Jewish Communities of Latvia regarding restitution of Jewish properties
• MP Valerijs Kravcovs: nationalists distract attention from more important issues
• Yuriy Luzhkov in an interview with Diena states that the main reason why he wants to receive residence permit in Latvia is business interests

Yesterday, the Saeima refused the draft amendments to the Labour Law limiting usage of Russian and other foreign languages in labour market. The amendments proposed by the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM stipulated that employers have right to require from employees proficiency in foreign languages only if it is impossible to fulfil work functions without corresponding language.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused the draft amendments to the Labour Law limiting usage of Russian and other foreign languages in labour market. The amendments proposed by the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM stipulated that employers have right to require from employees proficiency in foreign languages only if it is impossible to fulfil work functions without corresponding language. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize prints opinion of the Council of Jewish Communities of Latvia regarding restitution of Jewish properties. The Council considers that Latvia should return to the Jewish community properties which belonged to Jewish community and Jewish families exterminated during the Holocaust. The Council believes that it would be restoration of historical and human justice.

The MP Valerijs Kravcovs (Concord Centre) in response to criticism about his poor Latvian language proficiency states that the aim of the fuss created around him is to distract attention from more important issues. As reported, the parliamentary majority refused to support draft law prepared by the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM

The MP Valerijs Kravcovs (Concord Centre) in response to criticism about his poor Latvian language proficiency states that the aim of the fuss created around him is to distract attention from more important issues. As reported, the parliamentary majority refused to support draft law prepared by the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM on exclusion of Mr. Kravcovs from the Saeima due to insufficient state language proficiency. Vesti Segodnya, Neatkariga

The ex-Mayor of Moscow Yuriy Luzhkov in an interview with

The ex-Mayor of Moscow Yuriy Luzhkov in an interview with Diena states that the main reason why he wants to receive residence permit in Latvia is business interests. Mr. Luzhkov believes that the recent decision to include him into Latvias black list was made on political grounds. As reported, Mr. Luzhkov applied for residence permit in Latvia on the basis of his financial investments in Latvia, but shortly after filing his application he was included into the list of persons whose entrance to Latvia is denied.

• Ministry of Interior proposes to ease the process of granting Latvian citizenship to children born to parents non-citizens and to shorten the time period before repeated naturalisation exams.

In order to decrease number of non-citizens, the Ministry of Interior proposes to ease the process of granting Latvian citizenship to children born to parents non-citizens and to shorten the time period before repeated naturalisation exams. The Ministry proposes to allow parents non-citizens to fill in all the documents on granting citizenship during registration of a child in the registry office. Presently, parents have to submit application for the citizenship to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. The Ministry also proposes to shorten the time failed naturalisation applicants have to wait before they are entitled to take naturalisation exams again. At present, it is possible to retake the test in Latvian language after six months and test in history, constitution and national anthem after three months. The Ministry proposes to shorten these terms down to three and two months correspondingly. The Ministry’s proposal will be reviewed at the meeting of the State Secretaries.

In order to decrease number of non-citizens, the Ministry of Interior proposes to ease the process of granting Latvian citizenship to children born to parents non-citizens and to shorten the time period before repeated naturalisation exams. The Ministry proposes to allow parents non-citizens to fill in all the documents on granting citizenship during registration of a child in the registry office. Presently, parents have to submit application for the citizenship to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. The Ministry also proposes to shorten the time failed naturalisation applicants have to wait before they are entitled to take naturalisation exams again. At present, it is possible to retake the test in Latvian language after six months and test in history, constitution and national anthem after three months. The Ministry proposes to shorten these terms down to three and two months correspondingly. The Ministrys proposal will be reviewed at the meeting of the State Secretaries. Telegraf

• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers believes that it is time to allow dual citizenship
• Saeima granted citizenship to 212 persons
• State language institutions voice concerns about linguistic situation

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers submitted to the Saeima proposal to the Citizenship Law allowing dual citizenship for those Latvians who left Latvia as refugees or got deported and those who recently emigrated from the country. The President believes that it is time to improve the Citizenship Law according to the long-term interests of the state in order to ensure and promote the preservation of the totality of Latvian citizens.

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers submitted to the Saeima proposal to the Citizenship Law allowing dual citizenship for those Latvians who left Latvia as refugees or got deported and those who recently emigrated from the country. The President believes that it is time to improve the Citizenship Law according to the long-term interests of the state in order to ensure and promote the preservation of the totality of Latvian citizens. Latvijas Avize, Diena

Yesterday, the government granted citizenship to 212 persons who went trough the naturalisation process. 72% of new citizens are ethnic Russians, 11% - Ukrainians, 11% - Belorussians. In total, 135,206 persons received Latvian citizenship since the naturalisation process begun in 1995.

Yesterday, the government granted citizenship to 212 persons who went trough the naturalisation process. 72% of new citizens are ethnic Russians, 11% - Ukrainians, 11% - Belorussians. In total, 135,206 persons received Latvian citizenship since the naturalisation process begun in 1995. Telegraf

Yesterday, the Saeima Committee on Education and Culture discussed situation around state language issues with representatives of the State Language Centre and the State Language Agency. According to them, Russian speaking residents refuse to use their Latvian language proficiency at work and everyday life. The institutions also complain about insufficient funding for more effective work.

Yesterday, the Saeima Committee on Education and Culture discussed situation around state language issues with representatives of the State Language Centre and the State Language Agency. According to them, Russian speaking residents refuse to use their Latvian language proficiency at work and everyday life. The institutions also complain about insufficient funding for more effective work. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya,

 

• Number of non-citizens receiving Russian citizenship doubled

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 5,673 Latvian residents received Russian citizenship in 2010 which is twice more than in 2009. In total, 5,972 persons renounced the status of Latvian non-citizen. While majority accepted Russian citizenship, 91 persons received Lithuanian citizenship, 31 – Ukrainian, 29 – Belarusian, and 18 – German.

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 5,673 Latvian residents received Russian citizenship in 2010 which is twice more than in 2009. In total, 5,972 persons renounced the status of Latvian non-citizen. While majority accepted Russian citizenship, 91 persons received Lithuanian citizenship, 31 – Ukrainian, 29 – Belarusian, and 18 – German. Vesti Segodnya

• Weekly magazine Sestdiena features an interview with the Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris.

In an interview with

In an interview with Sestdiena, Ms. Brands Kehris criticizes the developments in integration policy in Latvia and the assignment of integration issues to the Ministry of Culture. Ms. Brands Kehris believes that the present integration definition as used by the Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte (former editor-in-chief of the national daily Diena and exponent of open society) whereby ethnic minorities switch to ethnic Latvian cultural values, is assimilation. Commenting on the controversy around the MP Valerijs Kravcovs (criticized for poor Latvian skills) she believes the parties and the electorate should assume the responsibility that MPs are proficient in Latvian, and that the Saeima does not have the right to deprive him of his mandate. Ms Brands Kehris criticises the activities of the State Language Centre in employing restrictive and repressive measures that cause negative attitude towards Latvian, while the emphasis should be on positive measures. She highlights the unwillingness of the government to address the issue of granting non-citizens the right to participate in local elections and the possibility for residents to use Russian in communication with local authorities. In mid-February, Ms Brands Kehris will leave Latvia for the Hague to assume the post of the Director of the Bureau of the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities.