• Saeima forwarded the draft law on expulsion of the MP Valerijs Kravcovs from the Saeima to the Committee on Mandates, Ethics and Submissions
• Saeima refused the draft amendments to the Immigration Law which would abolish the provision on granting residence permits to investors
• Number of foreigners residing in Latvia in 2010 increased
• 51 persons asked for asylum in Latvia in 2010
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues ofthe U.S. State Department Douglas Davidson
• Lawyer Andris Grutups: Latvia does not owe to the Jewish community compensation for lost properties

The Saeima forwarded the draft law prepared by the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM on expulsion of the MP Valerijs Kravcovs (Concord Centre) from the Saeima to the Mandates, Ethics and Submissions Committee. As reported, Mr. Kravcovs is criticized for poor Latvian language proficiency. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena, Neatkariga

The Saeima refused the draft amendments to the Immigration Law prepared by the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM which would abolish the provision on granting residence permits to foreign investors. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, number of foreigners residing in Latvia increased by 10% during 2010. In total, there were 55,320 foreigners with Latvian residence permits in 2010. The majority of foreigners are citizens of Russia – 36,638 persons, Lithuania – 3,754, Ukraine – 3,198, Belarus – 2,035, and Germany – 1,174. Telegraf, Chas

According to the State Border Guard, 51 persons asked for asylum in Latvia in 2010. During 2009, 36 persons asked for asylum. The majority of asylum seekers are from Afghanistan. Diena

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues ofthe U.S. State Department Douglas Davidson who arrived to Latvia with three days visit. According to Mr. Davidson, the main aim of his visit to Latvia was not to push Latvia to pay the Jewish community compensation for lost properties during the Holocaust, but to get acquainted with situation regarding the Holocaust unsolved issues and to talk about restitution of Jewish Communitys properties. Mr. Davidson believes that conversations with Latvian politicians showed that they are opened to discussion.

Well known lawyer Andris Grutups in an interview with Neatkariga states that Latvia does not owe to the Jewish community compensation for lost properties during the Holocaust because all owners of the real estate and their descendants are dead.

• The head of Naturalisation Board: the main motive for naturalisation is the feeling of belonging to Latvia

Vesti-Segodnya prints an interview with Igors Gorbunovs, the head of Naturalisation Board. According to Mr.Gorbunovs, the annual number of naturalisation applications has declined from around 20,000 in 2004-2005 to 3,000 in 2010. The majority (56%) of persons going through naturalisation are youth (18-30 years), while the majority of Latvian non-citizens are much older (45-60 years). According to the results of recently conducted survey of non-citizens, the main motive to naturalise is the feeling of belonging to the country, while the main reasons for not applying for naturalisation include the lack of confidence in ones ability to pass exams (27%), belief that citizenship should be recognised automatically (33%), awaiting easing naturalisation exams (19%). In the meantime, the rate of successful passing language exams has declined from 80% at the height of naturalisation process to 56% in 2010. While during early 2000s many western funders financed free of charge preparation courses for naturalisation, this source is no longer available because of financial crisis and also Latvian government is not able to fill in this gap.

• Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues ofthe U.S. State Department Douglas Davidson: Latvia must return the Jewish Community real estate lost during the Holocaust
• Minister of Education Rolands Broks: minority schools reform conducted in 2004 gave positive results

Yesterday, the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues of

Yesterday, the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues ofthe U.S. State Department Douglas Davidson who arrived to Latvia with three days visit met with the Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, Minister of Justice Aigars Stokenbergs and MPs. Mr. Davidson discussed with Latvia officials issue on restitution of Jewish properties lost during the Holocaust. Mr. Davidson stated that Latvia must return the Jewish Community not the pecuniary compensation but the real estate deprived during the Holocaust. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena

The Minister of Education Rolands Broks in an interview with

The Minister of Education Rolands Broks in an interview with Vesti Segodnya, commenting collection of signatures by the nationalists party All for Latvia! for support of transition of all state funded schools only to Latvian language, states that this is an issue for discussion among education specialists and teachers. The Minister believes that minority schools reform conducted in 2004 gave positive results and students have good level of state language proficiency.

 

 

 

• Telegraf prints an interview with the researcher of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Anhelita Kamenska about the human rights situation in Latvia
• Edgars Jaunups: Russian speakers should not look back and should recognise occupation
• MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere: if Latvia grants Russian language status of official language than Russian becomes official in the entire EU

Telegraf prints an interview with the researcher of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights (LCHR) Anhelita Kamenska about the human rights situation in Latvia in the context of the forthcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Latvia and more generally. According to the researcher, the information submitted by the Centre to the U.N. UPR highlights several human rights concerns that need to be addressed by Latvia. These, inter alia, include the abolition of death penalty in all circumstances as Latvia is one of the few countries in the EU which retains death penalty in times of war. Another problem concerns places of detention, including the State Language Law requirements permitting Prison Administration to refuse to accept complaints from the prisoners not written in the state language, while a large part of prison population is non-Latvian. Amongst other human rights issues the researcher highlights the concern about the large number of non-citizen children in Latvia, and the need to make the process of registration of children born to non-citizen parents automatic and exclude bureaucratic registration process. The discrimination of non-citizens in calculating their pensions is also mentioned as is the uncompromising position of the government concerning language, citizenship, and the rights of minorities.

Edgars Jaunups, board member of political block “Unity” and the head of “New Era” faction at the Riga City Council, has stated that recognition of occupation is the minimum precondition for a Russian-speaking party wishing to take part in the government. According to Mr.Jaunups, the issue of occupation for ethnic Latvians has similar importance as the issue of Holocaust for Israel. Regarding the decision to deprive citizenship rights to a bulk of Russian speaking residents, many of whom voted for independence, Mr.Jaunups believes that one should not look back into the past, because that decision, “which may be wrong or semi-right or something else” was taken 20 years ago. Instead, the society should look into the future and hopefully in 5 years time all people of Latvia will work together without ethnic divisions.

Edgars Jaunups, board member of political block Unity and the head of New Era faction at the Riga City Council, has stated that recognition of occupation is the minimum precondition for a Russian-speaking party wishing to take part in the government. According to Mr.Jaunups, the issue of occupation for ethnic Latvians has similar importance as the issue of Holocaust for Israel. Regarding the decision to deprive citizenship rights to a bulk of Russian speaking residents, many of whom voted for independence, Mr.Jaunups believes that one should not look back into the past, because that decision, which may be wrong or semi-right or something else was taken 20 years ago. Instead, the society should look into the future and hopefully in 5 years time all people of Latvia will work together without ethnic divisions. Telegraf

The MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere in an interview with

The MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere in an interview with Latvijas Avize states that Russia presses on Latvia regarding Russian language position with an aim to strengthen Russian language in the EU. According to Mrs.Vaidere if Latvia grants Russian language status of official language then Russian becomes official in the entire EU.

• Security Police forwarded to the Prosecutors Office the case on illegal transportation of Afghan citizens trough Latvia
• Website of the U.S. Embassy in Riga became available in Russian language

The Security Police (SP) forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office the case on illegal transportation of Afghan citizens trough Latvia to other EU countries. According to the SP, a group of three helped Afghanis to cross Latvia for the reward of EUR 10,000 – 12,000.

The Security Police (SP) forwarded to the Prosecutors Office the case on illegal transportation of Afghan citizens trough Latvia to other EU countries. According to the SP, a group of three helped Afghanis to cross Latvia for the reward of EUR 10,000 – 12,000. Telegraf, Chas

Website of the U.S. Embassy in Riga became available in Russian language, in addition to its Latvian and English language versions. In such way, the Embassy decided to make its information for Russian speaking residents more convenient.

Website of the U.S. Embassy in Riga became available in Russian language, in addition to its Latvian and English language versions. In such way, the Embassy decided to make its information for Russian speaking residents more convenient. Chas, Vesti Segodnya