• Chas continues to print a series of articles on the situation of Russians in Latvia.
• Latvijas Avize reports on relations between Rafi Haradzanjans and the Integration Secretariat
• Best social advertisement in 2006 presented to commercials about Rezekne as a city rich in ethnic diversity
• Latvian and German school children shoot a documentary on the Holocaust in Latvia

Chas continues to print a series of articles on the situation of Russians in Latvia. The columnist notes that the Russian community needs highly educated people – scientists, teachers, engineers, doctors, journalists – to ensure survival and development of various essential aspects of the community. The columnist believes that one of the key unification factors is education in Russian.

Latvijas Avize reports that the Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) has hold a meeting with the head of the Association of Ethnic Cultural Societies in Latvia (AECSL) Rafi Haradzanjans. FF/LNIM believes that state support for the organisation should be increased as the AESCL has always been a loyal organisation. As reported, Rafi Haradzanjans claimed that some representatives of the Integration Secretariat (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym) are trying to split the organisation and that the Secretariat fails to ensure appropriate funding. Latvijas Avize also prints a response of the Special Assignments Minister of Social Integration Oskars Kastens to the Haradzanjans accusations. Oskars Kastens states that that in fact the Head of the AESCL might not be considered loyal to Latvia as he was involved in the left-wing political union Motherland which asked the Russian language status of the official state language in Latvia and had protested against governments decisions. The Minister also stresses that information provided by Mr. Haradzanjans about the AESCL and the IUMSILS is false.

Diena reports that the main award of the Latvian National Radio for the best social advertisement in 2006 was presented to TV and radio commercials about Rezekne (city in the Eastern part of Latvia) as a city of ethnic diversity. One of the directors of the commercial in an interview with the newspaper stated that mentality and traditions of representatives of various ethnic groups who reside in Rezekne were a leading-motive for the clips.

Diena reports that Latvian and German school are shooting a documentary on the Holocaust in Latvia in the framework of a project of the Goethe Institute Peace for Europe – Europe for Peace. The documentary tells about destinies of Jews deported from Germany to Latvia during WWII. Premiere of the documentary is scheduled for summer, first in Germany and then in Latvia.

• FHRUL asks the Naturalisation Board to provide information related to naturalisation of elderly Latvian residents
• Government has adopted amendments to the regulations on forceful expulsion of foreign citizens from Latvia
• President Vaira Vike-Freiberga about commemoration of Latvian legionnaires on 16 March

Yesterday, the Saeima’ s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has sent a letter to the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane asking to provide information related to naturalisation of elderly non-citizens. FHRUL asks to provide statistics on naturalisation tests success rate among the elderly naturalisation applicants, as well as FHRUL notes that the Naturalisation Board should come up with proposals regarding simplification of naturalisation tests for the elderly applicants.

Yesterday, the Saeima s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has sent a letter to the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane asking to provide information related to naturalisation of elderly non-citizens. FHRUL asks to provide statistics on naturalisation tests success rate among the elderly naturalisation applicants, as well as FHRUL notes that the Naturalisation Board should come up with proposals regarding simplification of naturalisation tests for the elderly applicants. Chas

The government has adopted amendments to the regulations on forceful expulsion of foreign citizens from Latvia. The new regulations simplify expulsion procedure thus decreasing detention time of foreign citizen and related expenses.

The government has adopted amendments to the regulations on forceful expulsion of foreign citizens from Latvia. The new regulations simplify expulsion procedure thus decreasing detention time of foreign citizen and related expenses. Diena

NRA features an interview with the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The President states that people who believe that by public commemoration of 16 March – the unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WWII legionaries – they demonstrate their patriotism are wrong. The President notes that commemoration of the day provides a room for speculations that Latvians have supported fascism and that there is a rebirth of fascism in Latvia. Vaira Vike-Freiberga also believes that national radicals use this day to draw attention of the mass media to their activities.

• Hearing of the case of Aivars Garda, Liga Muzikante, and Ilze Liepa accused in incitement of ethnic hatred has been repeatedly postponed
• 23 year old man fined with LVL 400 (EUR 570) for racially offensive comment on the Internet

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court resumed hearing of a criminal case of leader of the extreme right-wing organisation Latvian National Front Aivars Garda and its members Liga Muzikante and Ilze Liepa accused in incitement of ethnic hatred in several publications in the national radical newspaper

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court resumed hearing of a criminal case of leader of the extreme right-wing organisation Latvian National Front Aivars Garda and its members Liga Muzikante and Ilze Liepa accused in incitement of ethnic hatred in several publications in the national radical newspaper DDD published by the organisation in 2004 and 2005. However, the hearing of the case was repeatedly rescheduled for May because the invited experts failed to provide their conclusion on whether the statements incite to ethnic hatred. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Riga Regional Court has imposed a fine on a 23 year old man in the amount of LVL 400 (EUR 570) for publishing racially offensive comments on one of the Latvian Internet sites.

Yesterday, the Prosecutors Office of the Riga Regional Court has imposed a fine on a 23 year old man in the amount of LVL 400 (EUR 570) for publishing racially offensive comments on one of the Latvian Internet sites. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

• MP Visvaldis Lacis calls on law enforcement bodies to provide protection for commemorative processions on 16 March
• Chas continues to print series of articles on the situation of Russians in Latvia

The MP Visvaldis Lacis (Union of Greens and Farmers) has called on law enforcement bodies to provide protection for commemorative processions on 16 March –unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WWII legionaries. As reported, the extreme ultra-right organisations the National Power Union and “Perkonkrusts” are planning to hold processions, while the Latvian Anti-fascistic Committee is planning to hold a meeting against neo-Nazism in the centre of Riga.

The MP Visvaldis Lacis (Union of Greens and Farmers) has called on law enforcement bodies to provide protection for commemorative processions on 16 March –unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WWII legionaries. As reported, the extreme ultra-right organisations the National Power Union and Perkonkrusts are planning to hold processions, while the Latvian Anti-fascistic Committee is planning to hold a meeting against neo-Nazism in the centre of Riga. Vesti Segodnya

Chas continues to print a series of articles on the situation of Russians in Latvia. The newspaper interviews academician, sociologist Vladislavs Volkovs. According to Mr. Volkovs study Russians lag behind Latvians in use of means of public communication and political participation. Vladislavs Volkovs believes that Russians have to increase their competitiveness in all fields including economy, as economic marginalisation of Russians would be a serious threat to the future of the whole community.

• For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM is planning to launch discussions on relocation of the Victory Monument from Riga
• Boarder Guard detained seven foreign citizens illegally employed in Riga
• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens visited three minor Somalis
• Jewish Community of Liepaja has opened the Liepaja Jewish Museum
• Diena prints an article on intolerance in Latvia
• Diena prints an article on Russian culture in Latvia by a poet Sergejs Timofejevs

Latvijas Avize reports that the Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM is planning to launch discussions on transportation of the Victory Monument or the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders from Riga to another location.

Latvijas Avize reports that the Boarder Guard has detained seven foreign citizens – five Moldavians, a Russian and an Indian - who have been employed without a working permit in Riga.

Diena reports that the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has visited three minor Somalis who live in an alternative family house. As reported, in 2006 seven, including three minors, Somalis have been granted alternative status in Latvia.

Diena reports that the Jewish Community of Liepaja (city in the Northern part of Latvia) has opened the Liepaja Jewish Museum. The museum shows the history of Jews in Liepaja from XVI century till present.

Diena prints an article on intolerance in Latvia. Though the main focus of the article is on increasing manifestations of homophobia, interviewed experts talk about intolerance in general and other forms of intolerance in Latvia. Political scientist Marija Golubeva argues that young generation might leave Latvia if level of intolerance increases as for many of the new generation tolerance and pluralism are important values. Deniss Hanovs, state official working with anti-racism issues, believes that if intolerance has been continuously promoted and supported in society, it is very difficult to hold discussions about positive contributions of diversity and ruin stereotypes.

Diena prints an article on the Russian culture in Latvia by poet Sergejs Timofejevs. Mr. Timofejevs states that there is a limited access to contemporary Russian culture as there us no support for development of the contemporary Russian culture at state level.