• Latvian human rights NGOs will give the UN their own reports on human rights situation in Latvia
• NGO Saeima of Latgale will unite all persons interested in preservation of Latgalian language

Telegraf reports that Latvias human rights NGOs will also submit to the United Nations Organisation their reports on human rights situation in Latvia. As reported, human rights report submitted to the UN by the government is mostly positive.

Chas reports about the initiative to establish NGO Saeima of Latgale in January 2011. The NGO would unite all persons interested in preservation of Latgalian culture. One of the activists for Latgalian language in interview with newspaper states that it is very important to define Latgalian as a language and not as a dialect of Latvian language because if it continues to be considered as dialect it will be too difficult to preserve it. The interviewee also highlighted confusion following the proposal of the Union of Regional and Minority Languages to include Latgalian to the list of possible answers to the question What is your native language? in the upcoming population census. Instead, the census working group developed a complicated wording do you consider your native language Latvian as well as its dialects (Latgalian language and others)? According to the interview, during the Pilot Population Census conducted recently, 13% of the participants did not understand this question, while 22% claimed Latgalian as their native language.

• The Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte promises to elaborate the National Identity and Integration Action Plan
• The court imprisoned two of three skinheads detained for desecration of Jewish cemetery
• Latvijas Avize reports that politicians known for their nationalistic views partly support call of a nationalist Aivars Slucis to ethnic Latvians to stop speaking Russian

The Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte promises to elaborate the National Identity and Integration Action Plan until October 2011. It is envisaged that the Action Plan will be elaborated by a group of experts and it will replace the Guidelines for Society Integration. Elaboration of the said Guidelines begun years ago and responsibility for the document has changed hands more than once between different state institutions, yet the Guidelines were never approved or implemented. The new Action Plan would cover wider set of issues, including not only ethnic integration but also establishment of national identity. Its aim will be strengthening of ethnic Latvian identity based on Latvian language and ethnic Latvian culture.

The Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte promises to elaborate the National Identity and Integration Action Plan until October 2011. It is envisaged that the Action Plan will be elaborated by a group of experts and it will replace the Guidelines for Society Integration. Elaboration of the said Guidelines begun years ago and responsibility for the document has changed hands more than once between different state institutions, yet the Guidelines were never approved or implemented. The new Action Plan would cover wider set of issues, including not only ethnic integration but also establishment of national identity. Its aim will be strengthening of ethnic Latvian identity based on Latvian language and ethnic Latvian culture. Latvijas Avize

The court imprisoned two of three skinheads detained for desecration of Jewish cemetery in Riga. Security measures chosen by the court regarding the third suspect (15 years old) do not involve imprisonment. As reported, more than 100 gravestones at the Jewish cemetery got painted with white swastikas in December 2010.

The court imprisoned two of three skinheads detained for desecration of Jewish cemetery in Riga. Security measures chosen by the court regarding the third suspect (15 years old) do not involve imprisonment. As reported, more than 100 gravestones at the Jewish cemetery got painted with white swastikas in December 2010. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports that politicians known for their nationalistic views partly support call of a nationalist Aivars Slucis to ethnic Latvians to stop speaking Russian. Karlis Sadurskis (member of the Unity) agrees that Latvian language is endangered, however sees Mr. Sluciss statements too populist. Among interviewed MPs, the call is fully supported only by members of the nationalistic party All for Latvia!/ For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM.

• Persons detained for desecration of Jewish cemetery are young skinheads
• Saeima will have to choose the new Ombudsman
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about the new adviser of the Minister of Culture in integration issues

Yesterday, the police held a press conference about detention of persons who allegedly desecrated Jewish cemetery in Riga. Three detained young men are in the age of 19, 16, 15 years. According to the police, before the incident at the Jewish cemetery, all of the suspects came under the police’s attention due to their active interest in national-socialist ideology. The police confiscated from the detainees various attributes of skinheads – Nazi symbols and literature, masks, knifes, gas sprays, chains, reinforcing steel and pneumatic guns. So far, only one of three young men admitted the guilt.

Yesterday, the police held a press conference about detention of persons who allegedly desecrated Jewish cemetery in Riga. Three detained young men are in the age of 19, 16, 15 years. According to the police, before the incident at the Jewish cemetery, all of the suspects came under the polices attention due to their active interest in national-socialist ideology. The police confiscated from the detainees various attributes of skinheads – Nazi symbols and literature, masks, knifes, gas sprays, chains, reinforcing steel and pneumatic guns. So far, only one of three young men admitted the guilt. Telegraf, Chas, Latvijas Avize, Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Neatkariga

Newspapers report that in the end of February, the Saeima will have to choose the new Ombudsman. The present Ombudsman Romans Apsitis stated that he will not candidate for the post repeatedly.

Newspapers report that in the end of February, the Saeima will have to choose the new Ombudsman. The present Ombudsman Romans Apsitis stated that he will not candidate for the post repeatedly. Telegraf, Diena

Latvijas Avize prints an article about the new adviser of the Minister of Culture in integration issues Andrejs Berdnikovs. According to the newspaper, Mr. Berdnikovs is ethnic Russian and worked in the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration. In an interview to the newspaper, Andrejs Berdnikovs says that common values should be found in order to unite the society. Mr. Berdnikovs also believes that education in state funded schools should be in Latvian language and ethnic Latvians should more use Latvian in communication with non-Latvians.

• Police detained a group of persons suspected of desecrating Jewish cemetery in Riga
• Chas prints an interview with Boriss Cilevics about the freedom of speech
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about possible changes in naturalisation process and survey about non-citizens attitude towards naturalisation
• Vladimirs Lindermans and Jevgenijs Osipovs are calling on Latvian non-citizens to stop paying taxes

Police detained a group of persons suspected of desecrating Jewish cemetery in Riga. As reported, more than 100 gravestones got painted with white swastikas in December 2010. The police initiated criminal proceedings according to article 78 – incitement to ethnic hatred and article 228 desecration of a grave. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

Chas prints an interview with MP, member of Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Boriss Cilevics about the freedom of speech and criminal liability for public statements. Mr. Cilevics believes that Latvian practice is close to American practice where freedom of speech is almost absolute. Mr. Cilevics also believes that it is a shame for Latvia that the court acquitted Andris Jordans - a self-confessed neo-Nazi who publicly called Roma people as non-humans who would preferably to be exterminated. At the same time, Mr. Cilevics believes that following acquittal of Jordans it would be strange if the court would convict other person who presently is charged for statements justifying Stalinist deportations.

Latvijas Avize reports about draft Cabinet of Ministers Regulations stipulating that those applicants for Latvian citizenship who have state language proficiency certificate for level B (middle level) and received it after 1 September 2009 are set free of Latvian language proficiency test. The newspaper also reports about a survey conducted by the Naturalisation Board among non-citizens. The survey shows that the main reasons why non-citizens do not go through naturalisation are: naturalisation exams (28%), willingness to receive citizenship automatically (by registration) (24%), waiting for easing of naturalisation process (17%), belief that is it easier to travel to the CIS countries as non-citizens (14%).

Leader of the party Movement 13 January Vladimirs Lindermans and the leader of Osipovs party Jevgenijs Osipovs are calling on Latvian non-citizens to stop paying taxes as a protest against the fact that they are excluded from political life – do not have right to take part in the elections and to be elected in municipal government and the Saeima. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

• Latvijas Avize: Latvia promised the UN to revise legal regulations of naturalisation policy in order to increase number of Latvian citizens
• Latvijas Avize prints interview about state language policy
• Neatkariga publishes statements by a nationalist Aivars Slucis
• Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues of the U.S. State Department Douglas Davidson will visit Riga next week

Latvijas Avize reports that Latvia promised in report on human rights submitted to the UN to revise legal regulations of naturalisation policy in order to increase number of Latvian citizens. According to a representative of the Cabinet of Ministers Inga Reine, this point concerns registration of children of Latvian non-citizens born in Latvia automatically without application from parents which presently should be submitted to the Naturalisation Board. Mrs. Reine also notices that the report has only political nature and promises given in the report are not mandatory for implementation.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with MP, ex-head of the State Language Centre Dzintra Hirsa, the MP Janis Dombrava (nationalists party All for Latvia!) and head of the control department of the State Language Centre Antons Kursitis about state language policy. According to Mr. Kursitis, Latvian young people who are insufficient in Russian language suffer of discrimination because cannot find a job especially in largest Latvias cities. Mrs. Hirsa believes that such situation is unacceptable and should be changed by creating legal mechanism strengthening state language positions in private enterprises.

Neatkariga publishes article by a nationalist Aivars Slucis (residing in the U.S.A) named Politically correct in ethnic Latvian style. According to Mr. Slucis, political correctness comes from corrupt Russian agents such as Max van der Stoel, former German Chancellor Schroeder, Italian Berlusconi and thousands of others. Mr. Slucis believes that Latvia is the most endangered state due to large number of ethnic Russian residents and calls on Latvians to fight for ethnic Latvia. Mr.Slucis claims that Russians are winning in Latvia – a land of Riflemen and SS Legionnaires. Mr. Slucis also calls on all ethnic Latvians to speak only Latvian starting from 1 March 2011 and not to say a single word in Russian.

The Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues of the U.S. State Department Douglas Davidson will visit Riga next week. According to Latvijas Avize, Mr. Davidson will meet with Latvian officials in order to discuss granting of compensation to Jewish community for lost properties during the Holocaust in Latvia. Latvijas Avize