• Discussion on the implementation of the National Program "Integration of Society in Latvia"

The public policy portal politika.lv held a discussion about the implementation of the National Program "Integration of the Society in Latvia" adopted five years ago. Special Assignment Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis  stated, “We are far from meeting the aims of the program, that is to form a democratic and unified civil society.” Ainars Latkovskis believed that the main problem is different understandings about history among various groups of society. However, ethnologist Ilga Apina considers that integration process was halted in 2003 when the implementation of the minority education reform was about to be launched. Former Integration Minister Nils Muiznieks voiced that “there has been both progress and regress regarding integration. Now there are more people who speak the state language, however the attitude has become worse.” The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane argued that there should be law on integration, so that all institutions dealing with integration would be more effective.

The public policy portal politika.lv held a discussion about the implementation of the National Program "Integration of the Society in Latvia" adopted five years ago. Special Assignment Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis stated, We are far from meeting the aims of the program, that is to form a democratic and unified civil society. Ainars Latkovskis believed that the main problem is different understandings about history among various groups of society. However, ethnologist Ilga Apina considers that integration process was halted in 2003 when the implementation of the minority education reform was about to be launched. Former Integration Minister Nils Muiznieks voiced that there has been both progress and regress regarding integration. Now there are more people who speak the state language, however the attitude has become worse. The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane argued that there should be law on integration, so that all institutions dealing with integration would be more effective. Vesti Segodnya

 

 

• Young man burned a cross in front of the house where resides a black person
• Head of the Naturalisation Board: we do not want to limit, but improve the naturalisation process
• Raivis Dzintars accuses Diena in intentional attempts to discredit his organisation All for Latvia!

The State Police have detained an 18-year-old man who burned a cross in front of the house where a dark-skinned person lives. The man admitted that he does not like dark-skinned people. Burning the cross was a protest against his dark-skinned neighbour. The young man confessed that the burning of the cross is a ritual he has seen in a documentary film about the Ku-Klux-Klan. The Police started a criminal process on incitement to ethnic and racial hatred.

The State Police have detained an 18-year-old man who burned a cross in front of the house where a dark-skinned person lives. The man admitted that he does not like dark-skinned people. Burning the cross was a protest against his dark-skinned neighbour. The young man confessed that the burning of the cross is a ritual he has seen in a documentary film about the Ku-Klux-Klan. The Police started a criminal process on incitement to ethnic and racial hatred. Chas, Diena, Vesti Segodnya

The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane in an interview with

The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane in an interview with Telegraf stated that the draft amendments to regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on naturalisation procedure, prepared by the Minister of Justice, was an initiative of the Naturalisation Board. As reported, the key goal of the draft amendments is improve examination procedure to avoid unlimited possibilities to re-take examinations. We do not like that the number of applicants who do not pass the exams the first time is increasing … We want to longer periods between the re-examinations, so that applicants would have more time for preparation…We do not want to restrict naturalisation, but improve the process, said Eizenija Aldermane.

The leader of the national organisation “All for Latvia!” Raivis Dzintars in a letter published in the daily

The leader of the national organisation All for Latvia! Raivis Dzintars in a letter published in the daily Diena stated that the daily intentionally tries to discredit All for Latvia! before the elections. As reported, on 18 February Diena published a photo depicting Raivis Dzintars and the leader of an opposite extreme grouping Jevgenijs Osipovs (Latvian National Democratic Party) having a conversation. The author of the article also claimed that two leaders might coordinate their activities to accomplish greater publicity. Raivis Dzintars does not deny the fact of the meeting, however, he notes that in the capacity of journalist he meets with numerous leaders of parties and organisations.

• Ministry of Justice has prepared draft amendments to regulations on naturalisation procedure
• General Prosecutors Office agrees with the decision about not starting a criminal process concerning the documentary Baltic Nazism

The Ministry of Justice has prepared draft amendments to regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on naturalisation procedure. The key goal of the draft amendments is improve examination procedure to avoid unlimited possibilities to re-take examinations. The draft amendments stipulate that if the applicant does not pass naturalisation exams, s/he may re-take Latvian proficiency test no earlier than after three months and test on the Latvian history no earlier than after a month. The draft amendments also stipulate that if the applicant does not pass Latvian language proficiency test and knowledge test the fourth time, the Naturalisation Board stops revision of his/her application for naturalisation. The revision of application is stopped also in cases when the applicant does not have legitimate excuse for missing the naturalisation examination within two months.

The Ministry of Justice has prepared draft amendments to regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on naturalisation procedure. The key goal of the draft amendments is improve examination procedure to avoid unlimited possibilities to re-take examinations. The draft amendments stipulate that if the applicant does not pass naturalisation exams, s/he may re-take Latvian proficiency test no earlier than after three months and test on the Latvian history no earlier than after a month. The draft amendments also stipulate that if the applicant does not pass Latvian language proficiency test and knowledge test the fourth time, the Naturalisation Board stops revision of his/her application for naturalisation. The revision of application is stopped also in cases when the applicant does not have legitimate excuse for missing the naturalisation examination within two months. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The General Prosecutor’s Office after evaluating the documentary “Baltic Nazism”, produced by the Russia’s TV company, agreed with the assessment of the Security Police and did not cancel the Police’s decision about not to starting a criminal process concerning producers and distributors of the documentary. As reported, several MPs asked the Security Police to start a criminal process arguing that the documentary incites ethnic hatred and distorts historical facts. However, the Police concluded that the documentary does not incite ethnic hatred.

The General Prosecutors Office after evaluating the documentary Baltic Nazism, produced by the Russias TV company, agreed with the assessment of the Security Police and did not cancel the Polices decision about not to starting a criminal process concerning producers and distributors of the documentary. As reported, several MPs asked the Security Police to start a criminal process arguing that the documentary incites ethnic hatred and distorts historical facts. However, the Police concluded that the documentary does not incite ethnic hatred. Diena, NRA

• Minister of Justice: there is no corruption in the Rezekne Regional Branch of the Naturalisation Board
• Head of the Naturalisation Board: fuss around the naturalisation process rises because of the upcoming elections

The Minister of Justice Solvita Aboltina reported the Head of the Saeima’s Citizenship Law Implementation Committee Anta Rugate that the observation committee did not find any violations in work of the Rezekne (city in the eastern part of Latvia) Regional Branch of the Naturalisation Board. As reported, Anta Rugate (the People’s Party) voiced her suspicions over the Rezekne Regional Branch in corruption.

The Minister of Justice Solvita Aboltina reported the Head of the Saeimas Citizenship Law Implementation Committee Anta Rugate that the observation committee did not find any violations in work of the Rezekne (city in the eastern part of Latvia) Regional Branch of the Naturalisation Board. As reported, Anta Rugate (the Peoples Party) voiced her suspicions over the Rezekne Regional Branch in corruption. Telegraf

The Head of the Naturalisation Board Ezenija Aldermane in an interview with

The Head of the Naturalisation Board Ezenija Aldermane in an interview with Chas stated that the fuss around the naturalisation process has been made because some parties always try to manipulate ‘sensitive citizenship issues before the elections. I am a big patriot of Latvia. Therefore I want to do everything I can, so people would live in harmony in Latvia and would not be afraid of each other, said Eizenija Aldermane.

• Senate of the Supreme Court reviewed Aleksandr Kazakovs appellation
• Diena: leaders of two opposite extreme groupings might coordinate their activities
• Concord Centre will attend naturalization exams
• Head of Russias Foreign Policy Centre: situation of Russian-speaking residents in Latvia and Estonia is exaggerated
• Russian Ambassador to Latvia: equal rights for Latvian non-citizens will remain on the Russias agenda
• Physical assault on two citizens of Sri Lanka might be committed by two high school students

On Friday, 17 February, the Supreme Court Senate reviewed Aleksandr Kazakov’s appellation asking to abolish his inclusion in the list of persons who are denied entrance in Latvia. As reported, activist of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools in Latvia Aleksandr Kazakov was expelled from Latvia in September of 2004, because of his activities against the implementation of the minority education reform. The Court will announce its final verdict on 24 February.

On Friday, 17 February, the Supreme Court Senate reviewed Aleksandr Kazakovs appellation asking to abolish his inclusion in the list of persons who are denied entrance in Latvia. As reported, activist of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools in Latvia Aleksandr Kazakov was expelled from Latvia in September of 2004, because of his activities against the implementationof the minority education reform. The Court will announce its final verdict on 24 February. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Diena publishes a photo depicting the leaders of two opposite extreme groupings having a conversation: Jevgenijs Osipovs, leader of the Latvian National Democratic Party (LNDP), and Raivis Dzintars, leader of the right-wing nationalistic party All for Latvia. Most probably the picture is three years old. The author of the article claims that the two leaders might coordinate their activities to accomplish greater publicity.

Several members of the political party “The Concord Centre” have asked the Head of the Naturalisation Board to attend naturalization exams. “We are planning to attend all regional departments to prove that the naturalization process goes on according to law,” said representative of “The Concord Centre.” As reported, the People’s Party claimed that there are cases when naturalisation exams are not taken place in accordance with legal norms, therefore a group of MPs was formed to inspect the way exams are taken place.

Several members of the political party The Concord Centre have asked the Head of the Naturalisation Board to attend naturalization exams. We are planning to attend all regional departments to prove that the naturalization process goes on according to law, said representative of The Concord Centre. As reported, the Peoples Party claimed that there are cases when naturalisation exams are not taken place in accordance with legal norms, therefore a group of MPs was formed to inspect the way exams are taken place. Vesti Segodnya

The Head of Russian Foreign Policy Centre Eleonora Mitrofanova stated that the situation of Russian-speaking residents in Latvia and Estonia is exaggerated. “Many Russian-speakers do not want to naturalize, they do not register their children and do not want to study the state language,” stated Eleonora Mitrofanova. However, she noted that there are violations of non-citizen rights, for instance, regarding employment. 

The Head of Russian Foreign Policy Centre Eleonora Mitrofanova stated that the situation of Russian-speaking residents in Latvia and Estonia is exaggerated. Many Russian-speakers do not want to naturalize, they do not register their children and do not want to study the state language, stated Eleonora Mitrofanova. However, she noted that there are violations of non-citizen rights, for instance, regarding employment. Vesti Segodnya

The Ambassador of Russia to Latvia Victor Kalyuzhniy in an interview with the National Radio stated that while Latvian non-citizens do not have equal voting rights, the issue will stay on the agenda.

The Ambassador of Russia to Latvia Victor Kalyuzhniy in an interview with the National Radio stated that while Latvian non-citizens do not have equal voting rights, the issue will stay on the agenda. Diena

Physical assault on two citizens of Sri Lanka that occurred in January might be committed by two high school students. However, the representative of the Security Police stated that while the case is under investigation, no information would be disclosed. As reported, in January two citizens of Sri Lanka reported on allegedly racially motivated attack on them.

Physical assault on two citizens of Sri Lanka that occurred in January might be committed by two high school students. However, the representative of the Security Police stated that while the case is under investigation, no information would be disclosed. As reported, in January two citizens of Sri Lanka reported on allegedly racially motivated attack on them. Diena