• All for Latvia! collected 6,000 signatures for support of transition of all state funded schools into Latvian language

Nationalists’ party “All for Latvia!” collected 6,000 signatures for support of transition of all state funded schools into Latvian language. “All for Latvia!” wants to collect 10,000 signatures in order to hold a national referendum. If it succeeds with signatures, the Central Elections Committee will have to initiate its own collection of signatures and if one tenth part of citizens who took part the last Saeima’s elections supports the initiative then a referendum will be held.

Nationalists party All for Latvia! collected 6,000 signatures for support of transition of all state funded schools into Latvian language. All for Latvia! wants to collect 10,000 signatures in order to hold a national referendum. If it succeeds with signatures, the Central Elections Committee will have to initiate its own collection of signatures and if one tenth part of citizens who took part the last Saeimas elections supports the initiative then a referendum will be held. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

• Government report on human rights situation in Latvia prepared for the UN
• Owner of a car vandalised by unknown persons who scratched swastika on it complaints that police does nothing to investigate the case
• Security Police: MP Valerijs Kravcovs received Latvian citizenship legally

The government prepared a report on human rights situation in Latvia for the UN. The report says that there is considerable progress in integration and naturalisation field in Latvia.  According to it, “integration program in Latvia is successfully implemented; ethnic minorities have rights to preserve and develop their language, ethnic and cultural diversity; non-Latvians are effectively engaged in decision making process; there is no discrimination on ethnic, religious and language grounds.” Human rights experts commenting the report state that such positive reports are traditional for state authorities. 

The government prepared a report on human rights situation in Latvia for the UN. The report says that there is considerable progress in integration and naturalisation field in Latvia. According to it, integration program in Latvia is successfully implemented; ethnic minorities have rights to preserve and develop their language, ethnic and cultural diversity; non-Latvians are effectively engaged in decision making process; there is no discrimination on ethnic, religious and language grounds. Human rights experts commenting the report state that such positive reports are traditional for state authorities. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports that a resident of Riga whose car was vandalised by unknown persons who scratched swastika on it complaints that police does nothing to investigate the case. According to the cars owner Nazi symbol was scratched because the car was decorated with Russias flag and St. George ribbon, however, the police qualified the case as hooliganism.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Security Police (SP) has already checked the naturalisation process of the MP Valerijs Kravcovs (Concord Centre) and concluded that it was done legally. As reported, the MP Visvaldis Lacis (nationalist party All for Latvia!) again asked the SP to check whether Mr. Kravcovs legally received citizenship going trough naturalisation process. Valerijs Kravcovs is also in under special attention of the State Language Centre due to low state language proficiency.

• Minister criticizes the Rezekne City Councils decision to give a day off to municipal institutions on Orthodox Christmas
• Public Advisory Council on Mass Media includes no representatives of ethnic minorities NGOs

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Raimonds Vejonis criticizes the Rezekne City Council’s decision to give a day off to municipal institutions on Orthodox Christmas – 7 January. The Minister considers that such practise should not be supported.

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Raimonds Vejonis criticizes the Rezekne City Councils decision to give a day off to municipal institutions on Orthodox Christmas – 7 January. The Minister considers that such practise should not be supported. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Public Advisory Council on Mass Media includes no representatives of ethnic minorities NGOs. This fact is beings criticised by the MP, member of the parliamentary Human Rights Committee Boriss Cilevics, who believes that mass media oriented at Russian speaking residents is very important for integration of society and points out that the notion of integration implies participation of all residents in the decision making process.

• Diena interviews academician Nils Muiznieks about necessary developments in integration policy

Academician and ex-Minister of Integration Nils Muiznieks believes that the Ministry of Culture, which overtakes integration policy issues, will have to achieve elimination of discrimination, establish cooperation with non-Latvian residents and promote interaction with ethnic Latvians. Mr. Muznieks believes that it is important to support projects aimed at promotion of interaction between ethnic Latvian and Russian cultures.

Academician and ex-Minister of Integration Nils Muiznieks believes that the Ministry of Culture, which overtakes integration policy issues, will have to achieve elimination of discrimination, establish cooperation with non-Latvian residents and promote interaction with ethnic Latvians. Mr. Muznieks believes that it is important to support projects aimed at promotion of interaction between ethnic Latvian and Russian cultures. Diena

• Diena prints an article about integration policy in Latvia which now is under responsibility of the Ministry of Culture
• Rezekne and Daugavpils City Councils give day off to its workers on Orthodox Christmas day.

Diena prints an article about integration policy in Latvia which now is under responsibility of the Ministry of Culture. The Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte believes that the aim of the integration is to strengthen common ethnic Latvian identity. Ethnic Latvianism should be inclusive and integrative, which means that ethnic Latvians should be open, but the basis of integration should be clear and firm.

Chas reports that the Mayor of Rezekne decreed that 7 January - Orthodox and Old Believers Christmas is holiday for structural units of the city council. Workers of the Daugavpils City Council also have the right to take a day off on 7 January. According to the Mayors of both cities located in the Eastern part of Latvia, in such way the Councils follow will of residents and show respect towards peoples traditions