• FHRUL might not support ratification of the border agreement between Latvia and Russia

The political party For Human Rights in United Latvia has stated that it might not support ratification of the border agreement between Latvia and Russia because it can harm interests of Russian-speaking residents of Latvia. One of the arguments of FHRUL is that their support to the agreement might be interpreted as acceptance of human rights violations and discrimination against Russian-speakers, such as mass non-citizenship, recognition of Russian as foreign language and liquidation of Russian language education system.

The political party For Human Rights in United Latvia has stated that it might not support ratification of the border agreement between Latvia and Russia because it can harm interests of Russian-speaking residents of Latvia. One of the arguments of FHRUL is that their support to the agreement might be interpreted as acceptance of human rights violations and discrimination against Russian-speakers, such as mass non-citizenship, recognition of Russian as foreign language and liquidation of Russian language education system. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

• Chas prints an article on a book about history of Russians in Latvia until XIII century

Chas prints an article on a book Captivating History of Russians in Latvia. The book provides information on Russians in Latvia until XIII century. Editor of the book, historian Igors Gusevs in an interview with the newspaper stated that the book is devoted to friendship and cooperation between Latvians and Russians and it shows that Latvians and Russians have never been enemies.

• Diena features an article about skinheads in Latvia
• Yesterday, the Saeima has refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law proposed by the FHRUL
• U.S. Embassy to Latvia holds the Afro-American History Month in February
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga criticizes a proposal of Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens

Diena prints an article about skinheads in Latvia. A representative of the Security Police in an interview with the newspaper states that in Latvia skinheads are not very well organised and there are several, however not very big groups. According to the Security Police, there are about 150 skinheads in Latvia, of them 50 could be considered aggressive. The average age is from 14 to 30 years. The newspaper also interviews several representatives of visually different minorities residing in Latvia. An Indian man says he experiences negative attitude every day, however, he believes that it was even worse couple years ago. While another representative - a rabbi - argues that the situation has worsened and he hears offensive statements on regular basis. A Korean man who arrived to Latvia six months ago states that the situation in Latvia in comparison to other European countries is the worst. However, a Chinese man who lives in Latvia for seven years announces that he has never experienced any negative attitude.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law proposed by the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) which stipulated granting the official status to ethnic minority languages in territories densely inhabited by ethnic minorities.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law proposed by the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) which stipulated granting the official status to ethnic minority languages in territories densely inhabited by ethnic minorities. Chas

In February, the U.S. Embassy to Latvia holds the Afro-American History Month. Yesterday,  representatives of the Afro-Latvian association and U.S. Embassy held a meeting with school children in Vainode (a small parish in the northern part of Latvia) and shared their experiences. It is planned to hold similar meetings in other schools as well.

In February, the U.S. Embassy to Latvia holds the Afro-American History Month. Yesterday, representatives of the Afro-Latvian association and U.S. Embassy held a meeting with school children in Vainode (a small parish in the northern part of Latvia) and shared their experiences. It is planned to hold similar meetings in other schools as well. Diena

Yesterday, the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in an interview to the commercial TV channel LNT has criticized a proposal of the leader of the Latvia’s First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections. The President argued that that if non-citizens have the same rights as citizens do, then citizenship would loose its meaning.

Yesterday, the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in an interview to the commercial TV channel LNT has criticized a proposal of the leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections. The President argued that that if non-citizens have the same rights as citizens do, then citizenship would loose its meaning. Chas, Telegraf

• Riga Regional Court sentenced two men to six and eight months imprisonment for racially motivated assault on a dark skinned man under Section 78.2
• Yesterday, the European Parliaments Petitions Committee reviewed 14 applications on citizenship and minority rights in Latvia

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court has sentenced two men to six and eight months imprisonment for racially motivated assault on a dark skinned man in the centre of Riga in summer 2006. It is a first time when persons charged under Section 78 of the Criminal Law were sentenced to real imprisonment. The leader of the Afro-Latvian Association Christopher Ejugbo in an interview with Chas stated that after the incident the police have promised to place video surveillance cameras and to intensify policing places where skinheads have been seen. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena, NRA

Yesterday, the European Parliaments Petitions Committee has reviewed 14 applications on citizenship and minority rights in Latvia, including a petition of Jurijs Petropavlovskis who was refused Latvian citizenship though he had passed naturalisation procedure. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena

• Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis: proposal of Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens is ill-considered
• FHRUL forwards their draft amendments to the State Language Law to the Saeima
• Chas prints an article about Russian NGOs in Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya reports on a discussion Roma Integration into Society and Employment
• Vesti Segodnya features an interview with Russian linguist Tatyana Liguta

Yesterday, the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis stated that a proposal of the leader of the Latvia’s First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens is ill-considered. The Prime Minister stated that the proposal is not in line with a national integration policy arguing that granting of voting rights would negatively impact motivation of non-citizens to get naturalised.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis stated that a proposal of the leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens is ill-considered. The Prime Minister stated that the proposal is not in line with a national integration policy arguing that granting of voting rights would negatively impact motivation of non-citizens to get naturalised. Chas, Latvijas Avize, NRA

The Saeima’s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has forwarded their draft amendments to the State Language Law to the Saeima. The FHRUL proposes to grant ethnic minority languages the official status in territories densely inhabited by ethnic minorities. The draft amendments stipulate use of minority languages in written communication with all  authorities, including judicial and education institutions, use of languages in geographical names and  personal names in original spelling in official documents.

The Saeimas faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has forwarded their draft amendments to the State Language Law to the Saeima. The FHRUL proposes to grant ethnic minority languages the official status in territories densely inhabited by ethnic minorities. The draft amendments stipulate use of minority languages in written communication with all authorities, including judicial and education institutions, use of languages in geographical names and personal names in original spelling in official documents. Chas, Latvijas Avize

Chas prints an article about Russian NGOs in Latvia. The author of the article claims that Russia fails in providing sufficient support to these NGOs because they are too many.

Vesti Segodnya reports on a discussion Roma Integration into Society and Employment. The discussion was a concluding phase of the project on Roma training in computer skills implemented by the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration in co-operation wit an enterprise Microsoft Latvia. Participants of the discussion concluded that a successful Roma integration depends on four interlinked actors: state, municipalities, and private sector, as well as on motivation of Roma people.

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with academician, Russian linguist Tatyana Liguta about the Russian language in Latvia and its interaction with the Latvian language. Tatyana Liguta argues that the Russian language is not endangered in Latvia as it is widely used in society and there are possibilities to study in Russian.