• 78, 279 signatures collected in support of granting Russian language status of official

• MP Nikolajs Kabanovs possibly broke the deputys oath by signing in support of granting Russian language status of official

According to the Central Elections Committee, 78, 279 signatures were collected since 1 November till 21 November in support of the Constitutional amendments stipulating granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. In order to forward the draft amendments for the approval to the Parliament it is required to collect at least 154,379 signatures. If the Saeima does not approve the draft amendments national referendum will be initiated. The majority of signatures collected in Riga (35,181), and cities in the Eastern part of Latvia - Daugavpils (14,437) and Rezekne (4,859). Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

Newspapers report that the MP Nikolajs Kabanovs (Concord Centre) signed for the initiative in support of granting Russian status of official language in Latvia. Thus, the MP possibly broke the deputys oath, because it says that the MP should protect Latvian language as the only state language in Latvia. Telegraf, Diena

• Newspapers report about a propagandist video clip of NGO Native Language

• The Presidents Constitutional Rights Committee will review the proposal by the nationalists union to determine that the Articles of the Constitution establishing the basic elements of Latvian state are unchangeable
• Ex-Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte became an advisor to the Prime Minister on integration issues

The Security Police received a number of complaints regarding a video clip of an NGO Native Language calling Russian speaking residents to support the initiative in granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. In the video, initiators of the collection of signatures in support of the initiative Vladimirs Lindermans, Jevgenijs Osipovs and others sings a song which says that Russians have been humiliated for many years but now it is time to fight for their rights. The MP, member of the Saeimas Committee on Patriotic Education Inguna Ribena considers that the creators of the video used a technique of totalitarian propaganda. The Security Police also sees the video as the agitation material created in aggressive way, but it does not contain grounds to initiate criminal procedure. Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnya

The governing coalition forwarded the draft amendments to the Constitution of Latvia proposed by the nationalists union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM to the Presidents Constitutional Rights Committee. As reported, the nationalists union proposed to amend the Constitution stipulating that Articles 1, 2, 3, 4 and 77 which determine the basic elements of Latvian state – independence, democracy, territorial integrity, language and flag - are not changeable. Such amendments are possible to approve only with support of at least two thirds of the MPs or trough national referendum. Latvijas Avize, Diena

Ex-Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte became a freelance advisor to the Prime Minister on national identity, civil society and integration issues. As reported, the National Identity, Civil Society and Integration Policy Guidelines for 2012-2018 got elaborated by the Ministry of Culture under the leadership of Sarmite Elerte. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

• Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs called supporters of the Concord Centre to sign for the initiative to grant Russian language the status of official
• MP Raivis Dzintars: Latvia can only be ethnically Latvian
• Neatkariga reports about a state language courses funded by the Riga City Council

The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs called the members of the Concord Centre and its supporters to sign for the initiative to grant Russian language the status of official in Latvia. Mr Usakovs believes that the initiative is a signal to the state officials that interests of various groups of residents must be taken into account. Ex-President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, in her turn, stated if Russian language is granted status of official in Latvia, existence of Latvian language would be seriously endangered.

The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs called the members of the Concord Centre and its supporters to sign for the initiative to grant Russian language the status of official in Latvia. Mr Usakovs believes that the initiative is a signal to the state officials that interests of various groups of residents must be taken into account. Ex-President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, in her turn, stated if Russian language is granted status of official in Latvia, existence of Latvian language would be seriously endangered. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Leader of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, MP Raivis Dzintars wrote an open letter to ethnic Russian, Ukrainian and Belorussian residents of Latvia. In the letter, Mr Dzintars expresses his belief that Latvia can only be ethnically Latvian. The MP states that the meaning of existence of Latvia is preservation, protection and development of Latvian language and culture.

Leader of the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, MP Raivis Dzintars wrote an open letter to ethnic Russian, Ukrainian and Belorussian residents of Latvia. In the letter, Mr Dzintars expresses his belief that Latvia can only be ethnically Latvian. The MP states that the meaning of existence of Latvia is preservation, protection and development of Latvian language and culture. Vesti Segodnya

Neatkariga reports about a state language courses funded by the Riga City Council in the framework of its society integration program. According to a representative of one of the Riga schools which organised the courses for 104 persons from August to November, these courses have a big meaning for integration because it is much easier to get integrated in the society being proficient in state language. The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs who took part in the presentation of diplomas for the graduates of the courses, promised to grant funding for courses also next year.

• High officials declined to come with a common statement regarding their position about state language
• President of Latvia Andris Berzins: Latvian language will remain the only state language in Latvia as far as the state exists
• Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis: ministers participating in 16 March processions will be dismissed
• Language inspections on the basis of anonymous complaints

Latvian high officials declined to come with a common statement regarding their position about the state language. Yesterday, the media reported that high officials – the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Saeima and the President – are preparing the statement which clearly says that Latvian language is the only state language in the country. However, the President of Latvia Andris Berzins refused to get involved in such initiative stating that he will not discuss manipulative actions around language issues provoked by ethnic Latvian nationalists and activists who support granting Russian language status of official in Latvia.

Latvian high officials declined to come with a common statement regarding their position about the state language. Yesterday, the media reported that high officials – the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Saeima and the President – are preparing the statement which clearly says that Latvian language is the only state language in the country. However, the President of Latvia Andris Berzins refused to get involved in such initiative stating that he will not discuss manipulative actions around language issues provoked by ethnic Latvian nationalists and activists who support granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the President of Latvia Andris Berzins. According to the President, Latvian language will remain the only state language in Latvia as far as the state exists, but if this fact changes Latvia will not exist anymore. The President believes that the common factors for consolidation of the society are the state language and the shared territory of residence.

The Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis stated that those ministers who will take part in the events on 16 March will be dismissed from their posts. 16 March is unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Every year nationalists hold processions in the centre of Riga on this day.

The Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis stated that those ministers who will take part in the events on 16 March will be dismissed from their posts. 16 March is unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Every year nationalists hold processions in the centre of Riga on this day. Diena, Neatkariga

Vesti Segodnya reports about language inspections on the basis of complaints submitted anonymously at the forum section of the web site of the Ministry of Justice. The State Language Centre investigates complaints which name concrete organisations or persons accused of insufficient state language usage. The author compares the situation to Stalins era, when people were repressed on the basis of anonymous informants and believes the present activity is caused by high unemployment and the anonymous informants are trying to get rid of the employees in order to get the jobs themselves. Four persons complained to the Latvian Human Rights Committee about the language inspections on the basis of anonymous informers, including cases when the employers try to dismiss employees who successfully worked several years. According to the Committee, two recent amendments to legislation represent additional incentives for the language inspectors: the number of professions in private sector requiring state language was increased 25-fold, while the fine for failing to use the state language in required amount was increased four-fold.

• European Court of Human Rights obliged Latvia to pay a Cameroonian national EUR 9,000
• Nationalists union wants the articles of the Constitution which determine Latvian language as the only state language to be irrevocable

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued ruling in favour of a Cameroonian national Guy Walter Longa Yonkey in his case against Latvia. The applicant, who arrived to Latvia as asylum seeker, submitted the claim against Latvia complaining on too long detention in the Olaine detention facility for illegal immigrants. The ECtHR found that some periods of detention lasting for totally more than two years in Latvia between December 2008 and January 2010 violated Article 5 § 1 (f) (right to liberty and security; the lawful detention) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The ECtHR obliged Latvia to pay Guy Walter Longa Yonkey EUR 9,000 in respect of non-pecuniary damage. The Cameroonian national was represented in the ECHR by the Latvian Centre for Human Rights lawyer Dzena Andersone.

The full text of the judgment is available at: http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/view.asp?item=1&portal=hbkm&action=html&highlight=57229/09&sessionid=81874914&skin=hudoc-en

Newspapers continue to report about the course of the collection of signatures in support of granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. Following example of the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs, also others members of the Concord Centre, including chairmen of local councils, signed for the initiative. The nationalists union All for Latvia!- For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, in its turn, elaborated draft amendments to the Constitution of Latvia stipulating that the articles which determine Latvian language as the only state language should be irrevocable. At the same time, one of the initiators of the collection of signatures Vladimirs Lindermans calls citizens to sign for the initiative especially actively on 18 November – the Independence Day of Latvia. For 15 November, it is collected about 40,000 signatures in support of the initiative. Diena, Chas, Latvijas Avize