• PACE Standing Committee has adopted a resolution on rights of ethnic minorities in Latvia
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga: all residents have to participate in development of the state
• Weekly magazine Nedela prints opinions of several politicians and lawyers on the draft law on granting compensation to the Jewish Community of Latvia

On 17 November, the PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) Standing Committee has adopted a resolution on rights of ethnic minorities in Latvia. The resolution calls for non-citizens in Latvia to be granted at least the same rights as other EU citizens residing in the country. The resolution stipulates for more flexible naturalisation procedure, as well as for automatic naturalisation of non-citizens who are elderly or were born in the country. The resolution also stipulates that the minorities should be able to use their language in relations with administrative authorities "in areas where they live in substantial numbers" while all permanent residents should be able to vote at least in local elections.

On 17 November, the PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) Standing Committee has adopted a resolution on rights of ethnic minorities in Latvia. The resolution calls for non-citizens in Latvia to be granted at least the same rights as other EU citizens residing in the country. The resolution stipulates for more flexible naturalisation procedure, as well as for automatic naturalisation of non-citizens who are elderly or were born in the country. The resolution also stipulates that the minorities should be able to use their language in relations with administrative authorities "in areas where they live in substantial numbers" while all permanent residents should be able to vote at least in local elections. Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Latvijas Avize

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in her speech on the occasion of the National Independence Day on 18 November has stated:  “State’s prosperity can never be a project of one person, one party, one grouping or one ethnicity. All residents have to participate in the development of the state with their might and responsibility.”

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in her speech on the occasion of the National Independence Day on 18 November has stated: States prosperity can never be a project of one person, one party, one grouping or one ethnicity. All residents have to participate in the development of the state with their might and responsibility. Latvijas Avize, Diena, Rigas Balss

Weekly magazine

Weekly magazine Nedela prints opinions of several politicians and lawyers on the draft law on granting LVL 32000 000 (EUR 45 531897) to the Jewish Community of Latvia as a compensation for lost properties during the Holocaust. The MP Andrejs Klementjevs (The Concord Centre) believes that the draft law is compensation to victims of war therefore it has to be supported. The lawyer Aivars Borovkovs has criticized the draft law and stated that it lacks legal argumentation, is provoking controversy and is insufficiently prepared.

• IUMSILS has held several events in the framework of the International Day of Tolerance
• Latvijas Avize reports on discussions in the European Parliament on the situation and problems of ethnic minorities in Europe
• Diena features an article on the draft law on granting compensation to the Jewish community of Latvia
• A Latvian non-citizen has not been granted the status of the EU permanent resident

Chas reports, that yesterday, the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym) has held several events in the framework of the International Day of Tolerance. The central event was a seminar for school students about refugees. In the seminar Somalis, who arrived in Latvia last year and were granted the alternative status, took part.

Yesterday, the working group on national minorities of the European Parliament has discussed a document on the situation and problems of ethnic minorities in the European countries. According to the newspaper the document states that rights of ethnic minorities are more or less protected in all 10 new member states but Latvia. Latvian MEP Rihards Piks commented that it is not the first time when Europe institutions provide incorrect information on the situation of ethnic minorities in Latvia.

Yesterday, the working group on national minorities of the European Parliament has discussed a document on the situation and problems of ethnic minorities in the European countries. According to the newspaper the document states that rights of ethnic minorities are more or less protected in all 10 new member states but Latvia. Latvian MEP Rihards Piks commented that it is not the first time when Europe institutions provide incorrect information on the situation of ethnic minorities in Latvia. Latvijas Avize

Diena features an article on the draft law on granting LVL 32000 000 (EUR 45 531897) to the Jewish community of Latvia as a compensation for lost properties during the Holocaust. According to the newspaper, the compensations would ensure that Latvia would be exempted for any further payments in the future.

Vesti Segodnya reports on a case when a Latvian non-citizen was not granted the status of the EU permanent resident, because he could not provide official evidence of his employment record over last 12 months. The man believes that the decision is not fair. He notes that he was born and has lived all his life in Latvia. The man also claims that the main reason of the denial of his application is incompetence of the staff of the Board of Citizenship and Migration Affairs which is responsible for the procedure.

• Chas prints an article by a representative of the Russian NGO in Jelgava Istok Vladimirs Rjabovs
• Court of Riga Central Region has sentenced six members of National Bolsheviks for a protest action held on the day of parliamentarian elections

Chas prints an article by a representative of the Russian NGO in Jelgava Istok Vladimirs Rjabovs. Vladimirs Rjabovs argue that all Russian NGOs in Latvia should unite their forces and co-operate among themselves thus contributing to more effective solving of issues faced by Russians and would strengthen Russian national movement in Latvia.

The Court of Riga Central Region has sentenced six members of National Bolsheviks with pecuniary penalty for capturing one of the polling stations in Riga on 7 October - the day of parliamentarian elections. As reported, National Bolsheviks have held the action as a protest against deprivation of voting rights of Latvian non-citizens.

The Court of Riga Central Region has sentenced six members of National Bolsheviks with pecuniary penalty for capturing one of the polling stations in Riga on 7 October - the day of parliamentarian elections. As reported, National Bolsheviks have held the action as a protest against deprivation of voting rights of Latvian non-citizens. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

• Vesti Segodnya interviews the MP Miroslavs Mitrofanovs (FHRUL) on the situation of the Russian community in Latvia

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the MP, member of the party For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) Miroslavs Mitrofanovs on the situation of the Russian community in Latvia. Miroslavs Mitrofanovs states that Russians in Latvia have to become more organised and united to have their say in issues at political level.

• Chas reports that Peteris Tabuns (FF/LNIM) has been unofficially nominated for the post of Head of the Saeimas Citizenship Law Implementation Committee
• Russian Culture Community in Jelgava Veche celebrates its 2nd anniversary
• Sworn advocate Andris Grutups criticises the draft law on granting compensation to the Jewish Community of Latvia

According to

According to Chas the government has nominated member of the nationalistic party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) Peteris Tabuns for the post of Head of the Saeimas Citizenship Law Implementation Committee. As reported, pre-election program of the FF/LNIM included such aspects as suspension of naturalisation, reduction of number of applicants for citizenship, withdrawal of citizenship from disloyal persons, and promotion of deportation of persons who are not willing to be integrated into Latvian society.

Chas reports on the activities of the Russian Culture Community in Jelgava (town in the central part of Latvia) Veche which celebrates its 2nd anniversary.

The sworn advocate Andris Grutups in an interview with

The sworn advocate Andris Grutups in an interview with Vakara Zinas has criticized the draft law on granting of about LVL 32000 000 (EUR 45 531 897) to the Jewish Community of Latvia as a compensation for the lost property during the Holocaust. Andris Grutups has stated the Jews as well as others residents of Latvia who were citizens of the country until 1940 have already received compensations for their properties. NRA