• Saeima adopted amendments to the Criminal Code which stipulate racial violence as one of aggravating factors
• 2008 will be a year of the Russian culture
• Minister of Economics Jurijs Strods: government has to discuss the possibility to draw high qualified labour force to Latvia
• Telegraf prints an article by the Head of the Russian Community of Latvia Tatyana Favorska on activities of Russian NGOs in Latvia

Diena reports that the Saeima has adopted amendments to the Criminal Code which stipulate racial violence as one of aggravating factors. The new amendments come into effect as of 1 November.

Telegraf reports that year 2008 is planned to be a year of the Russian culture in Latvia.

The Minister of Economics Jurijs Strods in an interview with the daily

The Minister of Economics Jurijs Strods in an interview with the daily NRA has stated that the government has to discuss the possibility to attract a high qualified foreign labour force to Latvia, however, only in specific areas.

Telegraf prints an article by the Head of the Russian Community of Latvia Tatyana Favorska on the activities of Russian NGOs in Latvia. Tatyana Favorska believes that Russian NGOs have to be more involved in preservation of the Russian identity through participation in the work of municipal and governmental institutions.

• Centre of Russian Philology opened at the Department of Philology of the University of Latvia

On 10 November, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens and the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Victor Kalyuzhniy participated in the opening of the Centre of Russian Philology located at the Department of the University of Latvia. The Centre will focus on studies of the Russian language, literature and culture in Latvia.

On 10 November, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens and the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Victor Kalyuzhniy participated in the opening of the Centre of Russian Philology located at the Department of the University of Latvia. The Centre will focus on studies of the Russian language, literature and culture in Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

• Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis and coalition partners do not support the new Ministers of Justice proposals to restrict naturalisation
• FHRUL proposes to hand over the Naturalisation Board under the auspices of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration
• Interview with MP Visvaldis Lacis (Union of Greens and Farmers)
• Sociolinguistic study on language proficiency in Latvia

Diena reports that the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis (Peoples Party) and the heads of parliamentary factions representing the government coalition have not supported the proposals of the new Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins (FF/LNIM) to restrict naturalisation. According to the coalition partners, the government declaration does not stipulate the restriction of naturalisation process, and any amendments to the Citizenship Law can be drawn only with the support of all coalition partners.

The parliamentary faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has submitted the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law to the parliament. FHRUL proposes to hand over the Naturalisation Board under the auspices of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration. Presently, the Naturalisation Board works under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice headed by Gaidis Berzins (FF/LNIM).

The parliamentary faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has submitted the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law to the parliament. FHRUL proposes to hand over the Naturalisation Board under the auspices of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration. Presently, the Naturalisation Board works under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice headed by Gaidis Berzins (FF/LNIM). Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya interviews the MP Visvaldis Lacis (Union of Greens and Farmers) known for his radical nationalistic statements. Visvaldis Lacis has stated that strengthening of the state languages positions and introducing stricter criteria in naturalisation process will be priorities of his activities in the new Saeima.

Weekly magazine

Weekly magazine Republika.lv prints an article on the results of a sociolinguistic study conducted by the State Language Agency in collaboration with the consulting firm Data Service. According to the study, 19% of residents in Latgale region and 14% - in Riga and Riga region use Russian language as the only communication language. 90% of economically active population can understand information for consumers in Russian, and 87% - in Latvian. The study also reveals that Russian language is used primarily in the area of industry, transport and consumer service, while Latvian language dominates in legal service and agricultural sector. Economically active persons who are able to use only one language at work have the lowest level of income.

• Diena on the visit of Latvian politicians to the Russian Presidents reception last week

Diena features experts comments on the participation of politicians Tatjana Zdanoka (FHRUL), Jurijs Sokolovskis (FHRUL), and Nils Usakovs (The Concord Centre) as well as representatives of the Russian community from Latvia in the reception held by the Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on the Day of National Solidarity on 4 November. The director of the Advanced Social and Political Research Institute Nils Muiznieks believes that one of Russias objectives in its relations with Latvia is to get more supporters among Russian residents in order to achieve foreign policy objectives in the international arena.

• New Latvian government approved
• Diena features opinions on the government declaration
• The candidate for the Heads of the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee post is criticized for his previous homophobic activities
• Representative of thePACE Adrian Severin is preparing a report on the situation of human rights in Latvia

Yesterday, the Saeima has approved the new government. The former Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis (People’s Party) has been repeatedly approved as the head of the new government. Oskars Kastens (Latvian First Party) has been approved as the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration.

Yesterday, the Saeima has approved the new government. The former Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis (Peoples Party) has been repeatedly approved as the head of the new government. Oskars Kastens (Latvian First Party) has been approved as the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize, NRA

Diena features several opinions on the new government declaration. The director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris points out the fact that the declaration does not address the issues of managing labour migration and newly arrived immigrants. Ilze Brands Kehris has also noted that the declaration does not outline the need to promote tolerance towards people of a different race and sexual orientation.

The governing coalition has nominated Janis Smits (Latvian First Party) as a candidate for the post of the Head of the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee. In the interview to

The governing coalition has nominated Janis Smits (Latvian First Party) as a candidate for the post of the Head of the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee. In the interview to Diena, the head of the Human Rights Institute of the University of Latvia Arturs Kucs, representative of Alliance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transpersons and their friends Mozaika Linda Freimane and the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris criticize this decision because of Janis Smits previous homophobic legislative proposals and statements inciting to hatred in the society. Diena

Chas refers to MP from the party The Concord Centre Boriss Cilevics stating that the representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Adrian Severin will present a report on the situation on human rights in Latvia. The report will be discussed and the resolution on it will be adopted at session of the PACEs Legal Issues and Human Rights Committee on 17 November.