• Columnist of Latvijas Avize criticizes those Saeimas factions who are willing to co-operate with The Concord Centre
• Latvijas Avize criticizes recently issued book Identity of Russians in Latvia: Historical and Sociological Essay

Latvijas Avize prints an article by its columnist on possible inclusion of the political party The Concord Centre in a new governing coalition. Columnist believes that The Concord Centre is oriented at Russian and Russian-speaking voters and their interests. Therefore, the columnist criticizes those Saeimas factions who are willing to co-operate with The Concord Centre.

Latvijas Avize prints an article about recently issued book Identity of Russians in Latvia: Historical and Sociological Essay. Columnist of the newspaper blames one of the authors of the book academician Ilga Apine for the false statement that the declaration on condemnation of Soviet occupation regime adopted by the Saeima in 2005 was cancelled in 2007. In an interview with the newspaper Ilga Apine has stated that adoption of the declaration has aggravated ethnic relations in Latvia because it is hateful towards non-Latvians stipulating that those who have arrived to Latvia in Soviet times are occupants. Ilze Apine has admitted that de jure it would be incorrect to say that the declaration was cancelled, however, the Saeima has put it aside by adopting border agreement with Russia without it.

• Diena prints several articles about Roma in Latvia
• Weekly magazine Sestdiena prints an article about guest workers from Eastern Germany

Diena prints several articles about Roma residents of Latvia. Expert on Roma issues in Latvia Vanda Zamicka-Bergendale considers that it is not easy for people with dark skin to live in Latvia because they feel discriminated and as second class citizens. Ms. Zamicka-Bergendale has stated that being half Roma and half Russian she choose to point her ethnicity as Russian in official documents due to discrimination at labour market. Vanda Zamicka-Bergendale also believes that funding provided by the state for overcoming stereotypes against Roma is insufficient. In an interview with the newspaper, ethnic Roma woman Sanita Kozlovska who has won a court case against an enterprise which refused to hire her because of ethnicity, has stated that she is still unemployed and has not received compensation from the company yet. However, Sanita Kozlovska believes that attitude of employers towards Roma has changed after the court proceeding and many Roma have found jobs.

Weekly magazine

Weekly magazine Sestdiena prints an article about guest workers from Eastern Germany who work in Latvia in construction. The guest workers assert that they have come to Latvia because here are more opportunities to earn money. According to an employer company, German guest workers were invited to Latvia because of high quality of their work.

• Diena prints an article by social anthropologist Dace Dzenovska on racism in Latvia
• Minister of Culture Helena Demakova: Latvia should ignore statements of Russias officials regarding granting Russian language the status of state language in Latvia
• Ministry of Welfare has elaborated a draft agreement on co-operation in social sphere between Latvia and Russia
• Kulturas Diena prints an interview with the head of Memorial Arseny Roginsky

Diena prints an article by social anthropologist Dace Dzenovska on racism in Latvia. According to the author, there is racism in Latvia. However, Latvian residents, especially ethnic Latvians criticize and avoid attempts to draw attention to existing racism. Dace Dzenovska also criticizes police for inability to prove racially motivated crimes. Ms. Dzenovska considers that society and police will probably draw serious attention to racial attacks only after someones death.

The Minister of Culture Helena Demakova has stated that Latvia should ignore statements of Russia’s officials regarding granting Russian language the status of state language in Latvia. Mrs. Demakova believes that Latvia conforms to all international standards in protection of rights of ethnic minorities. The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins (member of the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM)) has stated that as long as the FF/LNIM is in governing coalition Russian language will never become state language.

The Minister of Culture Helena Demakova has stated that Latvia should ignore statements of Russias officials regarding granting Russian language the status of state language in Latvia. Mrs. Demakova believes that Latvia conforms to all international standards in protection of rights of ethnic minorities. The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins (member of the political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM)) has stated that as long as the FF/LNIM is in governing coalition Russian language will never become state language. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena

The Ministry of Welfare has elaborated a draft agreement on co-operation in social sphere between Latvia and Russia which stipulates abolishment of limitations on payments of pensions for residents of both countries. Particularly, the agreement stipulates that working time spent by non-citizens

The Ministry of Welfare has elaborated a draft agreement on co-operation in social sphere between Latvia and Russia which stipulates abolishment of limitations on payments of pensions for residents of both countries. Particularly, the agreement stipulates that working time spent by non-citizens outside of Latvia during the Soviet period would be included in the total length of service and thus their pensions would raise. Currently, the length of service of non-citizens includes only working time spent on Latvian territory during Soviet times. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Kulturas Diena prints an interview with the head of the international historical- enlightment, human rights and humanitarian society Memorial Arseny Roginsky. Mr. Rogisnky believes that in order to establish peaceful relation between Russians and Latvians both sides should understand and respect positions of each other regarding historical events, such as end of the WWII, victory of USSR and occupation of Latvia, despite those positions are contradictory.

• Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Latvian is the only state language in the country
• Minister of Culture Helena Demakova: there is no need to establish separate department on ethnic minorities culture in Latvia

In response to a statement made by a representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign that Russian language should have an official status in Latvia, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia has stated that according to the State Language Law, Latvian is the only state language in the country, while, languages of ethnic minorities are being respected and learning of these languages is ensured. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers that such statements by Russian officials show that they do not understand integration processes in Latvia.

In response to a statement made by a representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign that Russian language should have an official status in Latvia, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia has stated that according to the State Language Law, Latvian is the only state language in the country, while, languages of ethnic minorities are being respected and learning of these languages is ensured. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers that such statements by Russian officials show that they do not understand integration processes in Latvia. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

The Minister of Culture Helena Demakova has stated that there is no need to establish separate department on ethnic minorities’ culture in Latvia, because cultural institutions are not divided into Latvian and non-Latvian, and state funding is granted equally to all.

The Minister of Culture Helena Demakova has stated that there is no need to establish separate department on ethnic minorities culture in Latvia, because cultural institutions are not divided into Latvian and non-Latvian, and state funding is granted equally to all. Vesti Segodnya

• Security Police considers that an attack on two young Roma girls is not a racial hate crime
• Latvijas Avize reports that the Supreme Court has received repeated linguistic expertise in a case of ex-deputy of the Riga City Council Aleksandrs Gilmans
• Representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Russian language should have an official status in Latvia

According to a representative of the Security Police, materials of the State Police do not provide evidence that an attack on two young Roma girls is a racial hate crime. Therefore, the case is forwarded back to the State Police which has initiated criminal proceedings on hooliganism. As reported two 13-year-old girls were attacked allegedly by a group of skinheads in Riga in October. After the accident girls were placed in a hospital. The Ombudsman’s Office has initiated evaluation of policemen’s actions who right after the accident did not detain the persons alleged of attack on the girls.

According to a representative of the Security Police, materials of the State Police do not provide evidence that an attack on two young Roma girls is a racial hate crime. Therefore, the case is forwarded back to the State Police which has initiated criminal proceedings on hooliganism. As reported two 13-year-old girls were attacked allegedly by a group of skinheads in Riga in October. After the accident girls were placed in a hospital. The Ombudsmans Office has initiated evaluation of policemens actions who right after the accident did not detain the persons alleged of attack on the girls. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize reports that the Supreme Court has received repeated linguistic expertise made by the Latvian Association of Independent Experts in a case of ex-deputy of the Riga City Council Aleksandrs Gilmans. As reported, Aleksandrs Gilmans is charged for anti-governmental statements made on the internet forum of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Schools homepage. This is already a third expertise in Gilmans case because two previous expertises were appealed against by the prosecutor and by the Aleksandrs Gilmans lawyer.

Yesterday, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation has stated that Russia will try to achieve a change of status of Russian language in Latvia, so that it becomes second official state language and not a foreign one as it is presently.

Yesterday, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation has stated that Russia will try to achieve a change of status of Russian language in Latvia, so that it becomes second official state language and not a foreign one as it is presently. NRA