• State Border Guard discovers illegal foreign employees
• Diena nominates the general director of the Hotel de Rome the person of the year for courage to employ persons who were granted the alternative status in Latvia
• Life of minor Somalis in Latvia

The State Border Guard has fined a forestry processing company "Gran Latvija” for illegal employment of 19 citizens of Bulgaria. The company has to pay a fine in the amount of LVL 3500 (≈EUR 5,000), while administrative penalty for citizens of Bulgaria varies from LVL 250 (≈EUR 356) to 350 (≈EUR 500).

The State Border Guard has fined a forestry processing company "Gran Latvija for illegal employment of 19 citizens of Bulgaria. The company has to pay a fine in the amount of LVL 3500 (≈EUR 5,000), while administrative penalty for citizens of Bulgaria varies from LVL 250 (≈EUR 356) to 350 (≈EUR 500). Diena

The weekly supplement

The weekly supplement Sestdiena of the daily Diena gives four nominations the person of the year, among them the general director of the hotels Konventa seta and Hotel de Rome. He has been nominated for courage to employ the four grown up Somalis who arrived in Latvia in 2005 and in 2006 were granted the alternative status (lesser form of protection than the refugee status). The director says that he is not afraid of stereotypes prevalent in society regarding Africans and adds that a small provocation will help to understand that Africans are the same people.

The weekly also features an article on children Somalis who arrived together with the adults. The newspaper reports that the three children have successfully integrated in the village they have been given shelter, have learned the Latvian language and are successful at school.

The weekly also features an article on children Somalis who arrived together with the adults. The newspaper reports that the three children have successfully integrated in the village they have been given shelter, have learned the Latvian language and are successful at school.

 

• Integration Minister about the mass media
• Two persons fined for racist comments on the Internet

The Integration Minister Oskars Kastens believes that Latvia’s society is not divided into two communities though there are some signs of the two-community society in the mass media. He believes that newspapers should provide some space to uncensored views and opinions.

The Integration Minister Oskars Kastens believes that Latvias society is not divided into two communities though there are some signs of the two-community society in the mass media. He believes that newspapers should provide some space to uncensored views and opinions. Chas

Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Prosecutor’s Office has determined fines for two persons who published racist and anti-Semitic comments on the internet portal www.draugiem.lv. The fine is five times minimum wage, that is LVL 400 (≈EUR 570).

Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Prosecutors Office has determined fines for two persons who published racist and anti-Semitic comments on the internet portal www.draugiem.lv. The fine is five times minimum wage, that is LVL 400 (≈EUR 570). Diena, Latvijas Avize

• Minor sentenced for incitement to racial hatred
• Interview with the Minister of Justice

On 27 December, the Riga Regional Court found a 17-year-old girl guilty under Section 78 of the Criminal Law for incitement to racial hatred. The court sentenced the girl to the four year suspended imprisonment. As reported, in January 2006 the girl physically and verbally assaulted two dark skinned citizens of Sri Lanka. 

On 27 December, the Riga Regional Court found a 17-year-old girl guilty under Section 78 of the Criminal Law for incitement to racial hatred. The court sentenced the girl to the four year suspended imprisonment. As reported, in January 2006 the girl physically and verbally assaulted two dark skinned citizens of Sri Lanka. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins. He assures that he is against mass naturalisation and states that a part of new citizens are not loyal towards Latvia. He provides his interpretation of loyalty – persons attitude, language skills, correct understanding of the history, respect towards cultures of the peoples living in Latvia. The Minister says that his party will talk to the coalition partners to discuss introduction of higher requirements for naturalisation. Regarding the Naturalisation Board, the Minister wants to consider re-focusing of its activities. In the view of the Minister, the Naturalisation Board should be also dealing with repatriation: promoting repatriation of people from Latvia to their ethnic homelands and returning Latvians and Livs from abroad. The Minister notes that it was his proposal to double the funding for the State Language Centre and leave it under auspices of the Minister of Justice and not the Ministry of Education and Science.

• Vesti Segodnya talks to the Integration Minister Oskars Kastens
• Vesti Segodnya about guest workers from Bulgaria and Rumania
• Interview with the Head of the Naturalisation Board
• Brief insight in the history of the Jewish community in Latvia

Vesti Segodnya talks to the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens. The Integration Minister comments on the recent negative statements of the Minister of Justice regarding naturalisation (optimisation of the Naturalisation Board and imposing limits on mass naturalisation). The newspaper reports that Oskars Kastens promised to discuss the statements with the Minister of Justice and suggested to invite to the meeting representatives of the Council of Europe who have continuously recommended decreasing the number of non-citizens in the country. He also notes that Latvia has received foreign funding aimed particularly at promoting acquisitions of Latvian citizenship.

Vesti Segodnya comments on the statement of the Minister of Welfare regarding the Latvias decision to open its borders to free movement of workers from the two new EU countries Bulgaria and Rumania. The Minister believes that Latvia will not face a massive influx of people from these countries. However, the newspaper argues that living conditions in these countries are so poor that people will be very willing to move. The newspaper also states, Besides, Rumanian drug dealers will definitely want to expand their markets.

Telegraf features an interview with the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane. She believes that no restrictions will be imposed on procedures regarding naturalisation. While Neatkariga features an article on people deprived Latvian citizenship. Each year the Naturalisation Board receives about 200 applications asking to deprive citizenship from certain people.

Vesti Segodnya provides an insight into the history of the Jewish community in Latvia.

23 December

• Political parties about guest workers
• Court starts hearing a case of an alleged racially motivated assault
• Study: lack of state language skills one of the main reasons of social exclusion
• Union of the Latvian First Party and Latvias Way might form one political force together with the Harmony Centre
• Stories of representatives of ethnic minorities about their way of celebration

Chas features opinions of representatives of political parties regarding attraction of guest workers to the Latvian job market. Representative of the Union of the Greens and Farmers Andris Berzins states that solving of the issue of lack of local labour force by attracting guest workers would bring both positive and negative. He believes that Latvia should open its labour market, while representative of the New Era Artis Kampars argues that Latvia has to do everything to avoid any influx of guest workers. Representative of the Harmony Centre Boriss Cilevics believes that attraction of guest workers would make a positive contribution into Latvias economic and social development.

Newspapers feature court hearing of case of the allegedly racially motivated assault on two Sri Lankans in January 2006. As reported, a 16-yea-old girl verbally and physically assaulted the brother and sister.

Newspapers feature court hearing of case of the allegedly racially motivated assault on two Sri Lankans in January 2006. As reported, a 16-yea-old girl verbally and physically assaulted the brother and sister. Chas, Neatkariga

According to researchers who conducted a study “Social Exclusion and Social Integration” the main reasons for social exclusion are lack of state language skills, lack of housing and lack of resources to attend doctor.

According to researchers who conducted a study Social Exclusion and Social Integration the main reasons for social exclusion are lack of state language skills, lack of housing and lack of resources to attend doctor. Diena

Leader of the union of the Latvian First Party and Latvia’s Way Ainars Slesers has stated that the union might consider the formation of a new political force together the Harmony Centre (one of so-called Russian parties) headed by Nils Usakovs. The newspaper notes that the Latvian First Party as well as Latvia’s Way has always tried to attract the Russian-speaking electorate.

Leader of the union of the Latvian First Party and Latvias Way Ainars Slesers has stated that the union might consider the formation of a new political force together the Harmony Centre (one of so-called Russian parties) headed by Nils Usakovs. The newspaper notes that the Latvian First Party as well as Latvias Way has always tried to attract the Russian-speaking electorate. Neatkariga

Diena features stories of a several representatives of ethnic minorities living in Latvia – Norwegian, German, Estonian and Russian – about celebration of Christmas in Latvia.

27 December

• Vesti Segodnya talks to the Integration Minister Oskars Kastens
• Vesti Segodnya about guest workers from Bulgaria and Rumania
• Interview with the Head of the Naturalisation Board
• Brief insight in the history of the Jewish community in Latvia

Vesti Segodnya talks to the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens. The Integration Minister comments on the recent negative statements of the Minister of Justice regarding naturalisation (optimisation of the Naturalisation Board and imposing limits on mass naturalisation). The newspaper reports that Oskars Kastens promised to discuss the statements with the Minister of Justice and suggested to invite to the meeting representatives of the Council of Europe who have continuously recommended decreasing the number of non-citizens in the country. He also notes that Latvia has received foreign funding aimed particularly at promoting acquisitions of Latvian citizenship.

Vesti Segodnya comments on the statement of the Minister of Welfare regarding the Latvias decision to open its borders to free movement of workers from the two new EU countries Bulgaria and Rumania. The Minister believes that Latvia will not face a massive influx of people from these countries. However, the newspaper argues that living conditions in these countries are so poor that people will be very willing to move. The newspaper also states, Besides, Rumanian drug dealers will definitely want to expand their markets.

Telegraf features an interview with the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane. She believes that no restrictions will be imposed on procedures regarding naturalisation. While Neatkariga features an article on people deprived Latvian citizenship. Each year the Naturalisation Board receives about 200 applications asking to deprive citizenship from certain people.

Vesti Segodnya provides an insight into the history of the Jewish community in Latvia.