Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

• Constitutional Court: differences in the calculation of pensions of Latvian non-citizens and citizens in line with the Constitution
• Newspapers continue to report on the candidates for the post of Ombudsman
• Diena: persons with insufficient Russian language skills face problems in finding work
• The Unity submitted draft amendments to the Citizenship Law providing for dual citizenship

The Constitutional Court ruled that the differences in the calculation of pensions of Latvian non-citizens and citizens are in line with the Constitution of Latvia.  According to the Court’s decision, Latvia is not the legal successor of the USSR and should not undertake the commitment of ensuring pensions for non-citizens for time worked outside of Latvia. The claim to the Court was submitted by a group of persons contesting the provision of the Provisional Regulations of the Law on the State Pensions that the years worked outside of Latvia during the USSR (in countries which do not have a cooperation agreement on social security with Latvia) is not included in the total length of service of non-citizens. The claim was based on the favourable to the applicant decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of “Andrejeva vs. Latvia”.

The Constitutional Court ruled that the differences in the calculation of pensions of Latvian non-citizens and citizens are in line with the Constitution of Latvia. According to the Courts decision, Latvia is not the legal successor of the USSR and should not undertake the commitment of ensuring pensions for non-citizens for time worked outside of Latvia. The claim to the Court was submitted by a group of persons contesting the provision of the Provisional Regulations of the Law on the State Pensions that the years worked outside of Latvia during the USSR (in countries which do not have a cooperation agreement on social security with Latvia) is not included in the total length of service of non-citizens. The claim was based on the favourable to the applicant decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Andrejeva vs. Latvia. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers continue to report about the candidates for the post of the new Ombudsman. Yesterday, the governing party the Unity nominated the judge of the Administrative District Court Anita Kovalevska for the post of the Ombudsman. Ms Kovalevska had for many years worked for the former National Human Rights Office, and had also been the assistant to the Constitutional Court judge.  A few days earlier the opposition party the Concord Centre nominated Juris Jansons, a little known lawyer and liquidator of the health insurance holding company “Rigas Slimokase” who has been criticized for lack of competence in human rights issues. However, the party Union of Greens and Farmers of the governing coalition has promised to support his candidature.

Newspapers continue to report about the candidates for the post of the new Ombudsman. Yesterday, the governing party the Unity nominated the judge of the Administrative District Court Anita Kovalevska for the post of the Ombudsman. Ms Kovalevska had for many years worked for the former National Human Rights Office, and had also been the assistant to the Constitutional Court judge. A few days earlier the opposition party the Concord Centre nominated Juris Jansons, a little known lawyer and liquidator of the health insurance holding company Rigas Slimokase who has been criticized for lack of competence in human rights issues. However, the party Union of Greens and Farmers of the governing coalition has promised to support his candidature. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena

Diena reports that persons with insufficient Russian language skills face problems in finding a job on the Latvian labour market. According to the newspaper, the majority of employers, especially in the service sector, also require Russian language proficiency. The problems are mostly encountered by ethnic Latvians under 30 who did not study Russian in school and Latvians who returned from exile.

The Saeima faction of the Unity submitted draft amendments to the Citizenship Law providing for dual citizenship to those Latvian citizens who have received citizenship of another EU country or member countries of the EFTA and NATO, as well as those who received citizenship in the countries that have mutual agreement with Latvia on the recognition of the dual citizenship. The draft amendments also stipulate granting Latvian citizenship automatically to children, irrespective of the child’s place of birth, if one of the child’s parents is a Latvian citizen.

The Saeima faction of the Unity submitted draft amendments to the Citizenship Law providing for dual citizenship to those Latvian citizens who have received citizenship of another EU country or member countries of the EFTA and NATO, as well as those who received citizenship in the countries that have mutual agreement with Latvia on the recognition of the dual citizenship. The draft amendments also stipulate granting Latvian citizenship automatically to children, irrespective of the childs place of birth, if one of the childs parents is a Latvian citizen. Diena