• Saeima's committees continue work on the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law
  
• State Language Centre initiated a case against the National Council of Electronic Mass Media for violation of the State Language Law

Latvijas Avize reports the Saeima’s Legal Committee continues to work on the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law  before the final reading in the Saeima. Besides the fact that the draft amendments will allow dual citizenship with other countries and procedure on granting Latvian citizenship to children of non-citizens will become easier, some of legal norms will become stricter towards applicants for naturalisation. Thus, persons who with their behaviour or activities endangers Latvian state or public security, state’s democratic constitutional system, state independence and territorial integrity will not be able to receive Latvian citizenship.

The State Language Centre initiated a case against the National Council of Electronic Mass Media for not providing translation of its seminar into Latvian language. Speaker of the seminar spoke to journalists only in English. Representatives of the Council explained they did not have funding for translator and were not aware of the law violation. The National Council might be punished with LVL 25-50 (EUR 35-70).

• Hindu statesman was refused in leading a prayer at the Saeima’s chapel

A Hindu statesman was refused in leading a prayer at the Saeima’s chapel before a regular plenary session. The refusal was based in the fact that Christianity is the main religion in Latvia and the chapel was built only for services of traditional Christian confessions. The Hindu statesman shocked by the refusal appealed to the high state officials asking them to become more open for other religions and to allow them to be introduced in the Saeima. The Saeima’s chapel was opened in 1998 and every time before the Parliament’s plenary session Catholic, Lutheran or Baptists priests lead a service in it. Vesti Segodnya (10.01)

• Constitutional Court accepted a claim on unjustified language requirements
• Latvijas Avize interviews a candidate for the post of Riga Mayor Sarmite Elerte

The Constitutional Court has accepted a claim of an ex-deputy of Liepaja City Council Valerijs Kravcovs and deputy of Jekabpils City Council Natalja Cehova on unjustified language requirements.  Three years ago both deputies got fined for insufficient state language proficiency. In both cases the fines were imposed on the basis of a legal act on language requirements which was approved a month after elections in which they got elected to the local councils. The applicants believe the requirement to the deputies of local councils for the highest level of state language proficiency does not correspond with Latvian Constitution because it limits the rights to be elected for the majority of Russian speaking residents of Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

A candidate for the post of Riga Mayor Sarmite Elerte (the Unity) states that elections to the city council will not be ethnic – ethnic Latvians against ethnic Russians; instead the municipal elections will focus on the state principles– whether residents support Latvian state as it was established in 1918. According to Mrs Elerte, the most important task for her is to prevent strengthening of the Concord Centre in Riga because it is an obstacle for common development. Mrs Elerte criticizes the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs for his support of referendum on status of Russian language initiated by Vladimirs Lindermans considering that such action demonstrates his disloyal attitude towards Latvian state. Latvijas Avize

• Court upheld the decision of the State Language Centre about removal of a bilingual street sign on a private house
• Telegraf reports about higher education available in Russian language in Latvia

The Court of Liepaja (city in the western part of Latvia) upheld the decision of the State Language Centre about removal of a bilingual street sign on a private house and the fine imposed to house’s owner. As reported, one of the leaders of a party For Native Language Jevgenijs Osipovs placed a street sign in Latvian and Russian languages on the wall of his house as an action of support for placing street signs in minority languages. However, the State Language Centre ordered to remove the bilingual sign and fined the house owner with LVL 75 (EUR 107) as it violates the State Language Law and the rules of the Liepaja City Council. Neatkariga

Telegraf reports about higher education available in Russian language in Latvia. Many private higher education establishments and colleges provide programs in Russian language or bilingually which is not forbidden by legal acts.  In total, about 10% of Latvian students study in Russian language. Among those are local students as well as students from Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union.

• Court initiated a case against “SEB banka” on political discrimination
• Vesti Segodnya reports about a high demand for Russian language courses
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the director of the State Language Centre Maris Baltins

Following a claim of a political party For Native Language, the Riga District Court has initiated a case against a bank “SEB banka” for its refusal to open an account for the party. The bank did not explain why it refused to open the account to the party’s representatives. Leaders of the party see political discrimination in the decision of the bank, because other political parties hold accounts in this bank without any problems. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports about a high demand for Russian language courses among ethnic Latvians. According to a representative of the State Employment Agency, unemployed persons can apply for free-of-charge courses but due to a large number of interested persons and limited funding it is necessary to wait about 7-9 months for courses. Representative of a language learning centre also confirms that there is a high demand for courses and not only for free-of-charge but also for paid courses. The main motivation for learning is high demand for Russian in labour market.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the director of the State Language Centre Maris Baltins. Mr Baltins believes when state institutions use Russian language in communication with residents those give a wrong signal to Russian speakers which says “yes you can learn the language, but in important cases we will provide you information in Russian anyway”. Such signal disturbs motivation to learn Latvian language believes Mr Baltins. At the same time, Mr Baltins sees the biggest problem in the fact that Russian speakers do not want to use Latvian language despite the fact that they are proficient in it.