• Ethnic Latvians living abroad ask not to exclude Latvians who live in Russia or other non-EU and non-NATO countries from the list of persons who have the right for dual citizenship
• Head of the Latvias Russian Cultural Society criticizes the draft guidelines for society integration

The Saeima’s Legal Affairs Committee received a letter from ethnic Latvians living abroad regarding the elaboration of draft amendments to the Citizenship Law stipulating dual citizenship. Authors of the letter ask not to exclude Latvians who live in Russia and CIS countries or other non-EU and non-NATO countries from the list of persons who have the right for dual citizenship.  According to the letter, only in Russia there are 30,000 ethnic Latvians majority of whom were repressed by Stalin’s regime or their descendants.

The Saeimas Legal Affairs Committee received a letter from ethnic Latvians living abroad regarding the elaboration of draft amendments to the Citizenship Law stipulating dual citizenship. Authors of the letter ask not to exclude Latvians who live in Russia and CIS countries or other non-EU and non-NATO countries from the list of persons who have the right for dual citizenship. According to the letter, only in Russia there are 30,000 ethnic Latvians majority of whom were repressed by Stalins regime or their descendants. Vesti Segodnya

Diena prints an article about the new draft guidelines for society integration elaborated by the Ministry of Culture. Commenting the draft guidelines, head of the Latvias Russian Cultural Society Jelena Matjakubova states that it is wrong to propose a person to become ethnic Latvian because persons from ethnically mixed families have their own identity. Mrs Matjakubova says: As being ethnic Russian, I cannot become ethnic Latvian but I can be a part of the Latvian society. As reported, among the main political principles, the new draft guidelines stipulates the openness of the ethnic Latvians nation – it is also possible to become ethnic Latvian while every persons choice is to determine whether, along with ethnic Latvians identity, he or she is also willing to preserve minority identity.

• Experts criticize the draft program on society integration presented by the Ministry of Culture
• Ultra radical Uldis Freimanis made anti-Semitic statements in an interview with TV5
• Shelter Safe House offers a free-of-charge Latvian language courses for third countries nationals
• Play about the annual procession of the Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires to be performed in Londons theatre
• Chas interviews the head of the Russian Community of Liepaja Genadijs Iljins

Experts interviewed by

Experts interviewed by Telegraf criticize the draft program on society integration presented by the Ministry of Culture. Representative of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Sigita Zankovska-Odina believes that it is wrong to build the program on desire to turn every resident into ethnic Latvian because it is not integration but assimilation. Mrs Zankovska-Odina criticises the fact that ethnic Latvianess and ethnic Latvian values are at the centre of integration, and believes that integration should be centred around individual personality and diversity of identities. Social scientist Viktors Makarovs also agrees that residents cannot be sorted and divided into separate groups. Mr Makarovs believes that integration is possible only on grounds of political equality which stipulates equal participation of all residents in establishment of civil and cultural identity.

One of the Latvian ultra radicals Uldis Freimanis in an interview with TV5’s program “Uncensored” broadcasted on 16 March stated that Jews disturb the procession of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires and they all should be hanged and shot. Uldis Freimanis made also other insulting and anti-Semitic remarks. Reacting to the statements, the Anti-Defamation League sent appeal to the Latvian Prime Minister calling him to condemn those officially.

One of the Latvian ultra radicals Uldis Freimanis in an interview with TV5s program Uncensored broadcasted on 16 March stated that Jews disturb the procession of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires and they all should be hanged and shot. Uldis Freimanis made also other insulting and anti-Semitic remarks. Reacting to the statements, the Anti-Defamation League sent appeal to the Latvian Prime Minister calling him to condemn those officially. Vesti Segodnya

NGO “Shelter “Safe House”” offers a free-of-charge Latvian language courses for third countries nationals. The courses will be conducted in the framework of the European Integration Fund project and it is planned to provide training for 30 persons.

NGO Shelter Safe House offers a free-of-charge Latvian language courses for third countries nationals. The courses will be conducted in the framework of the European Integration Fund project and it is planned to provide training for 30 persons. Vesti Segodnya

British newspaper

British newspaper The Independent reports about a play about the annual procession of the Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires on 16 March in Riga to be performed in Londons theatre produced by a director from Latvia Aleksejs Serbaks. The play tell about the procession in the eyes of a Russian speaking family – young girl wants to go to protest against the procession while her father advises her not to do it. The author of the play believes that former legionnaires pass away but the young people use 16 March for their own political aims. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Chas interviews the head of the Russian Community of Liepaja Genadijs Iljins. Mr Iljins tells about the activities of the NGO and its main aims: preservation of Russian language, culture, education, belief and traditions; uniting citys Russian speaking residents for dialogue with authorities; integration of Russian speakers in legal and civil society. Presently, there are 3,200 active members of the NGO.

• Special sub-committee will elaborate the draft law on dual citizenship
• 13,550 children who have the right to receive Latvian citizenship are non-citizens
• Interview with the head of NGO Russian Community of Latvia Vjaceslavs Altuhovs

The Saeima’s Legal Affairs Committee decided on establishment of a special sub-committee which would work on elaboration of the draft law on dual citizenship. It is planned to elaborate the draft law by September 2011. 

The Saeimas Legal Affairs Committee decided on establishment of a special sub-committee which would work on elaboration of the draft law on dual citizenship. It is planned to elaborate the draft law by September 2011. Telegraf, Diena, Chas, Neatkariga

According to the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office (OCMA), 13,550 children who have the right to receive Latvian citizenship are non-citizens because their parents non-citizens did not register them as citizens. The OCMA is planning to question those parents why they do not register children as citizens. Only 500 children born in a family of non-citizens were registered as citizens in 2010.

According to the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office (OCMA), 13,550 children who have the right to receive Latvian citizenship are non-citizens because their parents non-citizens did not register them as citizens. The OCMA is planning to question those parents why they do not register children as citizens. Only 500 children born in a family of non-citizens were registered as citizens in 2010. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the head of NGO Russian Community of Latvia Vjaceslavs Altuhovs. Last year the NGO lost its premises due to financial problems and so far was unable to find new premises due to lack of financial support from the state and business community.

• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte about integration policy

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte about integration policy. According to the Minister, immigrants who continue to live in Latvia with former Soviet identity of immigrantsare a problem for Latvia because they create segregation and two-community society.

 

• Latvijas Avize prints a draft introduction to the Guidelines on National Identity and Integration elaborated by the Ministry of Culture
• Telegraf interviews various experts about collection of signatures in support of granting Russian language status of official in Latvia

Latvijas Avize prints a draft introduction to the Guidelines on National Identity and Integration elaborated by the Ministry of Culture. According to the draft introduction, every ethnic Latvian and Latvian citizen (including those who reside outside of the country), every Latvian resident is necessary for Latvia. [..] The policy on national identity and integration, including citizenship policy, should be aimed at the preservation of national identity, sense of belonging to Latvia [..] National minorities are the traditional part of Latvian society [..] The policy on national identity and integration should promote the openness of the society to the input from national minorities and strengthen their belonging to Latvia. [..] The ethnic Latvianss nation together with national minorities forms the Latvian nation. The ethnic Latvians identity – Latvian language, culture, social memory – is common to the Latvian nation. The document also features the following political principles: the openness of the ethnic Latvians nation – it is also possible to become ethnic Latvian while every persons choice is to determine whether, along with ethnic Latvians identity, he or she is also willing to preserve minority identity; belonging to Europe; preservation of specific features of national minorities; respect for the free choice of every person and compliance with human rights; and complementarities of identities.

Telegraf interviews various experts about collection of signatures in support of granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. Researcher of the centre for public policy Providus Marija Golubeva believes that the only group who would gain benefit if Russian is granted official status are elder people with poor Latvian proficiency. Ms Golubeva believes that there are no language problems in commercial and private sectors at present, while such changes in state sector would increase ethnic tensions. The MP Boris Cilevics (Concord Centre) believes that system of official multilingualism is not effective in majority of cases in practice. More effective model, according to Mr Cilevics, is when ethnic minority languages are granted all the rights stipulated by the Framework Convention on Protection of Ethnic Minorities.