Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights adopted a ruling in favour of a Latvian pensioner, non-citizen Natalija Andrejeva

State Language Centre and Translation and Terminology Centre could be merged

Yesterday, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights adopted a ruling in favour of a Latvian pensioner, non-citizen Natalija Andrejeva in her case against Latvia and obliged Latvia to pay to Mrs. Andrejeva EUR 5,000 as compensation of damages and EUR 1,500 as compensation of legal expenses. As reported, Natalija Andrejeva objected the fact that the years of her employment during the Soviet times at an enterprise located in Latvia but subordinated to lead organisations in Moscow and Kiev is not included in the total length of service on the ground that she does not have Latvian citizenship. The judgment of the Grand Chamber is not appealable. Lawyer Aleksejs Dimitrovs involved in the case believes that this precedent should have far-reaching legal consequences such as amendments to the Law on State Pensions. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins arranged with the directors of the State Language Centre and the Translation and Terminology Centre that the two structures will be merged. The Minister believes that merger of two structures will establish stronger language institution. Chas

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Latvian Centre for Human Rights