December 23, 2008

Chas reports that Russian speaking people in Latvia are competitive

Recently, the Saeima adopted amendments to the Administrative Violations Code stipulating increase of the administrative fine for not using Latvian language at work. According to the article, seventeen institutions that coordinate language policy and the tough language policy itself make Russian speaking people in Latvia more competitive. Some of the Russian speaking students know at least three languages (Russian, Latvian and English), meanwhile some Latvian students speak two languages (Latvian and English). Chas

December 27, 2008

Radical parties in municipal elections

Sestdiena reports about three asylum seekers from Georgia. They tell about bombing in Georgia, their journey to Latvia and about the warm support from border guards as well as their friends in Latvia. Now they are living in Asylum seekers reception centre “Mucenieki”, learning Latvian three times a week and are still trying to be optimistic.

National radical party “Visu Latvijai” (All for Latvia) will join party “For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK” (TB/LNNK) electoral list for the municipal elections in Jelgava next year. Meanwhile “The Union of Greens and Farmers” plan to make a united electoral list with “All for Latvia” in Riga. Latvijas Avize

December 29, 2008

Interview with representatives of Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration

In the interview with Chas, political scientist Ivars Ijabs stated that he anticipates increased radicalisation and growing strength of nationalists. He mentioned that political party “For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK” (TB/LNNK) recently launched ridiculous TV advertisement, where a Russian couple refuses to buy Christmas tree when they find out that tree is from Latvia. Also Head of Peoples party and Minister of Interior Mareks Seglins said that he will not speak Russian anymore. Chas

After a discussion about adding Orthodox Christmas to Latvian calendar a new discussion started on how two extra holidays can harm Latvian economy. It is unlikely that Orthodox Christmas will be officially celebrated in 2009. Telegraf

Latvijas Avize interviewed representatives of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (Secretariat) - Deniss Hanovs, Director of National Minority Affairs Department and Aleksandra Rostovceva, Senior Officer of National Minorty Coordination Unit about the results of the Secretariat’s work, ethnic minority NGOs, radicalism, political criticism and the institutional reform. Deniss Hanovs said that it doesn’t matter how the next institution will be called, the most important thing is to continue the work of the Secretariat. Latvijas Avize

For further information:

Latvian Centre for Human Rights