Integration and Minority Information Service: newsletter of 25 February 2009

For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM created video clip against the Concord Centre

Vesti Segodnya: 88-year-old woman must take Latvian language proficiency test in order to receive permanent residency permit in Latvia

The Saeima’s faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) stated that only ethnic Latvian parties should compose new ruling coalition. Chas reports that the FF/LNIM also created a video clip (in the framework of pre-election campaign) which asserts that the party Concord Centre has intention to undermine basic values and ideology of Latvian state. Chas

According to the Naturalisation Board, more and more citizens are asking how to renounce Latvian citizenship. The Head of the NB Eizenija Aldermane states that the main reason why persons want to renounce citizenship is anger on political situation and economical crisis in Latvia. In January 2009, 17 persons decided to renounce citizenship – 8 ethnic Latvians, 8 Russians and 1 Polish. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize (24.02)

Vesti Segodnya reports about an 88-year-old woman, Ukrainian citizen, who lives in Latvia since 1994 with two her daughters. The woman has only temporary residency permit because in order to receive permanent residency permit she must go trough Latvian language proficiency test. The woman complaints that she is not able to pass the test due to her age and the state of health. Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris in an interview with the newspaper considers such requirements could be changed by initiative of state institutions because this issue is regulated by the rules of the Cabinet of Ministers. Head of the Saeima’s Human Rights Commission Oskars Kastens agrees that such requirements for old people are inadequate and issues around it should be discussed.

For further information:

Latvian Centre for Human Rights