• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov
• 31% of Latvian residents consider that Latvia makes sufficient efforts to combat discrimination

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov. The Ambassador states that Russia granted non-citizens rights to travel to Russia without visas because Latvia delays resolution of issues regarding naturalisation of non-citizens. According to Mr. Veshnyakov, Russia does not set forth any requirements for Latvia, but it encourages Latvia to view critically issues concerning human rights, minority rights and maybe to implement suggestions from Russia regarding these issues. Mr. Veshnyakov also states that defence of Latvian language should not grow into discrimination of those who speak foreign languages.

According to the latest study by “Eurobarometer”, 31% of Latvian residents consider that Latvia makes sufficient efforts to combat discrimination. This is one of the lowest indexes among European countries. More than half of Latvian residents believe that the most widespread is discrimination on grounds of age, 36% - sexual orientation, 34% - disability, 27% - ethnic belonging, 24% gender and 10% religion or belief. Diena