• Ombudsman Romans Apsitis: some restrictions on non-citizens are not justified
• 423 representatives of various professions were fined for violation of the State Language Law during 9 months of 2008
• State Border Guard Service has detained three organised groups suspected of helping foreign citizens to cross Latvian border illegally

The Ombudsman Romans Apsitis presented his opinion on differences between rights of citizens and non-citizens prepared following an appeal of the Saeima’s faction for Human Rights in United Latvia. The Ombudsman found that some restrictions on non-citizens are not justified, such as the ban for non-citizens to work as detectives, defence councils and patent attorneys and to be engaged in security work. The Ombudsman considers that state language examination for non-citizens applying for the status of the EU permanent resident should be cancelled. Restrictions on purchasing real estate by non-citizens also should be repealed because non-citizens have much closer ties with Latvia than the EU citizens who are not restricted in this field. However, Mr. Apsitis considers it legitimate that non-citizens do not have voting rights in municipal elections because otherwise they would lose motivation for naturalisation. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena

423 representatives of various professions were fined for violation of the State Language Law during 9 months of 2008. Salespersons, bus drives, conductors, teachers, managers and school directors were fined during September. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

In September, the State Border Guard Service has detained three organised groups suspected of helping foreign citizens to cross Latvian border illegally. These groups were transferring citizens of China and Arab countries. According to a representative of the State Border Guard Service, the majority of illegals use Latvia only as an entrance into Europe, while their final destination most often is Spain or Germany. Telegraf