• Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov: too severe regulations on state language proficiency might hinder development of business links between Latvia and Russia
• Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins criticizes opinion of the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis on differences between rights of citizens and non-citizens
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about number of Russian citizens residing in Latvia
• Columnist of NRA prints an article about liquidation of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration and integration policy

The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov considers that too severe regulations on state language proficiency might hinder development of business links between Latvia and Russia. According to the Ambassador, foreign investors might be scared away from Latvia because of the draft amendments (currently under elaboration) stipulating Latvian language proficiency requirement for a president of private company even if he/she does not reside in Latvia.  Chas

The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins (For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM) criticizes opinion of the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis on differences between rights of citizens and non-citizens. As reported, the Ombudsman admitted that some restrictions on non-citizens are not justified. Gaidis Berzins does not support repeal of restrictions regarding rights of non-citizens. He also considers that non-citizens do not have closer ties with Latvia than citizens of other EU countries. Chas

According to Latvijas Avize imprecise information about true number of Russian citizens residing in Latvia might be a danger to state security.  Data of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) show that there are 29,182 Russian citizens in Latvia, while, data of the Russia’s Embassy in Latvia show that there are 22, 000 Russian citizens. According to the head of Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane, the true number of Russian citizens in Latvia is not known because of two factors. The first is double citizenship - some individuals would like to conceal the fact that they have not only Latvian but also Russian citizenship. The second is unknown number of Latvian non-citizens who adopted Russian citizenship yet did not renounce the status of non-citizen of Latvia. According to a representative of the OCMA, usually, the fact that someone adopted Russia’s citizenship without giving up the status of citizen or non-citizen of Latvia, is only revealed by chance.

Columnist of NRA prints an article about liquidation of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration and integration policy in Latvia. Columnist believes that the fact that representatives of ethnic minorities do not voice any large protests against closure of the Secretariat approves that the decision is right and minority policy was wrong.