• Saeima supported draft amendments to the Immigration Law envisaging residence permits for foreign investors
• 21-year-old man sentenced to two years of suspended imprisonment for incitement to ethnic hatred

Yesterday, the Saeima supported draft amendments to the Immigration Law envisaging residence permits for foreign investors. Residence permit of up to five years can be granted to persons, who invested at least LVL 25,000 in the basic capital of an enterprise in Latvia, established at least five vacancies and paid taxes in amount of at least LVL 10,000 during the year. Residence permit also can be granted to foreigners who bought real estate in Riga and Riga’s region which cost no less than LVL 100,000 or in other Latvian regions in value no less than LVL 50,000. Persons who invested no less than LVL 200,000 as a loan or obligations in the subordinated capital of one of the Latvian credit institutions also can claim residence permit. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena, Neatkariga

The Riga Regional Court sentenced a 21-year-old man to two years of suspended imprisonment for incitement to ethnic hatred. As reported, the man published insulting statements towards activists of the radical nationalistic organisation Latvian National Front (LNF) commenting their pictures placed in the Internet on which they lay flowers with crape beneath the Monument for Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders during celebrations of 9 May (Victory Day.) The man also will have to pay LVL 1,100 to both activists as moral compensation. Chas, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena