The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights stands up for “non-citizens” RIGA, November 15 / Corr. ITAR-TASS Nil Ushakov - Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles yet once more called Latvian Authorities to grant to local Russian-speaking “non-citizens” the right to elect the self-government. That’s what he announced today in front of journalists in Riga. The Commissioner has also paid attention to the necessity to reduce the number of “non-citizens”, which now counts almost half a million people. Alvaro Gil-Robles today has been to Latvia for a one-day visit, during which he met with the officiating Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks, the officiating Minister for Social Integration Nils Muizhnieks and a number of representatives of non-governmental organizations. During his last visit of this Baltic Republic the Commissioner also called Latvian authorities to permit “non-citizens” to take part in municipal elections. Today about 500 000 “non-citizens” are deprived of all political rights. Recently another high-rank European official, Supreme Commissioner of the OSCE Rolf Ekeus, spoke out the recommendation to broaden their rights. But the country’s authorities refuse for different reasons to take this step. Source: ITAR-TASS
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights stands up for “non-citizens”
The Commissioner has also paid attention to the necessity to reduce the number of “non-citizens”, which now counts almost half a million people. Alvaro Gil-Robles today has been to Latvia for a one-day visit, during which he met with the officiating Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks, the officiating Minister for Social Integration Nils Muizhnieks and a number of representatives of non-governmental organizations.
During his last visit of this Baltic Republic the Commissioner also called Latvian authorities to permit “non-citizens” to take part in municipal elections. Today about 500 000 “non-citizens” are deprived of all political rights. Recently another high-rank European official, Supreme Commissioner of the OSCE Rolf Ekeus, spoke out the recommendation to broaden their rights. But the country’s authorities refuse for different reasons to take this step.
Source: ITAR-TASS
