Ганс и розы *

Council of Europe urges Latvia to grant 'non-citizens' voting rights

MOSCOW, December 2 (RIA Novosti) - The Council of Europe passed at a session in Strasbourg on Tuesday a recommendation urging Latvia to give its 'non-citizens' the right to vote in regional elections.

Latvia, with a population of 2.3 million, has around 370,000 people without citizenship - mainly former Soviet citizens who have been refused Latvian passports since 1991.

The Congress of the Council of Europe said in its recommendation that "the vast majority of non-citizens are long-term residents, often born in the country and largely integrated within the society, but nevertheless excluded from electing representatives in their municipalities of residence."

Congress Vice-President Jean-Claude Frecon said at the session: "We believe that giving them the right to vote in local elections will make them feel more involved in a society to which they already belong, and will turn them towards naturalization. Not the other way round."

Non-citizens are not considered stateless persons under Latvian law. However, a UN special rapporteur on racial discrimination earlier said Latvian non-citizens are de facto stateless persons, and recommended that Latvia review its naturalization requirements.

Finalmente alguém toma posição. A forma como os "não-cidadãos" são tratados é abjecta, e fez-me uma confusão enorme quando lá estive. Xenofobia pura, inaceitável num estado-membro da UE. Esperemos que aquela escumalha na Saeima preste atenção.

* "gans i roze", piadinha com guns n roses
"gans" era o nome dado aos letões durante a 2ª Guerra Mundial
em Rīga encontrei esta pintura em vários sítios
também havia do Chuck Norris...