Akcija! Akcija!
Ko sakāt par ideju piešķirt Lindermanim pilsonību, ja reiz viņš tik ļoti grib? Bet ar nosacījumu, ka viņš pie nacionalitātes ieraksta "līvs". Pirmkārt, latviešu nācija nodemonstrēs, ka ir varena un labsirdīga, otrkārt, līvu skaita pieauguma stimulēšana ir prioritāra jebkādiem līdzekļiem (jau iepriekš atvainojos Ernštreitiem).





Dear Mrs Merkel,
 
I am writing to you in connection with your forthcoming visit to Latvia.
 As you know, there is a unique for the European Union category of residents of the Republic of Latvia who hold passports of "non-citizens” of Latvia. Today it is almost a fifth of the country population. Most of these people were born in Latvia and have lived here their entire life.
 
Non-citizens of Latvia are deprived of the right to vote or stand for the elections. They are also incapacitated in a number of rights (human rights activists have fixed about 80 differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens).

In part, this system created after Latvia had regained independence bears a strong resemblance to the one which existed in Nazi Germany, when the citizens of the Weimar Republic were divided into two categories: "citizens of the Reich" and the so-called "Public entities" (something in between citizens of the Reich and foreigners).

I am not going to go into greater detail into history of the question. I'm sure it is well known to you as you are one of the few European leaders who have raised the issue of non-citizens of Latvia and Estonia on a number of occasions. I am writing the letter to say something else.

When Latvian politicians make public speeches in Europe, give interview to the European media, they often claim that the problem of statelessness in Latvia rests solely in the reluctance of non-citizens to obtain citizenship. My own experience refutes this lie.

I decided to enter the naturalization process to obtain citizenship of Latvia this spring.
I was born and lived my entire life in this country. However, the Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services which is the branch of Ministry of Internal Affairs refused to even accept my documents and permit to take the citizenship test. It was done under the pretext that I had lived three of the last five years outside Latvia.

I have to point out that the Citizenship Act which Latvian politicians advertise in the European Union as ultra-liberal doesn’t contain such a restriction. However, it is applied in practice. Its essence is such: if a person was absent from the country for, at least, six months plus one day, they must live in Latvia for another five years to be qualified for citizenship by naturalization.

I emphasize once again that such practice doesn’t refer to immigrants who entered the country several years ago. It is all about people who were born in Latvia and have lived here for decades.

I would not appeal to you if the problem affected only me. But it is thousands of people who face it. Latvia is stricken with huge unemployment. Many are forced to go to work abroad. By doing it, they cut off their path to citizenship of Latvia for the coming years.

I am sure that this barrier to naturalization exclusively pursues a cynical purpose. Most of the people who manage to obtain Latvian citizenship from among former residents give their votes to opposition parties. The ruling parties are slowing down the naturalization process in order to keep the balance of votes in its favor.
 
I hope you will raise this issue during your meetings with the President and Prime Minister of Latvia.

Vladimir Linderman,
Latvian aliens
1.09.2010