Political Rights and Civil Liberties Latvians can change their government democratically. However, Latvia s citizenship laws have been criticized for disenfranchising almost one-third of the country s population which immigrated to Latvia during the Soviet period and must apply for citizenship. International observers determined that the most recent legislative elections in 1998 were free and fair. More than 40 political parties are officially registered, although Communist, Nazi, and other organizations whose activities would contravene the constitution are banned. There are a large number of private television and radio stations broadcasting programs in Latvian and Russian.
Religious tolerance is widespread and freedom of worship is generally respected in practice.
Freedom of assembly and association are protected by law, and numerous public gatherings and demonstrations occurred in 1998 without government interference. However, two events in the spring of 1998 attracted considerable attention in the Russian media and further soured already tense relations between Latvia and Russia. On March 3, police used rubber truncheons to disperse an illegal demonstration of mostly Russian pensioners who were blocking a road in front of the Riga City Council building where they were protesting low living standards. Although no injuries were reported, Moscow responded by accusing Latvia of violating the rights of ethnic Russians and threatening to impose economic sanctions. Two weeks later, a commemorative march of the controversial Latvian Legion, formed by German occupation forces during World War II, was denounced by Russia and the international community.