The Saeima Commission has submitted amendments to increase fines for disrespecting the state language for a second reading.
Members of the Saeima's Legal Commission today supported the transfer for a second reading in parliament of the amendments to the Administrative Offenses Law prepared by Saeima deputies from "New Unity," which provide for an increase in fines for disrespecting the state language.
As reported, these amendments propose to increase administrative fines for violations of the rules for using the state language and to tighten the norms regarding disrespect for the state language.
The amendments suggest increasing the amount of monetary fines in almost all articles of the law regulating the use of the state language.
The changes affect both individuals and legal entities and are aimed at preventive measures to strengthen society's respect for the norms established by the state, especially for the state language.
For individuals, the fine for various violations previously ranged from seven to 28 penalty units. It is now proposed to increase this amount to 10-39 units.
For legal entities, the fine previously ranged from 28 to 140 penalty units, with specific articles reaching up to 600 or 1,000 units. It is now proposed to increase it to 39-1,390 units depending on the severity of the violation.
The fine is also proposed to be increased for officials - from 14-60 penalty units to 20-84 units.
The amendments also include a new version of Article 20 - disrespect for the state language. Politicians propose to establish that for explicit disrespect for the state language, as well as for actions aimed at diminishing the status and significance of the state language, a monetary fine of 20 to 400 penalty units will be applied. Currently, for explicit disrespect for the state language, a monetary fine of seven to 140 penalty units is applied.
One penalty unit is five euros.
