Latvija in brief - 2011-03-24

The trial of Latvia-born Dutch citizen Roberts Mikelsons and his spouse began in Amsterdam on March 17, reports LETA. Mikelsons, 27, confessed to the sexual abuse of 83 children. All his victims, boys and girls, were under three years old. Mikelsons was detained Dec. 7 last year. In many cases, Mikelsons abused the children together with other pedophiles. He worked in several Amsterdam kindergartens from February 2007 to January 2010 and also hired himself out as a babysitter, thus gaining access to his victims. The local prosecutor’s office says that Mikelsons chose such young children because they were not able to tell anyone about his crimes. Even though the trial began in Amsterdam, the case will be reviewed only in autumn. The case will be reviewed in Amsterdam’s Osdorp Court - also known as the ‘Bunker’ - which is the best guarded court in the Netherlands.

Twelve ‘Alfa’ special unit police officers have failed a psychological evaluation and will be re-assigned to new positions with less psychological pressure, the Interior Ministry’s press officer Gunta Skrebele said, reports LETA. On March 18, Interior Minister Linda Murniece (Unity) had a meeting with State Police Chief Artis Velss and State Police Riga Region Administration Chief, Ints Kuzis, during which she was informed about the results of the psychological evaluation. The evaluation was carried out following a botched robbery attempt in Jekabpils on Jan. 25, when after an armed robbery at a Fenikss gambling hall one police officer was shot dead and another six people were injured. Four of the five robbers were police officers - two served in ‘Alfa,’ while another two in the State Police’s Tukums Department. 120 officers underwent a psychological evaluation, and the results show that 12 of them are not suitable to work in the special unit. They will be re-assigned.

Twenty-seven percent of Latvian residents have decided to work abroad, 28 percent are not sure yet, while 45 percent intend to remain in Latvia, according to a survey carried out by the online recruitment services provider CV-Online Latvia, reports Nozare.lv. Business daily Dienas Bizness reports that people decide to work abroad due to low wages and jobs not matching their qualifications and experience in Latvia. Many of them also want to gain international work experience. Residents feel insecure about the future of their jobs during the current economic situation. 34 percent of respondents, ages 20 to 30, want to work abroad. Only 27 percent of respondents, ages 30 to 40, want to do so. The tendency is apparent - the older a person is, the less he/she considers leaving Latvia. Great Britain is still the main destination for the job seekers; the second most popular country is Germany; third - Norway. Ireland, due to its economic problems, has lost its appeal to guest workers.