| Guiding principle: |
The current legislation provides that personal names and surnames must be written in documents according to the grammar of the Latvian language. The original form of the personal name in Latin transliteration can be used on some other page of the ID. The Constitutional Court decided that the practice of "Latvianization" of personal names and surnames is in compliance with the Constitution. The privacy of personal life in this case is "limited in order to protect the right of other residents of Latvia to use the Latvian language within the whole territory of the country and to protect the democratic system of the state". In the meantime, the Court recognised the so-called "equalisation" unconstitutional, if a person does not wish it. The legislation in force provides that "equalisation" (changing the personal name according to modern grammar of the Latvian language) can be used even if the personal name is already "Latvianized" and written in the passport. In fact, the Court pointed out that the personal name can be "Latvianized" only once. The Court also recognised the provision determining the place where the original form of the personal name in Latin transliteration is recorded in citizens¿ passports unconstitutional, and declared it invalid since July 1, 2002. The Court pointed out that the Cabinet of Ministers did not take all measures with the aim to limit the rights of the person as little as possible, when it chose the place to write the original form. |