Reacting to concerns that the upcoming referendum on Russian as a second official language was worded unclearly, Latvia’s Central Election Commission has approved a new version that offers greater explanation.

Citizens on Feb. 18 will now be asked to vote par (for) or pret (against) a referendum question that reads, “Vai jūs esat par likumprojekta ‘Grozījumi Latvijas Republikas Satversmē’ pieņemšanu, kas paredz krievu valodai noteikt otras valsts valodas statusu?” (“Are you for adopting the proposed legislation ‘Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia’ that would grant Russian the status of the second state language?”).

Previously, the question merely asked if voters were for or against amending the constitution, with no mention of the underlying issue.

The Central Election Commission, meeting in Rīga, voted unanimously Jan. 10 to make the change, according to spokeswoman Kristīna Bērziņa.

The commission’s decision came after the six independent MPs in the Latvian parliament asked for the referendum question to be clearer. They said that as originally worded, the referendum question could lead to citizens becoming confused and voting differently than they intended.

The hot-button language issue has come before voters as a result of an initiative that gathered more than 183,000 signatures from citizens seeking to make Russian a second state language.

Under current wording of the constitution, Latvian is the only official language. The proposed amendments would change five paragraphs, allowing for Russian to also be used. Paragraph 4, which establishes the official language, may only be changed by national referendum.

The election commission also approved creation of two informative posters that will be displayed in voting booths, as well as two television public service announcements, one about the referendum question and one about voting at home for those citizens who for health reasons are unable to make it a polling station.

At least half of all eligible voters, or about 772,000 citizens, would need to vote in favor of the referendum for the amendments to be approved. Political observers have said the referendum most likely will fail. However, a growing number of commentators are arguing that citizens should still participate in the referendum, voting pret to show support for a basic value of the Latvian state.

Voting abroad

Voters abroad who want to participate in the referendum through absentee ballots will have until Feb. 4 to submit applications, the election commission announced Jan. 10.

A total of 21 embassies and honorary consulates around the world will accept the applications, including offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. A complete list is available for download from the Central Election Commission’s website web.cvk.lv.

An application form and the voter’s current Latvian passport must be submitted to receive an absentee ballot.

On Feb. 18, voters also will be able to vote at a number of polling stations abroad. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. The full list of polling stations will become available Jan. 20, according to the election commission.

British police are distributing posters in four languages, including Latvian, as they seek information into the murder of 17-year-old Alisa Dmitrijeva, whose body was found New Year’s Day on the royal family’s Sandringham Estate northeast of London.

Police confirmed Jan. 8 that the body, which may have been in place for up to four months, is that of Dmitrijeva. The young woman, who was born in Latvia and moved with her family to Great Britain in 2009, was last seen alive in late August.

Detective Chief Inspector Jes Fry, head of the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team, said he hopes people from within Eastern European communities in King’s Lynn and Wisbech may be able to assist.

“Alisa socialised within her own ethnic community and so those people may remember seeing her in the timeframe we’re looking at, between midday on Tuesday, 30 August, 2011, and midnight on Tuesday, 6 September, 2011, or may have heard something about her disappearance and death,” Fry said in a press release from the Norfolk Constabulatory.

The posters were issued Jan. 10.

“We have access to a language line and interpreters who can help anyone calling Norfolk Constabulary,” Fry added.

Anyone with information about Dmitrijeva’s disappearance and death may contact the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team at Norfolk Constabulary on +44 01953 424242, or Crimestoppers UK at +41 800 555 111.

British police have identified the suspected murder victim found on the royal family’s Sandringham Estate as that of a 17-year-old girl from Latvia missing since August.

DNA tests confirmed that the body found on New Year’s Day is that of Alisa Dmitrijeva, according to a Jan. 8 statement from the Norfolk Constabulatory. Dmitrijeva was last seen Aug. 31 in King’s Lynn, which is about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northeast of London.

The body was found by a person walking their dog at Anmer, near Sandringham in West Norfolk and not far from King’s Lynn. Sandringham Estate is a sprawling territory of about 8,000 hectares (about 19,000 acres) that includes Sandringham House, the country retreat of Queen Elizabeth II.

Two days after discovery of the body, Norfolk police announced that is “highly unlikely” the victim died of natural causes.

“There is no evidence of accidental injury, damage due to firearms or bladed weapon,” according to a Jan. 3 police statement.

Dmitrijeva was born in Latvia and moved to Great Britain several years ago with her family, according to British media reports.

A relative reported her missing on Sept. 6, according to the Cambridgeshire Constabulary. After initial appeals for information on her whereabouts failed to garner solid information, police turned to Facebook and even offered a GBP 5,000 reward.

Police officials said repeatedly that they were concerned for Dmitrijeva’s safety.

A statement reported by Norfolk police, Dmitrijeva’s family said, “We are devastated by the news of Alisa’s death. We wish to grieve in private.”

Detective Chief Inspector Jes Fry of the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team said in a statement that he will be working with Cambridgeshire police to learn more about Dmitrijeva’s disappearance.

Anyone with information relating to the incident is asked to contact the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team at Norfolk Constabulary on +44 01953 424242, or Crimestoppers UK at +41 800 555 111.