Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Security Police suggests there may be administrative sanctions for the organizing of unlicensed protests actions against education reform
• Interview with General Secretary of the party New Era Grigorij Krupnikov
• President Vaira Vike-Freiberga about Orthodox Christian Christmas as state holiday
• Schools of Latvia receive text books and teaching aids from Russia

The Security Police of Latvia has asked the Riga Municipal Policy to evaluate whether the representative of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools Juriy Petropavlovsky could be subject to administrative sanctions. The Security Police states that Juriy Petropavlovsky has last year twice violated the law “On meetings, walks and pickets” by organizing a demonstration of students during the visit of the Council of Europe First Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gill–Robles to Riga and a strike at a Riga Russian-language school in order to protest against the education reform 2004.

The Security Police of Latvia has asked the Riga Municipal Policy to evaluate whether the representative of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools Juriy Petropavlovsky could be subject to administrative sanctions. The Security Police states that Juriy Petropavlovsky has last year twice violated the law On meetings, walks and pickets by organizing a demonstration of students during the visit of the Council of Europe First Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gill–Robles to Riga and a strike at a Riga Russian-language school in order to protest against the education reform 2004. Chas

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the New Era Secretary General Grigorij Krupnikov. Touching on integration issues, Mr Krupnikov expresses the view that it is time to stop the division of political parties in Latvia along ethnic lines and to automatically see parties with Russian-speakers as left wing parties. The New Era politician also supports the necessity of the education reform, stressing that knowing Latvian at a high level is essential for youth in Latvia.

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has no objections to the declaring of Orthodox Christian Christmas as an official holiday, reports her press secretary.

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has no objections to the declaring of Orthodox Christian Christmas as an official holiday, reports her press secretary. Telegraf

Schools of Latvia have received a donation from Russia of 10,500 text books and teaching aids.

Schools of Latvia have received a donation from Russia of 10,500 text books and teaching aids. Latvijas Avize