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.

• Representatives of the European Parliament criticize Saeimas decision to recall Martjan Bekasov
• Russian officials are planning to raise the question of minority rights monitoring in Latvia
• Minority issues in Latvia discussed at the session of NATO Parliamentary Assembly
• Proposal of the FHRUL to amend the Law On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR Who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State has been denied
• Positive experience with the Latvian language classes in a Russian language school

Russian language newspapers publish critical responses of the European Parliament’s (EP) deputies to the letter of Juris Dobelis (For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK), an observer to the EP. The MPs consider the Saeima’s decision to recall Martjan Bekasov from the observer’s post as anti-democratic. According to the observer to the EP Boris Tsilevitch (People’s Harmony Party), the EP will ask the Saeima to review its decision on Bekasov’s recall.

Russian language newspapers publish critical responses of the European Parliaments (EP) deputies to the letter of Juris Dobelis (For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK), an observer to the EP. The MPs consider the Saeimas decision to recall Martjan Bekasov from the observers post as anti-democratic. According to the observer to the EP Boris Tsilevitch (Peoples Harmony Party), the EP will ask the Saeima to review its decision on Bekasovs recall. Chas reports that EP Legal Affairs Committee has asked the EP President to send a letter to the Saemas speaker Ingrida Udre. The Committee considers raising the question about possible postponing of Latvias accession to EU. Chas, Telegraf

According to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Russia’s State Council Dmitry Rogozin, Russian officials are planning to raise the question of monitoring minority situation in Latvia. Rogozin has promised to discuss this issue at the next session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Commenting the situation with the Russian school in Cesis to the Russian TV, the First Vice Speaker of Russia’s State Council Lyubov Sliska has stated that she is planning to raise the question about Russian schools’ situation with the NATO officials.

According to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Russias State Council Dmitry Rogozin, Russian officials are planning to raise the question of monitoring minority situation in Latvia. Rogozin has promised to discuss this issue at the next session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Commenting the situation with the Russian school in Cesis to the Russian TV, the First Vice Speaker of Russias State Council Lyubov Sliska has stated that she is planning to raise the question about Russian schools situation with the NATO officials. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) session with the participation of representatives from the Council of Europe, where ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia has been discussed. Latvian representative to NATO PA Aleksandrs Kirsteins (The Peoples Party) has stated that mass naturalization would raise new integration problems. Kirsteins has also said that non-citizens who are not loyal to Latvia and do not want to learn Latvian language should have left Latvia after it regainined independence. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia has named the statements of Aleksandrs Kirsteins as uncivilized.

The Saeima Human Rights Committee and the Committee for the Citizenship Law’s Implementation have denied the proposal of the FHRUL to amend the law “On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR Who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State”. The FHRUL has proposed to cancel the norm stipulating that Latvia should be non-citizens’ permanent place of residence.

The Saeima Human Rights Committee and the Committee for the Citizenship Laws Implementation have denied the proposal of the FHRUL to amend the law On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR Who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State. The FHRUL has proposed to cancel the norm stipulating that Latvia should be non-citizens permanent place of residence. Vesti Segodnya

Chas prints an article about a positive experience of a Russian language school in Riga with the Latvian language classes. The experimental classes in the school have been opened eight years ago - long before the education reform. Children study in Latvian, but all extra-curriculum activities are in Russian.