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.

Press Report

Press Report

On Thursday the leaders of the largest faction of European Parliament – European People’s Party and European Union of Democrats are coming to Riga for a two day sitting to learn about Latvian opinion on the processes going on in Russia and their tendencies of development as well as to evaluate conformity of Latvian internal policy and economic situation to EU admission standards.

On Thursday the leaders of the largest faction of European Parliament – European Peoples Party and European Union of Democrats are coming to Riga for a two day sitting to learn about Latvian opinion on the processes going on in Russia and their tendencies of development as well as to evaluate conformity of Latvian internal policy and economic situation to EU admission standards. Diena

During the last five years the number of non-citizens in Latvia decreased for almost 200 000. This tendency remains and the Naturalisation Board experts think that at the time when Latvia is accepted to EU there will be no more than 300 – 400 000 non-citizens. Although this seems a pleasant fact but in reality more and more people prefer citizenship of some other country, especially Russian. The first data on non-citizens were collected in 1995 when their number was 735 966. On November 24, 2000 in Latvia lived 554 239. During 5 years Latvian citizenship received 61 330 (almost 38 000 though the process of naturalisation, the rest just registered their status as a citizen). Naturalisation Board Deputy Head J.Kahanovics foresees that from the present non-citizens about 200 000 would choose Latvian citizenship.

During the last five years the number of non-citizens in Latvia decreased for almost 200 000. This tendency remains and the Naturalisation Board experts think that at the time when Latvia is accepted to EU there will be no more than 300 – 400 000 non-citizens. Although this seems a pleasant fact but in reality more and more people prefer citizenship of some other country, especially Russian. The first data on non-citizens were collected in 1995 when their number was 735 966. On November 24, 2000 in Latvia lived 554 239. During 5 years Latvian citizenship received 61 330 (almost 38 000 though the process of naturalisation, the rest just registered their status as a citizen). Naturalisation Board Deputy Head J.Kahanovics foresees that from the present non-citizens about 200 000 would choose Latvian citizenship. Neatkariga

More and more parents in Latvia chose to send their children not only to Latvian but also to national minority schools. The number of such schools has increased to 8. Now in Latvia work Polish, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Jewish and Byelorussian schools. Some of them, by gradual increasing of students’ number, are able to offer not only elementary but also secondary education.

More and more parents in Latvia chose to send their children not only to Latvian but also to national minority schools. The number of such schools has increased to 8. Now in Latvia work Polish, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Jewish and Byelorussian schools. Some of them, by gradual increasing of students number, are able to offer not only elementary but also secondary education. Neatkariga writes about the situation in some of such schools – Riga Ukrainian Secondary School, Riga Polish and Lithuanian Elementary Schools and Riga Jewish Secondary School. Neatkariga

Newspaper

Newspaper Lauku Avize interviewed the new Director of the Public Integration Department within the Ministry of Justice V.Antoniskis. Mr.Antoniskis sees the tasks of his Department to explain Latvian people disregarding their national and political belonging what is going on in Latvia and to involve them in the life of the state. He thinks that so far there was a lack of explanation therefore people quite often do not understand activities of state administration.

Russian Embassy in Latvia sums up and analyses the information on Latvian radio stations broadcasting in the Russian language. This is due to the problems that face such radio stations as Biznes & Baltiya and Radio Mix FM. After the analysis is done, the Embassy will explain its position on this issue.

Russian Embassy in Latvia sums up and analyses the information on Latvian radio stations broadcasting in the Russian language. This is due to the problems that face such radio stations as Biznes & Baltiya and Radio Mix FM. After the analysis is done, the Embassy will explain its position on this issue. Respublika

A woman – Russia citizen gave birth to a baby in Latvian city Rezekne and later resigned from it. Now it is not clear what will be the first place of residence of this baby. The mother has a temporary residence permit in Latvia, and therefore according to Latvian legislation it is not permissible to register the very fact of birth and the baby may not be sent to any orphanage.

A woman – Russia citizen gave birth to a baby in Latvian city Rezekne and later resigned from it. Now it is not clear what will be the first place of residence of this baby. The mother has a temporary residence permit in Latvia, and therefore according to Latvian legislation it is not permissible to register the very fact of birth and the baby may not be sent to any orphanage. Panorama Latvii

Russian Embassy in Latvia addressed Latvian Prosecutor’s General office with a request to ensure the necessary legal defence for Russian National Bolsheviks accused of terrorism in Latvia. Prosecutor of Riga Court District J.Drobisevskis told journalists that at the moment these people were defended by solicitors provided by the Latvian State according to the legislation and he thought that this request was due to the fact that detained persons had a right to ask the Embassy for assistance.

Russian Embassy in Latvia addressed Latvian Prosecutors General office with a request to ensure the necessary legal defence for Russian National Bolsheviks accused of terrorism in Latvia. Prosecutor of Riga Court District J.Drobisevskis told journalists that at the moment these people were defended by solicitors provided by the Latvian State according to the legislation and he thought that this request was due to the fact that detained persons had a right to ask the Embassy for assistance. Panorama Latvii

Panorama Latvii

interviewed the Head of the Naturalisation Board E.Aldermane. E.Aldermane thinks that Latvia is the home country for all people living here – citizens and non-citizens, Latvians, Russians, Jewish, etc. She is worried about this big number of non-citizens in Latvia and thinks that naturalisation process could go faster. One of the reasons for this low speed is lack of state language knowledge. The Naturalisation Board has organised a testing – any person may come to the local Naturalisation Board office and test his level of the state language knowledge. This is connected with a large project of the Board to assist people in mastering the Latvian language.