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

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

• Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga accounts for her activities
• Disciplinary charges brought against the judge who adopted the sentence in the case of policemen who killed the Roma man
• Article about relations between Latvia and Russia
• Professor Kenins-King about the ethnic situation in Latvia
• Co-chairperson of the Union of Citizens and Non-Citizens Vladimir Sokolov provides his arguments why Latvia should be in the EU

The Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga gave a press conference and accounted for her activities during 4 years. When asked what president should do to help to eliminate the two-communities split in Latvia, the President said that the key task of the President in this sphere is the declaration of the Presidents opinion about a modern, democratic and open Latvia. She said that she had tried to do that, first of all, in all her speeches given on Latvian Independence Day and other occasions and when providing her stance about different issues, for instance, education issues, cultural heritage and the role of a native language in persons development. Latvijas Vestnesis (100603)

Judge Lauma Volberga, who released 4 policemen accused of murdering a Roma man without any sentence, said that she is afraid of a possible revenge from Roma therefore ignored the open court principle (the Judge decided to move to a smaller court room to announce the sentence, practically precluding the closest relatives of the killed man from gaining access to this room and listen to the sentence). Disciplinary charges are brought against the judge. The newspaper believes that the judge should be suspended because of her racial prejudices. The Justice Minister Aivars Aksenoks and chairperson of the Supreme Court Andris Gulans did not comment the decision. Rigas Balss

Diena

features an article about relations between Latvia and Russia. Although the Latvian President has announced that unofficial agreement has been reached to activate relations, some Latvian diplomats are sceptical, as lately Russia uses any opportunity to discuss the situation of Latvian non-citizens at any and all international meetings. According to Diena, the official goal of Russia is to improve the situation of non-citizens, although in reality there are economic interests and a wish to preserve its influence on Latvia.

Lauku Avize

interviews professor of Pacific University Gundars Kenins-King. Regarding the education reform he says that Latvians who want to solve education issues in a bureaucratic manner and Russians who do not care about education of their children are to be blamed for protest activities. He is convinced that the two-community situation in Latvia is created in an artificial way and in the future there will be a one-community society with strong culture and traditions.

Vesti Segodnya

features an article by co-chairperson of the Union of Citizens and Non-Citizens Vladimir Sokolov about ethnic democracy in the world and in Latvia. He states that the Latvian state is based on the principles of ethnic democracy. He states that these principles work for the profit of civil servants and not for entrepreneurs, they also hamper any improvements in relations with Russia, as Latvia perceive any Russian attempts to improve the situation of its compatriots in an inadequate manner. Vladimir Sokolov concludes that if the EU is perceived as the union of countries based on principles of consensus, then it is worth to vote for such future.