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

• The statements of the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi about social integration in Latvia
• Discussion about the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Slivenko family
• More than 100 complaints have been submitted to the European Court of Human Rights by the citizens of the former USSR about human rights violations in Latvia
• Interview with Alvaro Gill – Robles, the First Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe
• Media about the establishment of the new association of minority NGOs Sadraudziba
• Russias State Council is planning to adopt a statement about observation of minority rights in Latvia
• A session of the World Congress of Tatars in Riga

Russian language newspapers feature articles about the meetings of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga with representatives of the European Commission and the statements of the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi. According to him, social integration policy in Latvia conforms to all international standards. He also stated that both the European Commission and the OSCE invite Latvia to continue its activities in the area of social integration. According to

Russian language newspapers feature articles about the meetings of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga with representatives of the European Commission and the statements of the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi. According to him, social integration policy in Latvia conforms to all international standards. He also stated that both the European Commission and the OSCE invite Latvia to continue its activities in the area of social integration. According to Telegraf, Prodi`s support allows to Latvian officials to ignore critical statements in the area of minority rights. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the lawyer Vitaly Portnov, representing the interests of Russian citizens at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). He assumes that Latvia will be obliged to return to Slivenko family the status of permanent residents of Latvia and their apartment deprived due to its deportation from Latvia. Rigas Balss refers to the lawyer Inese Libina, stating that the decision of the ECHR does not stipulate the rights of Slivenko family to pretend to the status of permanent residents and to the assignment of residence in Latvia. Vechernaya Riga features an interview with the Aleksandr Asnis, the advocate of Tatjana Slivenko. Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Vechernaya Riga

According to Pavel Laptev, the authorized representative from Russia at the ECHR, more than 100 complaints have been submitted to the ECHR by the citizens of the former USSR about human rights violations in Latvia.

According to Pavel Laptev, the authorized representative from Russia at the ECHR, more than 100 complaints have been submitted to the ECHR by the citizens of the former USSR about human rights violations in Latvia. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Telegraf, Chas

Telegraf features an interview with Alvaro Gill – Robles, the First Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, about observation of minority rights in Latvia. The Commissioner points to the necessity to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles to naturalization and to facilitate the naturalization process. He believes that restrictions on the employment of non-citizens should be abolished after the decrease of the number of non-citizens. The Commissioner also informs that the EU is preparing the draft guidelines defining the status of non-citizens in the EU Member States and their rights to travel.

Newspapersprint articles about the establishment of the association of minority NGOs “Sadraudziba”.

Newspapersprint articles about the establishment of the association of minority NGOs Sadraudziba. Neatkariga Rita Avize points to the claims of the new association to establish bilingualism in Latvia and criticizes the promise of the director of the Department on Minority Affairs Irina Vinnik to fund the activities of Sadraudziba from the state budget. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

The Russia’s State Council is planning to adopt a statement about observation of minority rights in Latvia. According to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Russia’s State Council Dmitry Rogozin, this statement will not stipulate the imposition of economical sanctions on Latvia.

The Russias State Council is planning to adopt a statement about observation of minority rights in Latvia. According to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Russias State Council Dmitry Rogozin, this statement will not stipulate the imposition of economical sanctions on Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

Today a session of the World Congress of Tatars is taking place in Riga.  The session is visited by 40 delegates from Byelorussia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Finland, Estonia and Latvia.

Today a session of the World Congress of Tatars is taking place in Riga. The session is visited by 40 delegates from Byelorussia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Finland, Estonia and Latvia. Vesti Segodnya