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 Review

Procurator General Janis Skrastins in his article for

Procurator General Janis Skrastins in his article for "DIENA" pointed at the fact that Latvia had not acceded to the Sixth Protocol to the European Human Rights Convention. The Protocol recommends abolishing capital punishment. Several European countries have not signed the Sixth Protocol. Still, most European Union countries have abolished capital punishment. According to Skrastins, the European experience shows that the number of murders in a country does not depend on whether the country's legislation provides for capital punishment. Although the majority of a country="s" population traditionally objects against abolishing capital punishment, most European governments have ignored public opinion. Skrastins suggests to apply capital punishment in exceptional cases and to analyze the crime situation in the country under the President's moratorium on death penalty. Diena

"DIENA"

journalist Ainars Dimants claims that only thirty-four restrictions of non-citizens' rights out of seventy listed by Tsilevich have remained in the Latvian legislation. None of them, according to Dimants, restricts non-citizens' political rights. He refers to Kaija Gertnere, who said that ten differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens contradict the European Human Rights Convention. Two of these restrictions (banning non-citizens from being elected to a church parish council and depriving non-citizens of the right to be released from a penitentiary on amnesty) have been already abolished. Dimants stresses the importance of legislative initiative for improving the human rights situation in the country. journalist Ainars Dimants claims that only thirty-four restrictions of non-citizens' rights out of seventy listed by Tsilevich have remained in the Latvian legislation. None of them, according to Dimants, restricts non-citizens' political rights. He refers to Kaija Gertnere, who said that ten differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens contradict the European Human Rights Convention. Two of these restrictions (banning non-citizens from being elected to a church parish council and depriving non-citizens of the right to be released from a penitentiary on amnesty) have been already abolished. Dimants stresses the importance of legislative initiative for improving the human rights situation in the country. Diena, PLDiena, PL According to “SM”, Council of Europe experts have not discovered any contradictions between the Latvian legislation and the European Human Rights Convention. During their meetings with Latvian authorities the experts recommended granting the right for education to foreigners residing in Latvia and abolishing capital punishment.

According to SM, Council of Europe experts have not discovered any contradictions between the Latvian legislation and the European Human Rights Convention. During their meetings with Latvian authorities the experts recommended granting the right for education to foreigners residing in Latvia and abolishing capital punishment. SM

"PANORAMA LATVII" reports on Mr. Paperny's case. Paperny's mother was born in Daugavpils was a citizen of Latvia before 1941, and was kept in a concentration camp by the Nazis. The Vidzeme CID office refused to issue Mr. Paperny with a citizen's passport although he had a "citizenship stamp@ in his USSR passport. The CID demanded additional confirmation of his mother's right for citizenship. Paperny applied to the court, the Procurator's Office, and to the OSCE Mission. Finally, the CID office demanded Mrs. Paperny's skull measurements to prove her identity. The OSCE Mission representative called the demand "absurd." PL