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

• Saeima revokes the prohibition to stand for the European Parliament electionsfor ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the SovietRepublic of Latvia
• Former Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks about the future of Secretariat
• State Security Police arrests possible vandals
• Different statements about the latest amendments to the Law on Education
• Ventspils Police Department requests explanations about protest action against education reform from the student of Ventspils secondary school
• Peoples Harmony Party asks Minister for Interior Maris Gulbis to name the person or persons who made the decision about repressive measures towards the minority schools students
• Russia calls for renewal of CEPAs monitoring procedure in the area of observation of minority rights in Latvia
• Political analyst Artis Pabriks on dilemmas of democracy, ethnic policy and EU enlargement
• Interview with the RussiaState Council deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin

Saeima has adopted amendments to the European Parliament election’s law, revoking the prohibition to stand for the European Parliament elections for ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991. In the future, according to the head of the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee Solvita Aboltina, the prohibitions to stand for Saeima and local government elections will also have to be revoked.

Saeima has adopted amendments to the European Parliament elections law, revoking the prohibition to stand for the European Parliament electionsfor ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991. In the future, according to the head of the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee Solvita Aboltina, the prohibitions to stand for Saeima and local government elections will also have to be revoked. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vechernaya Riga, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers feature the statements of the Ex-Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks about his experience working in the government of Einars Repse, and the future of the Special Task Minister’s Secretariat after his resignation. According to the Special Task Minister, the dissolution of the Secretariat could cause not only the incomprehension of international partners, but also the impediment of the society integration process. Temporarily the duties of the Special Task Minister are assigned to the Minister for Justice Aivars Aksenoks (New Era).

Newspapers feature the statements of the Ex-Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks about his experience working in the government of Einars Repse, and the future of the Special Task Ministers Secretariat after his resignation. According to the Special Task Minister, the dissolution of the Secretariat could cause not only the incomprehension of international partners, but also the impediment of the society integration process. Temporarily the duties of the Special Task Minister are assigned to the Minister for Justice Aivars Aksenoks (New Era). Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vechernaya Riga, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

State Security Police has arrested two young inhabitants of Daugavpils on suspicion of their possible participation in the vandalism act at the Ministry of Education and Science, allegedly carried out in protest against the education reform 2004. One of the detainees is a national-bolsheviks’ supporter Alina Lebedeva, whose first encounter with the police was in 2001, when she had slapped Charles, Prince of Wales in the face with a red carnation during his visit to Latvia. Other detainee, Aleksandrs Gridasovs, was one of the two national-bolsheviks who handcuffed themselves to a fence across the street from one of the most popular polling stations in Riga in March 2001, protesting against the ineligibility of the non-citizens to vote in local elections. Both young people deny participation in the vandalism act.

State Security Police has arrested two young inhabitants of Daugavpils on suspicion of their possible participation in the vandalism act at the Ministry of Education and Science, allegedly carried out in protest against the education reform 2004. One of the detainees is a national-bolsheviks supporter Alina Lebedeva, whose first encounter with the police was in 2001, when she had slapped Charles, Prince of Wales in the face with a red carnation during his visit to Latvia. Other detainee, Aleksandrs Gridasovs, was one of the two national-bolsheviks who handcuffed themselves to a fence across the street from one of the most popular polling stations in Riga in March 2001, protesting against the ineligibility of the non-citizens to vote in local elections. Both young people deny participation in the vandalism act. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vechernaya Riga, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Russian language newspapers feature articles about the meeting of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis in order to discuss the education reform and the attitude of the left-wing politicians towards amendments to the Law on Education. Vaira Vike-Freiberga has evaluated the latest amendments to the Law on Education as a compromise. Left–wing politicians and Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools do not support amendments, saying the public opinion was not taken into account. The Headquarters also calls defenders of Russian-language schools to participate in meeting with the deputies next to Saeima building, and near the President’s Castle on the day of the law review in the final reading.

Russian language newspapers feature articles about the meeting of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis in order to discuss the education reform and the attitude of the left-wing politicians towards amendments to the Law on Education. Vaira Vike-Freiberga has evaluated the latest amendments to the Law on Education as a compromise. Left–wing politicians and Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-Language Schools do not support amendments, saying the public opinion was not taken into account. The Headquarters also calls defenders of Russian-language schools to participate in meeting with the deputies next to Saeima building, and near the Presidents Castle on the day of the law review in the final reading. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Russian language newspapers write about activities of Ventspils Police Department, requested explanations about protest action against education reform last December from the one of the students who allegedly organized it. According to head of the Central District of Ventspils Police Department Andrejs Stepanovics, the district has a reason to believe that the Law on Meetings, Processions and Pickets was broken during the action as it was directed by an unregistered NGO. The student faces the penalty of 100 Ls if proved guilty.

Russian language newspapers write about activities of Ventspils Police Department, requested explanations about protest action against education reform last December from the one of the students who allegedly organized it. According to head of the Central District of Ventspils Police Department Andrejs Stepanovics, the district has a reason to believe that the Law on Meetings, Processions and Pickets was broken during the action as it was directed by an unregistered NGO. The student faces the penalty of 100 Ls if proved guilty. Telegraf, Chas

Saeima MPs from the People’s Harmony Party has send a letter to the Minister for Interior Maris Gulbis, asking to initiate an official investigation in order to clarify who among the State Police officials has made a decision to request the minority schools to supply information on all students who had been absent from classes during the protest meeting against the education reform 2004.

Saeima MPs from the Peoples Harmony Party has send a letter to the Minister for Interior Maris Gulbis, asking to initiate an official investigation in order to clarify who among the State Police officials has made a decision to request the minority schools to supply information on all students who had been absent from classes during the protest meeting against the education reform 2004. Chas

Russia State Council deputy speaker and the member of Russia state delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) Dmitry Rogozin (block „Rodina”) is planning to achieve the renewal of CEPA’s monitoring procedure in the area of observation of minority rights in Latvia. According to Dmitry Rogozin, this issue will be reviewed during the meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Council’s of Europe Parliamentary Assembly at 3 March, 2004.

Russia State Council deputy speaker and the member of Russia state delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) Dmitry Rogozin (block „Rodina) is planning to achieve the renewal of CEPAs monitoring procedure in the area of observation of minority rights in Latvia. According to Dmitry Rogozin, this issue will be reviewed during the meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Councils of Europe Parliamentary Assembly at 3 March, 2004. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Diena features an article by political analyst, member of the Peoples Party Artis Pabriks on dilemmas of democracy, ethnic policy and EU enlargement. According to the politologist, the language, migration and diverse cultures coexistence problem is a priority not only for Latvia, but also for other Central and Western Europe Countries. Artis Pabriks believes that in the heart of Europe crisis of democracy is ripening, which is tightly connected with the failures in the area of ethnic policy, and with the anxiety about the European Union enlargement.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Russia State Council deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin („Rodina).