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

• State officials and experts on recommendations of the European Parliament
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga visits France
• Saeima MPs and integration experts evaluate expressions of the head of the Saeima FHRUL parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners
• Riga District court dismisses claim of the Latvia Socialist Party leader Alfreds Rubiks to cancellation of his conviction record
• For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM plans to amend the European Parliament (EP) election law
• Latvia Socialist Party plans to challenge the results of the EU accession referendum in Latvia at the European Court for Human Rights
• Liepajas municipality authorizes organization of the Latvian Legion commemoration days procession
• Ministry of Education and Science plans to gather information about minority schools preparedness to the education reform
• Director of the RigaSecondary School No. 95 Juris Celmins about the education reforms alternatives
• Assault on the leader of the Latvian National Front Aivars Garda
• Car of the journalist writing about the link between Russia and the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools vandalized

Newspapers feature statements of the state officials and experts about the recommendation of the European Parliament to ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Newspapers feature statements of the state officials and experts about the recommendation of the European Parliament to ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Diena and Chas refer to the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, who has stated that there will be no premature activities in the area of granting voting rights to non-citizens at the municipal elections, stressing that the next municipal elections will take place in accordance with the current legislation. Director of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs Atis Lejins believes that ratification of the convention is possible with the several reservations (for example, stipulating the Latvian language as the only state language), but at the same time says that today its ratification would be presented as a victory of the Moscows foreign policy. Sociologist and doctor of the University of Latvia Aivars Tabuns considers it necessary to define what should be regarded as a national minority in Latvia first, taking into account that demographic changes in the Latvian society have been forced. He also adds that ratification of the Convention in Estonia has not endangered the state, but appeased the international community. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas

Newspapers write about the visit of the Present of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga to France. During the meeting with the President of France Jacques Chirac issues of Latvia’s accession to the EU, and relationship of the EU and Latvia with Russia have been discussed.

Newspapers write about the visit of the Present of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga to France. During the meeting with the President of France Jacques Chirac issues of Latvias accession to the EU, and relationship of the EU and Latvia with Russia have been discussed. Diena, Latvijas Avize

Saeima MPs and the integration experts evaluate expressions of the head of the Saeima For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners, who, commenting on  the education reform, has stated that ‘the derogatory idea about the Latvian Latvia with its degenerated democracy must be buried forever’. Saeima MPs believe that Jakovs Pliners has violated the deputy ethical code. Political analyst Artis Pabriks has stated that MP’s expressions also contain fulmination against the state system and indirect incitement of ethnic tension. Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks believes that demands for opening of the “Law on State Language” and the law “On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State”  eliminate the possibility of dialogue in the area of education reform.

Saeima MPs and the integration experts evaluate expressions of the head of the Saeima For Human Rights in the United Latvia parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners, who, commenting on the education reform, has stated that ‘the derogatory idea about the Latvian Latvia with its degenerated democracy must be buried forever. Saeima MPs believe that Jakovs Pliners has violated the deputy ethical code. Political analyst Artis Pabriks has stated that MPs expressions also contain fulmination against the state system and indirect incitement of ethnic tension. Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks believes that demands for opening of the Law on State Language and the law On the Status of Former Citizens of the USSR who are Not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State eliminate the possibility of dialogue in the area of education reform. Diena

Riga District court has dismissed a claim of the Latvia Socialist Party leader Alfreds Rubiks to cancellation of his conviction record. Hence Alfreds Rubiks will not be allowed to candidate at the elections to the European Parliament. The court motivated this decision with the fact that the leader of the Socialist Party, who was convicted in 1995 for an attempt to overthrow the state, has not expressed regret about his deeds.

Riga District court has dismissed a claim of the Latvia Socialist Party leader Alfreds Rubiks to cancellation of his conviction record. Hence Alfreds Rubiks will not be allowed to candidate at the elections to the European Parliament. The court motivated this decision with the fact that the leader of the Socialist Party, who was convicted in 1995 for an attempt to overthrow the state, has not expressed regret about his deeds. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Saeima For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM parliamentary group is preparing to submit amendments to the European Parliament (EP) election law, stipulating the prohibition to stand for the EP 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.

Saeima For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM parliamentary group is preparing to submit amendments to the European Parliament (EP) election law, stipulating the prohibition to stand for the EP 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. Latvijas Avize

Latvia Socialist Party is planning to apply to the European Court for Human Rights, challenging the results of the EU accession referendum. Party is planning to ask to recognize the referendum results as illegitimate, because non-citizens were not allowed to vote.

Latvia Socialist Party is planning to apply to the European Court for Human Rights, challenging the results of the EU accession referendum. Party is planning to ask to recognize the referendum results as illegitimate, because non-citizens were not allowed to vote. Latvijas Avize

Liepaja’s municipality has authorized organization of the procession on 16 March, the Commemoration day for the Latvian Legion.

Liepajas municipality has authorized organization of the procession on 16 March, the Commemoration day for the Latvian Legion. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Ministry of Education and Science has prepared a new timetable for consultations with the representatives of minority schools, minority students and their parents, in order to gather information about minority schools which need individual transition programs.

Ministry of Education and Science has prepared a new timetable for consultations with the representatives of minority schools, minority students and their parents, in order to gather information about minority schools which need individual transition programs. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize

Diena features an article of the director of the Riga Secondary School No. 95 Juris Celmins about alternatives for the education reform. The director points to the dividing lines among Latvian- and Russian-speaking children, stressing that at present there are small opportunities for Russian-speaking children to become pupils of the Latvian-language kindergartens or students of the Latvian-language schools. According to Juris Celmins, Latvia should abandon such division practices, opening all schools for all children, regardless of the ethnic background. The school director also believes that there should be a transition period determined during which the Russian-language schools could be reformed as integrated schools with the choice of studying in one of three streams – Latvian, Russian or bilingual.

Last Friday two men assaulted  the leader of the Latvian National Front Aivars Garda and set his car on fire. The State Security Police examines different possible motives for this crime, among them the version of revenge from the side of Garda’s ideological opponents, who are not satisfied with his position towards Russian-speakers in Latvia.

Last Friday two men assaulted the leader of the Latvian National Front Aivars Garda and set his car on fire. The State Security Police examines different possible motives for this crime, among them the version of revenge from the side of Gardas ideological opponents, who are not satisfied with his position towards Russian-speakers in Latvia. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Diena writes about the car of the journalist Leonids Jakobsons, which had been smashed after the publication of his article in the newspapers Diena supplement SestDiena. In his article, Leonids Jakobsons concedes the possible financing of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools by Russia and evaluates degree of involvement of the Russia political technologist Konstantin Koshkin in organizing the protest actions against the education reform in Latvia. The journalist and the State Security Police suspect that vandals could be the Headquarters combatants, and that the goal of this vandalism act is to put pressure on the journalist. The leader of the Headquarters Jurijs Petropavlovskis denies the Headquarters connection to this vandalism act.