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 Security Police about extremist organizations in Latvia
• Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Jurij Fedotov points to the violation of minority rights in Latvia and Estonia
• Saeima New Era parliamentary group does not support amendments to the European Parliament elections law
• 12 minority schools will not be ready for transition to the Latvian language of instruction by 1 September
• Chairman of the Union of Citizens and Non-citizens V. Sokolovs about society integration
• Interview with the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks
• Leader of Latvia Socialist Party Alfreds Rubiks visits European Parliament
• Commentary about the Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools

State Security Police believes that the number of extremist organizations could increase after Latvia’s accession to the EU. According to the chairman of the Security Police Janis Reiniks, the organizations of right extremists as well as organizations of left extremists have achieved a new quality, for example, by involving children in their activities.

State Security Police believes that the number of extremist organizations could increase after Latvias accession to the EU. According to the chairman of the Security Police Janis Reiniks, the organizations of right extremists as well as organizations of left extremists have achieved a new quality, for example, by involving children in their activities. Diena

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Jurij Fedotov has pointed to the violation of minority rights in Latvia and Estonia during the UN Human Rights Committee session. According to the Minister, the main problem areas are the conservation of the non-citizens’ problem, which indicates a long-term deficit of democracy, and the implementation of the education reform in Latvia. Jurij Fedotov believes that although it is necessary to know the Latvian language, ‘there must be also a possibility to get education of full value in mother tongue’. Today the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks will report on the achievements in the area of observation of minority rights in Latvia.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Jurij Fedotov has pointed to the violation of minority rights in Latvia and Estonia during the UN Human Rights Committee session. According to the Minister, the main problem areas are the conservation of the non-citizens problem, which indicates a long-term deficit of democracy, and the implementation of the education reform in Latvia. Jurij Fedotov believes that although it is necessary to know the Latvian language, ‘there must be also a possibility to get education of full value in mother tongue. Today the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks will report on the achievements in the area of observation of minority rights in Latvia. Telegraf, Chas

Saeima’s parliamentary group the New Era is not planning to support the proposal of the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM parliamentary group to make amendments to the European Parliament election law, prohibiting to stand for 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. Hence the amendments to the European Parliament law most likely will not be possible.

Saeimas parliamentary group the New Era is not planning to support the proposal of the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM parliamentary group to make amendments to the European Parliament election law, prohibiting to stand for 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. Hence the amendments to the European Parliament law most likely will not be possible. Neatkariga Rita Avize

Head of the Ministry of Education and Science General Education Department Guntis Vasilevskis has stated that 12 minority schools will not be ready for transition to Latvian as language of instruction by 1 September, and 16 minority schools have recognized some difficulties.

Head of the Ministry of Education and Science General Education Department Guntis Vasilevskis has stated that 12 minority schools will not be ready for transition to Latvian as language of instruction by 1 September, and 16 minority schools have recognized some difficulties. Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers print article by the chairman of the Union of Citizens and Non-citizens V.Sokolovs about society integration. According to Sokolovs, the integrated society is possible only after granting the citizenship to all children, born since the 1991, automatically without parents’ application, and granting the citizenship by registration to those who have got education in Latvia since restoration of the state independence, regardless of the instruction language.

Newspapers print article by the chairman of the Union of Citizens and Non-citizens V.Sokolovs about society integration. According to Sokolovs, the integrated society is possible only after granting the citizenship to all children, born since the 1991, automatically without parents application, and granting the citizenship by registration to those who have got education in Latvia since restoration of the state independence, regardless of the instruction language. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Rigas Balss features an interview with the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks about society integration and implementation of the education reform. According to the minister, the main causes of the confrontation in the area of education reform are changes in status of Russians and Russian language in Latvia, fears of Russian teachers for their jobs, and the battle for electorate between the left political forces.

Vesti Segodnya writes about the visit of the leader of Latvia Socialist Party Alfreds Rubiks to the European Parliament (EP), in order to discuss the issue of observation of minorities rights in Latvia. According to the observer from Latvia to the EP Martijans Bekasovs, during the meetings with Alfreds Rubiks the MPs of the EP have stated that any attempts to change the EP election law will cause very negative attitude from Brussels.

Neatkariga Rita Avize features an article by commentator Viktors Avotins about the Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools, different opinions, expressed by participants during the Congress, and attempts of the FHRUL to use the Congress for its own purely political purposes.