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

• Planned protest actions against the education reform
• Two members of the European Parliament send a letter to the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in support of the Latvia Socialist Party leader Alfreds Rubikss right to candidate for European Parliament
• Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks visits Jelgava minority elementary school
• Representatives of the Riga City Council and Ministry of Education and Science discuss implementation of the education reform with the parents of Riga secondary school No. 40

Newspapers write about the protest actions against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools for the period from 13 till 16 April. The Headquarters’ Daugavpils section calls Russian schools’ students to participate in the strike against the education reform on 15 April, attending school, but not participating in the learning process.

Newspapers write about the protest actions against the education reform, planned by the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language schools for the period from 13 till 16 April. The Headquarters Daugavpils section calls Russian schools students to participate in the strike against the education reform on 15 April, attending school, but not participating in the learning process. Chas informs about planned protest actions in Riga. Latvijas Avize, Chas

President of the European Parliament (EP) European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) parliamentary group Francis Wurtz and vice-president of GUEE/NGL Sylvia Kaufmann have sent a letter to the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga drawing attention to the recent decision of the Riga District court to dismiss a claim of the Latvia Socialist Party leader Alfreds Rubiks, who was convicted in 1995 for an attempt to overthrow the state, to cancellation of his conviction record. The EP representatives believe that this verdict deprives Alfreds Rubiks of opportunity to participate in the EP election and discriminates against the socialists’ supporters, restricting their choice. Francis Wurtz and Sylvia Kaufmann also state that such attitude towards the representative of the opposition is not acceptable, stressing that Latvia must observe the ‘Copenhagen criteria’, which include respect of the democratic rights and freedom of all inhabitants of the state.

President of the European Parliament (EP) European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) parliamentary group Francis Wurtz and vice-president of GUEE/NGL Sylvia Kaufmann have sent a letter to the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga drawing attention to the recent decision of the Riga District court to dismiss a claim of the Latvia Socialist Party leader Alfreds Rubiks, who was convicted in 1995 for an attempt to overthrow the state, to cancellation of his conviction record. The EP representatives believe that this verdict deprives Alfreds Rubiks of opportunity to participate in the EP election and discriminates against the socialists supporters, restricting their choice. Francis Wurtz and Sylvia Kaufmann also state that such attitude towards the representative of the opposition is not acceptable, stressing that Latvia must observe the ‘Copenhagen criteria, which include respect of the democratic rights and freedom of all inhabitants of the state. Vesti Segodnya

Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks has visited Jelgava minority elementary school, in order to discuss the education reform. According to the press secretary of the Special Tasks Minister’s Secretariat Gunta Line, students of the 9th grade have not expressed particular dissatisfaction about transition to the Latvian language as a main language of instruction, but teachers have pointed to the unsatisfactory quality of the textbooks. Teachers believe that textbooks, originally intended for the Latvian-language schools, are not suitable for bilingual instruction.

Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks has visited Jelgava minority elementary school, in order to discuss the education reform. According to the press secretary of the Special Tasks Ministers Secretariat Gunta Line, students of the 9th grade have not expressed particular dissatisfaction about transition to the Latvian language as a main language of instruction, but teachers have pointed to the unsatisfactory quality of the textbooks. Teachers believe that textbooks, originally intended for the Latvian-language schools, are not suitable for bilingual instruction. Latvijas Avize

Newspapers feature articles about the meeting of the representatives of Riga City Council and Ministry of Education and Science with the parents of Riga  secondary school No. 40, in order to discuss implementation of the education reform. During the meeting representatives of minority students’ parents adopted a resolution, demanding a moratorium on education reform. The resolution will be submitted to the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics on 6 April.

Newspapers feature articles about the meeting of the representatives of Riga City Council and Ministry of Education and Science with the parents of Riga secondary school No. 40, in order to discuss implementation of the education reform. During the meeting representatives of minority students parents adopted a resolution, demanding a moratorium on education reform. The resolution will be submitted to the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics on 6 April. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas