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

• The European Court for Human Rights delivers judgments in the cases of two former Russian militaries
• Head of the Riga City Councils Security and Order Committee Andrejs Vilks: students strike contradicts with the law
• Study materials in the Latvian language for minority schools are too complicated
• Russian Ministry of the Foreign Affairs replies to the Latvian officials accusations regarding protest actions against the education reform
• Deputy chairman of the Latvian Social Democratic Party Janis Adamsons: Education Law amendments are promoting ethnic conflict

The European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) has delivered judgments in the cases of two former Russian militaries. The ECHR has found the claim of Aleksandr Ivanov against Latvia, concerning his expulsion from the country, ungrounded. Regarding Vikulovs family’s claim, several grounds have been dismissed by the ECHR, while examination of others is postponed until information from the Latvian government is received. According to

The European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) has delivered judgments in the cases of two former Russian militaries. The ECHR has found the claim of Aleksandr Ivanov against Latvia, concerning his expulsion from the country, ungrounded. Regarding Vikulovs familys claim, several grounds have been dismissed by the ECHR, while examination of others is postponed until information from the Latvian government is received. According to Diena, Latvia will have to prove that Vikulovis human rights have been observed during their arrest and stay in the illegal migrants camp, not the legitimacy of their expulsion. Diena

Head of the Riga City Council’s Security and Order Committee Andrejs Vilks has named the students’ strike as a violation of social order and non-compliance with the existing legislation. Representative of the Headquarters for the Defense of the Russian Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis objects that ‘not a single car has been turned upside down or even scratched’ during the protest actions. Charges will be brought against the last week strike’s organizers in accordance with the law.

Head of the Riga City Councils Security and Order Committee Andrejs Vilks has named the students strike as a violation of social order and non-compliance with the existing legislation. Representative of the Headquarters for the Defense of the Russian Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis objects that ‘not a single car has been turned upside down or even scratched during the protest actions. Charges will be brought against the last week strikes organizers in accordance with the law. Latvijas Avize

Telegraf reports the visit of the minister on Education and Science Juris Radzevics to Daugavpils. The study materials published for minority schools in the Latvian language turned out to be written in a very complicated language, and the teachers have to explain the content meaning in simpler words. The minister has pointed to the necessity to ‘simplify the study materials for minority schools. Vesti Segodnya columnist Nikolajs Kabanovs criticizes this decision since there will be Latvian schools for Latvians and Latvian schools for Russians. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Chas quotes response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia to the Latvian authorities accusations towards Russian politicians, who are allegedly supporting protest activities against the education reform. Russia believes that Latvia tries to shift responsibility for increased ethnic problems to external forces.

The deputy chairman of the Latvian Social Democratic Party Janis Adamsons believes that amendments to the Education Law defining language proportions were adopted because the right-wing politicians wanted to consolidate their electorate, and to distract voters’ attention from the acute social and economic problems. According to Adamsons, ‘such a reform is promoting ethnic conflicts’.

The deputy chairman of the Latvian Social Democratic Party Janis Adamsons believes that amendments to the Education Law defining language proportions were adopted because the right-wing politicians wanted to consolidate their electorate, and to distract voters attention from the acute social and economic problems. According to Adamsons, ‘such a reform is promoting ethnic conflicts. Vesti Segodnya