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.

• Only 32 MPs supported resignation of the Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks
• Saeima urgently adopts amendments to the law stipulating prolongation of the prohibitions for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee for the next 10 years
• Situation of Russian-speakers in the Baltic States was discussed during the meeting of the Russia Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov and the First Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Alvaro Gil-Robles
• Executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks refused to authorize a protest meeting against the education reform
• Riga City Council Security and Order Committee suggests harsher penalties for violation of the law On Walks, Pickets and Meetings
• Latvian Social Democratic Labor Party stands apart from the statement of its youth organization calling to establish a moratorium on the education reform
• Interview with the ambassador of Latvia to Russia Normans Penke
• National Program for Latvian Language Training organizes an Open day
• Riga City Council Normunds Ozolins criticizes statements of the extreme national organization Visu Latvijai!

Yesterday only 32 MPs, most likely from the New Era and For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, voted in support of resignation of the Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks.

Yesterday only 32 MPs, most likely from the New Era and For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, voted in support of resignation of the Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Latvijas Avize, Chas

Saeima has urgently adopted amendments to the law stipulating prolongation of the prohibitions for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia to hold offices in the state security institutions, civil service and to stand for elections for the next 10 years. Cabinet of Ministers was obliged to evaluate necessity of retaining prohibitions in the specific areas by next June.

Saeima has urgently adopted amendments to the law stipulating prolongation of the prohibitions for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia to hold offices in the state security institutions, civil service and to stand for elections for the next 10 years. Cabinet of Ministers was obliged to evaluate necessity of retaining prohibitions in the specific areas by next June. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

According to the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Russian-speakers’ situation in the Baltic States was the main issue discussed during the meeting of the Russia Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov and the First Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Alvaro Gil-Robles.

According to the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Russian-speakers situation in the Baltic States was the main issue discussed during the meeting of the Russia Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov and the First Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Alvaro Gil-Robles. Chas

Following recommendations of the State Security Police, the Executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks has refused to authorize a protest meeting against the education reform, planned on 1 June at Ratslaukums. Maris Tralmaks has stated that previous events have shown that it is impossible to foresee number of the participants, and that Ratslaukums is not suitable for events with the large numbers of participants.

Following recommendations of the State Security Police, the Executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks has refused to authorize a protest meeting against the education reform, planned on 1 June at Ratslaukums. Maris Tralmaks has stated that previous events have shown that it is impossible to foresee number of the participants, and that Ratslaukums is not suitable for events with the large numbers of participants. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Yesterday Riga City Council Security and Order Committee has adopted an appeal to the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee to amend the Criminal Law, introducing harsher penalties for violations of the law On Walks, Pickets and Meetings. Proposed amendments foresee imprisonment up to two years or financial penalty till 150 minimal wages for organization of the unsanctioned event with the participation of juveniles or violation of the public order. At the same time, Council’s deputies also suggest to amend the Code of Administrative Violations, increasing a penalty for violation of the law On Walks, Pickets and Meetings for individuals from 100 till 250 lats, but for juridical persons – from 500 till 2,000 lats.

Yesterday Riga City Council Security and Order Committee has adopted an appeal to the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee to amend the Criminal Law, introducing harsher penalties for violations of the law On Walks, Pickets and Meetings. Proposed amendments foresee imprisonment up to two years or financial penalty till 150 minimal wages for organization of the unsanctioned event with the participation of juveniles or violation of the public order. At the same time, Councils deputies also suggest to amend the Code of Administrative Violations, increasing a penalty for violation of the law On Walks, Pickets and Meetings for individuals from 100 till 250 lats, but for juridical persons – from 500 till 2,000 lats. Vesti Segodnya

Latvian Social Democratic Labor Party has stood apart from the statement of its youth organization, which, in collaboration with the Organization of the Working Youth and the young representatives of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools has yesterday appealed to the government to establish a moratorium on the education reform. The Party believes that the education reform’s implementation  must be carried out in accordance with the existent regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers, stating that moratorium on the reform would prevent minority schools, which are ready for the reform, from implementing it.

Latvian Social Democratic Labor Party has stood apart from the statement of its youth organization, which, in collaboration with the Organization of the Working Youth and the young representatives of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools has yesterday appealed to the government to establish a moratorium on the education reform. The Party believes that the education reforms implementation must be carried out in accordance with the existent regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers, stating that moratorium on the reform would prevent minority schools, which are ready for the reform, from implementing it. Chas

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the ambassador of Latvia to Russia Normans Penke about the relationship between Latvia and Russia.

Newspapers write about the Open day organized by the National Program for Latvian Language Training (NPLLT). The purpose of today’s event is to explain to all interested parties the essence of bilingual education and to introduce the new teaching aids. A documentary film, in which directors of the minorities’ schools express their attitude towards the education reform, will be demonstrated.

Newspapers write about the Open day organized by the National Program for Latvian Language Training (NPLLT). The purpose of todays event is to explain to all interested parties the essence of bilingual education and to introduce the new teaching aids. A documentary film, in which directors of the minorities schools express their attitude towards the education reform, will be demonstrated. Latvijas Avize, Latvijas Vestnesis

Latvijas Avize features an article by the deputy of the Riga City Council Normunds Ozolins (Cita Politika), who criticizes statements of the extreme national organization Visu Latvijai! about the necessity to restrict a number of naturalization applicants per year. Normunds Ozolins calls the readers not to support this organization and its ideas.