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.

• Peoples Harmony Party will ask the governments resignation
• Newspapers continue to write about the deportation of the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs
• Latvijas Avize writes about the development of the draft Law on Minority Schools
• Special support programme for Roma in Latvia under discussions
• Informative brochure about the education reform has been developed
• Article about the forum ‘Integration and Minority Education Reform
• Commentary about attempts to define a common identity of the Russian community in Latvia
• Several participants of the protest action ‘Empty Schools in Ventspils have been detained

The People’s Harmony Party plans to initiate the resignation of the present government. While the People’s Party states that the resignation of the present government is not possible as potential partners – the New Era and the People’s Party – have not reached an agreement about the formation of a new government. The leader of the New Era Einars Repse has stated that his party will be a member of the government if only the next prime minister is a member of the New Era. However, the People’s Party disagrees with that.

The Peoples Harmony Party plans to initiate the resignation of the present government. While the Peoples Party states that the resignation of the present government is not possible as potential partners – the New Era and the Peoples Party – have not reached an agreement about the formation of a new government. The leader of the New Era Einars Repse has stated that his party will be a member of the government if only the next prime minister is a member of the New Era. However, the Peoples Party disagrees with that. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Rigas Balss, Chas, Telegraf

Newspapers continue to write about the deportation of the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools activist Aleksandrs Kazakovs from Latvia. Russia has requested an official explanation about the deportation. Russia considers that Latvia has breached a number of legal norms concerning the deportation. Meanwhile, representatives of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia plan to demand the resignation of the Minister of Interior Eriks Jekabsons.

Newspapers continue to write about the deportation of the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools activist Aleksandrs Kazakovs from Latvia. Russia has requested an official explanation about the deportation. Russia considers that Latvia has breached a number of legal norms concerning the deportation. Meanwhile, representatives of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia plan to demand the resignation of the Minister of Interior Eriks Jekabsons. Vesti Segodnya features an interview with Aleksandrs Kazakovs. In the interview, Kazakovs notes that he was not provided a possibility to inform his relatives that he was subjected to deportation. Russian language newspapers report that an unapproved picket in the support for Aleksandrs Kazakovs took place near the building of the Ministry of Interior. A number of representatives of the Headquarters participated in the rally. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vetsi Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize continues to write about the development of the draft Law on Minority Schools. The newspaper points out that the working group drafting the Law has not taken into account that the term ‘minority is not defined in Latvian legislation yet. The Special Tasks Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks, however, is convinced that the law may be developed even if a precise definition of a basic term is lacking. The Head of Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee Ina Druviete doubts that the definition of ‘minority acceptable for all could be developed in a short period of time, therefore the Law on Minority Schools should be developed first. While the Head of the Peoples Party parliamentary group Aigars Kalvitis and the Head of the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM Maris Grinblats stated that their parties would not support the law. According to Maris Grinblats, the law would ‘soften the education reform and it would be a gift to opponents of the reform.

‘The Latvian government should support the development of the specific support programme for the Roma minority in Latvia,’ concluded participants of the seminar discussing issues of the Roma in Latvia. The main goal of the programme should be implementation of activities aimed at improvement of educational level of Roma, which, according to the representative of the Roma NGO Ame Roma Vanda Zamicka-Bergendale, is one of the key reasons why Roma are the less integrated minority in Latvia.

‘The Latvian government should support the development of the specific support programme for the Roma minority in Latvia, concluded participants of the seminar discussing issues of the Roma in Latvia. The main goal of the programme should be implementation of activities aimed at improvement of educational level of Roma, which, according to the representative of the Roma NGO Ame Roma Vanda Zamicka-Bergendale, is one of the key reasons why Roma are the less integrated minority in Latvia. Latvijas Avize

The Special Tasks Minister’s for Societal Integration Secretariat has prepared a brochure for minority students and their parents about the education reform.

The Special Tasks Ministers for Societal Integration Secretariat has prepared a brochure for minority students and their parents about the education reform. Latvijas Avize

Newspapers reports on the forum ‘Integration and Minority Education Reform’, organised by the public policy centre PROVIDUS. NGOs, officials and experts took part in the forum. MP Boriss Cilevics stated that the protest actions against the education reform show the integration policy in Latvia has failed. Meanwhile the researcher of the PROVIDUS Marija Golubeva offered a solution and was convinced that the involvement of minorities in the state administration would reduce alienation between the state and minorities.

Newspapers reports on the forum ‘Integration and Minority Education Reform, organised by the public policy centre PROVIDUS. NGOs, officials and experts took part in the forum. MP Boriss Cilevics stated that the protest actions against the education reform show the integration policy in Latvia has failed. Meanwhile the researcher of the PROVIDUS Marija Golubeva offered a solution and was convinced that the involvement of minorities in the state administration would reduce alienation between the state and minorities. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Neatkariga Rita Avize features a commentary by Viktors Avotins about attempts to define a common identity of the Russian community in Latvia. According to the columnist, the state should consider it stance towards organisations present in this community rather opponents of the education reform. Viktors Avotins notes that the idea ‘European Latvia is closer to Russian youth than ‘Russian Latvia is.

Several participants of the protest action ‘Empty Schools’ in Ventspils have been detained by representatives of the Ventspils Municipal Police. In the police department students had to explain why they were absent from school.

Several participants of the protest action ‘Empty Schools in Ventspils have been detained by representatives of the Ventspils Municipal Police. In the police department students had to explain why they were absent from school. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf