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.

• Cabinet of Ministers has refused to award Latvian citizenship to the opponent of the education reform Jurijs Petropavlovskis
• Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhny presented his credentials to the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga
• Latvijas Avize interviews the Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks
• Court finds no grounds to initiate a case against the chairperson of the Society Integration Foundation Board accused in defamation of a member of a national radical organisation
• Two Russian organisations call other organisations to unite for the preservation of education in the Russian language
• National Archive presents the book ‘Migrants in Latvia
• Competition on the best publication on minority culture and language concluded
• Vesti Segodnya points at misrepresentations and interpretations in the encyclopaedia ‘Revolutionary and Dissident Movements of the World
• Chas columnist looks what Russian children write about Latvia

For the first time in the history of Latvia the Cabinet of Ministers has refused to award Latvian citizenship to the leader of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian Language Schools in Latvia Jurijs Petropavlovskis who applied for Latvian citizenship through naturalisation. Jurijs Petropavlovskis successfully passed naturalisation tests, however, for a long time was under the examination of the Security Police which had to confirm whether he is eligible for naturalisation. The Security Police issued a positive conclusion, however, the Cabinet of Ministers, which usually is the last formal instance in the process of naturalisation, decided not to grant him Latvian citizenship.

For the first time in the history of Latvia the Cabinet of Ministers has refused to award Latvian citizenship to the leader of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian Language Schools in Latvia Jurijs Petropavlovskis who applied for Latvian citizenship through naturalisation. Jurijs Petropavlovskis successfully passed naturalisation tests, however, for a long time was under the examination of the Security Police which had to confirm whether he is eligible for naturalisation. The Security Police issued a positive conclusion, however, the Cabinet of Ministers, which usually is the last formal instance in the process of naturalisation, decided not to grant him Latvian citizenship. Diena writes that the government does not have strong legal arguments why it did not awarded him Latvian citizenship. The Minister of Justice Vineta Muizniece argues that his activities do not correspond the pledge of loyalty towards the state which should be given by a naturalisation applicant. The lecturer of the Riga Graduate School of Law Martins Mits believes that it is not sufficient argument because a person may not be punished for his political affiliation. Latvijas Avize, NRA, Chas, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhny presented his credentials to the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. He stated that he was resolved to do everything in his power to develop mutually-favourable relations between Latvia and Russia. The President and the Ambassador agreed that Latvian-Russian relations had great potential, for instance, in the fields of business, tourism, culture and other sectors, which had not been fully reached yet.

The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhny presented his credentials to the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. He stated that he was resolved to do everything in his power to develop mutually-favourable relations between Latvia and Russia. The President and the Ambassador agreed that Latvian-Russian relations had great potential, for instance, in the fields of business, tourism, culture and other sectors, which had not been fully reached yet. Diena, Latvijas Avize, NRA, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize interviews the Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks. ‘…Latvia can be an example for other countries. We should be proud of what we have achieved. We should not play games with rules set by others anymore, we have to write our own rules, said the Minister referring to his meeting with the Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gill-Robles. The Minister believes that Latvias co-operation with Rolf Ekeuss, Alvaro Gill-Robles and European countries in general has not been rather successful, therefore he implements more aggressive policy. Artis Pabriks notes that in Latvia many minority rights, such as social, economic and cultural, are also granted to immigrants, therefore Latvia can be an example for other European countries. Regarding the issue whether the opponent of the education reform Jurijs Petropavlovskis should be granted Latvian citizenship, Artis Pabriks says that he is convinced that he should not be granted citizenship. Artis Pabriks adds that it is possible to open the Law on Citizenship to introduce amendments.

The Riga Court of Vidzeme District refused to initiate a case on the basis of a complaint submitted by the member of the National Front, headed by Aivars Garda, against the businessman and chairperson of the Society Integration Board Sol Bukingolts. Liene Apine accused Sol Bukingolt in her defamation in the mass media: he questioned whether Saeima should employ her as she is connected with the radical and national organisation.

The Riga Court of Vidzeme District refused to initiate a case on the basis of a complaint submitted by the member of the National Front, headed by Aivars Garda, against the businessman and chairperson of the Society Integration Board Sol Bukingolts. Liene Apine accused Sol Bukingolt in her defamation in the mass media: he questioned whether Saeima should employ her as she is connected with the radical and national organisation. Chas

The United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia and the Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian Language Schools have issued a call to other organisations related to the Russian culture to join together to fight for the preservation of education in the Russian language.

The United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia and the Headquarters for the Defence of the Russian Language Schools have issued a call to other organisations related to the Russian culture to join together to fight for the preservation of education in the Russian language. Сhas

Yesterday the National Archive presented its books published in 2004. One of the books is written by Janis Riekstins ‘Migrants in Latvia’ and received the following comment from archive’s staff ‘his book is the evidence of tolerance. Migration not only has changed the ethnic composition in Latvia, but also has given current non-citizens many social privileges. However, we have accepted them.’

Yesterday the National Archive presented its books published in 2004. One of the books is written by Janis Riekstins ‘Migrants in Latvia and received the following comment from archives staff ‘his book is the evidence of tolerance. Migration not only has changed the ethnic composition in Latvia, but also has given current non-citizens many social privileges. However, we have accepted them. Latvijas Vestnesis

Yesterday the Secretariat of the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration concluded the competition on ‘The best publication in the press on the opportunities to develop culture and language of a minority.’

Yesterday the Secretariat of the Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration concluded the competition on ‘The best publication in the press on the opportunities to develop culture and language of a minority. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya comments on the information printed in the encyclopaedia ‘Revolutionary and Dissident Movements of the World by John Harpers Publishing, 2004. The newspaper points at a number of contradictory statements and misrepresentation of facts concerning Latvia. For instance, the newspaper states that obviously an author who feels affinity towards Russian-speakers wrote the section ‘Citizenship, however, the newspaper also notes that the book gives wrong number of people who are naturalised in Latvia; also according to the encyclopaedia, the parliamentary party for Freedom and Fatherland/LNIM is among extremist groups and parties.

The columnist of

The columnist of Chas looks into essays written by students of a minority schools on the topics related to the upcoming Latvias Independence Day. The columnist concludes that essays written by Russian children show that they do not feel at home either in Latvia or any other country.