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.

• New government approved
• Statements of the new Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete on societal integration issues
• Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks on the definition ‘national minority in the context of the Framework Convention of National Minorities
• Article by the political analyst Ivars Indans about migration
• Opinions of politicians and minority school teachers concerning the education reform
• European Court of Human Rights issues the ruling in the case of Mihails Farbtuhs v. Latvia
• For Human Rights in the United Latvia has developed amendments to the Law on Celebrations and Commemoration Days
• Today the conference ‘Russian-speaking community in the enlarged EU takes place in Brussels

Yesterday Saeima supported the new government of Latvia. There are four parties in the coalition - the People’s Party, the Union of the Farmers and Greens (UFG), the New Era and Latvia’s First Party. Members of the ruling parties as well as the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and one independent MP voted for the new government, while the members of People’s Harmony Party, Socialist Party, the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia, two independent MPs and one MP from the coalition party UFG voted against.

Yesterday Saeima supported the new government of Latvia. There are four parties in the coalition - the Peoples Party, the Union of the Farmers and Greens (UFG), the New Era and Latvias First Party. Members of the ruling parties as well as the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and one independent MP voted for the new government, while the members of Peoples Harmony Party, Socialist Party, the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia, two independent MPs and one MP from the coalition party UFG voted against. Vesti Segodnya describes this government as ‘typically nationalistic. The Head of the parliamentary group of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia Jakovs Pliners commented that none of the governing parties is seriously planning to focus on ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. He also believes that societal integration policy issues will be at the bottom of this governments agenda. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya features statements of the new Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete on societal integration issues. Ina Druviete states that she is ready to build a dialogue with representatives of ethnic minorities; however, she notes that in the area of the education reform dialogue may be developed only concerning the ways to promote the implementation of the education reform. The new minister, referring to her academic background in bilingual education, says that the transition to teaching several more subjects in the Latvian language can not have a negative influence on the quality of minority education. While the MP Boriss Tsilevitch (Peoples Harmony Party), who was also the member of the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee led by Ina Druviete, doubts her ability to introduce positive tendencies in the field because of her nationalistic beliefs.

Latvijas Avize continues discussions about the necessity to define the term ‘national minority before ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, featuring the statement of the Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks. The newspaper writes that the Foreign Affairs Minister stated ‘First, national minorities are Latvian citizens, however, not those who have acquired Latvian citizenship through naturalisation, but citizens who have relations with the Republic of Latvia which existed between the two world wars (1918 - 1940)… Second, as some ethnic groups in Latvia already are given more rights than it is provided by the Convention, [we can include that] the state … would continue to support those ethnic groups which would not fall under the definition ‘national minority in order to avoid certain ethnic tension when the Convention is ratified, for instance the Riga Ukrainian Secondary School.

Diena prints an article by the political analyst Ivars Indans what consequences could bring migration for Latvia. According to Ivars Indans, now immigrants are not interested in migration to Latvia because Latvia is not developed as well as other EU countries and does not provide good social benefits to immigrants. Besides, in Latvia there are no well-developed ethnic communities, which usually serve as a precondition for the bigger influx of immigrants. However, in 5-10 years Latvia most probably will have to develop a liberal immigration policy because of the negative demographic situation which will result in the lack of workforce. Considering experience of other European countries and views of Latvian residents about immigrants provided by public opinion polls, Ivars Indans foresees the possible aggravation of ethnic relations and notes that liberal state language policy and tolerance towards diversity will play a significant role in the field of societal integration in the future.

Vesti Segodnya features opinions of politicians, minority schoolteachers and parents of minority students about problems concerning the implementation of the education reform. The director of the private minority school ‘Maksima and the head of the Latvian Association for Support of Schools with the Russian Language of Instruction (LASHOR) Olga Isakova believes that teachers working for public minority schools have betrayed the Russian education. The teacher of mathematics of the Riga Secondary School Nr. 40 Viktors Gluhovs says that the future of Russian schools depends on the involvement of parents of minority students, teachers and the Russian community. According to him, the monitoring conducted by international experts should be established. The experts would monitor the quality of education after the implementation of the education reform. While the member of the Riga City Council (For Human Rights in the United Latvia) and the co-leader of the NGO Latvian Human Rights Committee Genadijs Kotovs believes that the administrations of Russian-language schools and parents should have the right to choose the language of instruction at minority schools.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued a ruling in the case of Mihails Farbtuhs. The applicant complained with the ECHR against the sentence of the Riga District Court, according to which he was found guilty in genocide: the Court ruled that Mihails Farbtuhs is personally responsible for deporting Latvian citizens to Siberia. The ECHR did not take the decision concerning either legitimacy of the sentence issued by the Riga District Curt or Latvian legislation on the basis of which the Riga District Court found him guilty. The ECHR ruled that the living conditions of Mihails Farbtuhs in the prison were not adequate for his health, thus Latvia has violated the Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment). According to the ruling Latvia must pay Mihails Farbtuhs a compensation in the amount of LVL 4,150 (EUR 6,000). The ad hoc judge of the ECHR from Latvia Jautrite Briede disagrees with the ECHR’s ruling. She states that Latvia has not violated the rights of Mihails Farbtuhs, because the state authorities examined his health before detention and, knowing that adequate living conditions cannot be met, the prison’s administration asked the court to discharge him.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued a ruling in the case of Mihails Farbtuhs. The applicant complained with the ECHR against the sentence of the Riga District Court, according to which he was found guilty in genocide: the Court ruled that Mihails Farbtuhs is personally responsible for deporting Latvian citizens to Siberia. The ECHR did not take the decision concerning either legitimacy of the sentence issued by the Riga District Curt or Latvian legislation on the basis of which the Riga District Court found him guilty. The ECHR ruled that the living conditions of Mihails Farbtuhs in the prison were not adequate for his health, thus Latvia has violated the Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment). According to the ruling Latvia must pay Mihails Farbtuhs a compensation in the amount of LVL4,150 (EUR6,000). The ad hoc judge of the ECHR from Latvia Jautrite Briede disagrees with the ECHRs ruling. She states that Latvia has not violated the rights of Mihails Farbtuhs, because the state authorities examined his health before detention and, knowing that adequate living conditions cannot be met, the prisons administration asked the court to discharge him. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Telegraf

The union For Human Rights in the United Latvia has developed amendments to the Law on Celebrations and Commemoration Days. The amendments stipulate that on 7 January, when Orthodox believers and Old Believers celebrate Christmas, is a national holiday.

The union For Human Rights in the United Latvia has developed amendments to the Law on Celebrations and Commemoration Days. The amendments stipulate that on 7 January, when Orthodox believers and Old Believers celebrate Christmas, is a national holiday. Chas

Vesti Segodnya reports on the conference ‘Russian-speaking community in the enlarged EU, which takes place in Brussels today. Issues concerning the Russian community in Europe will be discussed there.