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.

• Interview with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij
• Baltic States will adopt a joint declaration explaining their stance towards World War II
• 898 persons have signed an open letter concerning compliance of the education reform with the Constitution of Latvia
• Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools plans new protest actions against the minority education reform
• The Slivenko appeals the ruling with court
• Minority children and youth folklore group participated in the festival ‘Golden Ball

Diena prints an interview with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij about relations between Latvians and Russians in Latvia, as well as the recent Ambassadors statements, which were evaluated as anti-Semitic by historians and representatives of the Jewish Community in Latvia. The Ambassador welcomes the decision of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga to visit Moscow on 9 May; however, he believes that the Latvian Presidents declaration addressing the international community and explaining what World War II means to Latvia, are unacceptable. The Russian Ambassador also expresses his incomprehension about discussions concerning his statement. The Ambassador argued that Russia should not apologise to Latvia for the Soviet occupation because ‘KGB was headed by Pole Dzerzinskis; out of 44 members of the War Council 38 were Jews, 4 Latvians and only one was a Russian. Viktor Kaluznij stresses that he mentioned only statistical information without any analysis or evaluation of these persons.

The Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Baltic States agreed that Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia should adopt a common declaration, which would demonstrate the attitude of these states towards World War II.

The Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Baltic States agreed that Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia should adopt a common declaration, which would demonstrate the attitude of these states towards World War II. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

Following the initiative of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia, 898 persons have signed an open letter calling the Constitutional Court of Latvia to ensure a public hearing about compliance of the education reform with the Constitution of Latvia.

Following the initiative of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia, 898 persons have signed an open letter calling the Constitutional Court of Latvia to ensure a public hearing about compliance of the education reform with the Constitution of Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools plans to organise five protest actions against the minority education reform in January and February.

The Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools plans to organise five protest actions against the minority education reform in January and February. Diena

The Slivenko family has appealed the ruling, which stipulated that the decision of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office to annul the personal codes of Tatiana and Karina Slivenko, the spouse and the daughter of a former Russian army officer, was illegitimate. After the ruling was adopted the judge noted that the ruling does not give any new rights to the Slivenko because they both are Russian citizens and therefore cannot apply for the status of Latvian non-citizens.

The Slivenko family has appealed the ruling, which stipulated that the decision of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office to annul the personal codes of Tatiana and Karina Slivenko, the spouse and the daughter of a former Russian army officer, was illegitimate. After the ruling was adopted the judge noted that the ruling does not give any new rights to the Slivenko because they both are Russian citizens and therefore cannot apply for the status of Latvian non-citizens. Telegraf

More than 100 representatives of minority children and youth folklore group participated in the festival ‘Golden Ball’ which took place in Cesis last weekend.

More than 100 representatives of minority children and youth folklore group participated in the festival ‘Golden Ball which took place in Cesis last weekend. Latvijas Avize