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.

• Non-Latvians show more interest in taking part in the forthcoming municipal elections than Latvians do
• Consultations on human rights issues between the EU and Russia will take place this week
• Vladimir Putin: we respect the opinion of those Baltic people, who believe that the end of the World War II means loosing sovereignty [of their countries]
• Saeima MP Boris Cilevics discusses transposition of the EU Race Equality Directive in Latvian legislation
• Former Russian media magnate Boris Berezovsky talks about the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia
• Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools will organise unapproved protest action ‘With a smile about the [education] reform

According to the opinion poll conducted by the company ‘Latvijas Fakti’ non-Latvians show more interest in taking part in the forthcoming municipal elections than Latvians do: 52.5% non-Latvians and 48.7% Latvians state that they will go to vote. In Riga the gap is even bigger: 62.5% non-Latvians and 55.6% Latvians will go to vote. The director of the ‘Latvijas Fakti’

According to the opinion poll conducted by the company ‘Latvijas Fakti non-Latvians show more interest in taking part in the forthcoming municipal elections than Latvians do: 52.5% non-Latvians and 48.7% Latvians state that they will go to vote. In Riga the gap is even bigger: 62.5% non-Latvians and 55.6% Latvians will go to vote. The director of the ‘Latvijas Fakti Aigars Freimanis believes that the results of the last municipal elections, when left political parties got the majority of votes in Riga, has changed views of non-Latvians about their possibilities to influence the results of the elections. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

On Tuesday the EU will hold first consultations on human rights issues with Russia.  According to the representative of the European Commission Emma Udvina, the situation of Russian-speakers in Baltic States is also included in the agenda.

On Tuesday the EU will hold first consultations on human rights issues with Russia. According to the representative of the European Commission Emma Udvina, the situation of Russian-speakers in Baltic States is also included in the agenda. Diena

‘We respect the opinion of those Baltic people, who believe that the end of the World War II means losing sovereignty [of the Baltic States],’ stated the President of Russia Vladimir Putin at the same time noting that the history can be treated variously.

‘We respect the opinion of those Baltic people, who believe that the end of the World War II means losing sovereignty [of the Baltic States], stated the President of Russia Vladimir Putin at the same time noting that the history can be treated variously. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Saeima MP Boris Cilevics discusses the implementation of the EU directives in Latvian legislation, among other explaining also the role of the EU Directive on Race. The MP states Latvian officials have not been very enthusiastic to implement this directive in Latvian legislation. According to the MP, the set of amendments to Latvian legislation was presented in the meeting of the State Secretaries already on 2 December 2004, but has not been submitted to Saeima yet.

Saeima MP Boris Cilevics discusses the implementation of the EU directives in Latvian legislation, among other explaining also the role of the EU Directive on Race. The MP states Latvian officials have not been very enthusiastic to implement this directive in Latvian legislation. According to the MP, the set of amendments to Latvian legislation was presented in the meeting of the State Secretaries already on 2 December 2004, but has not been submitted to Saeima yet. Chas

Former Russian media magnate Boris Berezovsky paid a short visit to Riga. He held a press conference and commented on various issues, including the situation of Russian speakers in Latvia. He believes that the key problem is Russia and her attitude towards this issue. Boris Berezovsky argues that in her statements Russia positions Russians living in Latvia as the fifth colonna and this leads to escalation of negativism in both Latvians and Russians living in Latvia. Russia, however, already expressed her negative reaction towards the Berezovsky’s visit to Riga and reproached Latvia for not taking any actions to detain Berezovsky.

Former Russian media magnate Boris Berezovsky paid a short visit to Riga. He held a press conference and commented on various issues, including the situation of Russian speakers in Latvia. He believes that the key problem is Russia and her attitude towards this issue. Boris Berezovsky argues that in her statements Russia positions Russians living in Latvia as the fifth colonna and this leads to escalation of negativism in both Latvians and Russians living in Latvia. Russia, however, already expressed her negative reaction towards the Berezovskys visit to Riga and reproached Latvia for not taking any actions to detain Berezovsky. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

The Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools will organise the protest action ‘

The Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools will organise the protest action ‘With smile about the reform in Esplanade, the centre of Riga, on 5 March despite the fact that the Executive Director of Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks did not give his authorisation to organise the action. According to the representative of the Headquarters Genadijs Kotovs, the goal of the action is ‘to laugh about education officials idiotism and the minority education reform itself. Maris Tralmaks argues that the centre of the Riga is not a right place for ‘laughing at Latvian legislation. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Chas