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.

• Union of Poles held its annual congress
• In the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Chairman of the Russian State Duma Boris Grizlov criticizes Latvia and Estonia for violating Russian-speakers rights
• Article about the Latvian language environment and the implementation of the minority education in Zilupe
• Article about the congress of the left-wing union Dzimtene

Neatkariga Rita Avize reports on the annual congress of the Union of Poles in Latvia. The Unions Chairperson Vanda Krukovska stated that only approximately 1,200 children are attending five Polish schools in Latvia, therefore Polish language classes should be offered also at Russian-language schools. The Chairman of the Liepajas branch Garkuls-Gurevics reported that members of the Polish community refused to get involve in protest actions against the minority education reform. At the end of the conference its participants called to condemn the Molotov-Ribentrop Pact stating that both the Latvian and Polish community have suffered because of the Pact.

In the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly the Chairman of the Russian State Duma Boris Grizlov expressed his criticism towards Latvia and Estonia for violating Russian-speakers’ rights. Boris Grizlov pointed to the prohibitions for Latvian non-citizens to participate in municipal elections, as well as the Latvian Central Election Commission’s decision to stop a broadcast of municipal election campaign’s clips which provide information about voting procedure in the Russian language. The Russian official called the OSCE to pay more attention to the issues concerning the protection of national minority rights.

In the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly the Chairman of the Russian State Duma Boris Grizlov expressed his criticism towards Latvia and Estonia for violating Russian-speakers rights. Boris Grizlov pointed to the prohibitions for Latvian non-citizens to participate in municipal elections, as well as the Latvian Central Election Commissions decision to stop a broadcast of municipal election campaigns clips which provide information about voting procedure in the Russian language. The Russian official called the OSCE to pay more attention to the issues concerning the protection of national minority rights. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Diena prints an article about the Latvian language environment and the implementation of the minority education in Zilupe (the parish near the Eastern boarder of Latvia). In this parish Russian is the most widespread language. The director of the Zilupe Secondary School Regina Iljina reports that the school established Latvian-language classes already 12 years ago. While farmer Boriss Velicko, Belorussian who lives in Zilupe, believes that education in the Latvian language will help his daughter to become a full-fledged member of the society. Boriss Velicko, however, notes that insufficient attention has been paid to training of teachers who work at minority schools in those Latvias regions where Russian is a dominant language.

On Saturday the congress of the left-wing union

On Saturday the congress of the left-wing union Dzimtene took place in Riga. Participants sharply criticized its former partners from the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and reproached them for initiating ethnic hatred and weakening the defence of Russian-language schools. The Latvias Socialist Party, the Russians party, the United Social Democratic Welfare Party and the Party for Social Justice are represented in the union ‘Dzimtene. Latvijas Avize