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 minorities organisations ‘Commonwealth calls to promote ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Article about ways to annul Latvian citizenship acquired in an illegal way
• European Week Against Racism will take place in Riga next week
• Uldis Sesks: municipality has no reasons to prohibit the procession of Latvian legionnaires

Vesti Segodnya prints an open letter of the union of minorities organisations ‘Commonwealth to the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Saeima and the Cabinet of Ministers, calling to promote ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The Union regards the Framework Convention as an instrument for societal integration in Latvia, and states that the Convention should be ratified without any reservations. The authors of the letter also propose their definition of ‘national minority: all permanent residents of Latvia but Latvians are national minorities.

Latvijas Avize reprints fragments of the article, published on the internet media Delfi. The author of the article states that Latvian citizenship is very ‘safe: once a person has acquired Latvian citizenship, there are no ways to lose it. The author particularly refers to the case of Olga Bocilova. At the beginning of 90-ies she was granted Latvian citizenship on the basis that her father was a Latvian citizen. However, after several years it was discovered that Bocilova was born in Vilnius in the family of a soviet officer who was not Latvian citizen, therefore had no rights to receive Latvian citizenship. The further investigation also discovered that the application submitted to the Naturalisation Board was not written by Bocilova and therefore the case was closed. In 2003 the case was re-opened, nevertheless no legal measures were taken again. The Prosecutor General Office explains that firstly, the time limit of the case has already expired and, secondly, there is no legal mechanism in Latvia, which regulates such situations.

According to the information of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, the European Week Against Racism will take place in Riga next week.

According to the information of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, the European Week Against Racism will take place in Riga next week. Diena

Chas prints excerpts from the letter of the Liepajas Mayor Uldis Sesks addressed to representatives of the Russian Community. Previously representatives of the Russian community called the Mayor to prohibit the procession in the commemoration of Latvian legionnaires to take place on 16 March. Uldis Sesks states that the municipality has no reasons to prohibit the procession and calls the Russian community not to manipulate with historical facts and incite hatred.