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.

• Constitutional Court postponed the review of the case on the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia and international norms
• Riga Centre District Court postponed taking decision on imposing the administrative penalty for disobedience to police
• Rigas Balss prints an article about the implementation of the minority education reform
• Final decision on the transfer of the Head of the Public Education Inspectorate will be taken next week
• Vesti Segodnya talks to the Foreign Affairs Minister
• Latvijas Vestnesis reports on migration in Latvia

The Constitutional Court postponed the review of the case on the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia and international norms till 12 April, because the Court received extra amount of supplementary materials.

The Constitutional Court postponed the review of the case on the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia and international norms till 12 April, because the Court received extra amount of supplementary materials. Diena, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Riga Centre District Court (Centra rajona tiesa) postponed taking decision on imposing administrative penalty on two activists of the union FHRUL and ‘Rodina,’ who participated in public disorders on 16 March (commemoration day of WWII Latvian Legionnaires) at the Freedom Monument. Both men argue that on 16 March police did not ask them to leave the place of meeting, therefore there were no grounds to draw up the protocol about disobedience to police. The court decided to hear explanations of policemen and then take the decision. As already reported on 16 March activists of FHRUL and ‘Rodina’ gathered to block a procession in commemoration of Latvian WW II legionnaires. The procession was organised by the national-radical youth organisation Klubs 415 (Club 415) and had received the legally required authorisation by the Riga City Council, while the opponent protestors had been denied authorisation on grounds of planning the event later, but for the same place and time, thus allegedly posing a risk of clashes.

Riga Centre District Court (Centra rajona tiesa) postponed taking decision on imposing administrative penalty on two activists of the union FHRUL and ‘Rodina, who participated in public disorders on 16 March (commemoration day of WWII Latvian Legionnaires) at the Freedom Monument. Both men argue that on 16 March police did not ask them to leave the place of meeting, therefore there were no grounds to draw up the protocol about disobedience to police. The court decided to hear explanations of policemen and then take the decision. As already reported on 16 March activists of FHRUL and ‘Rodina gathered to block a procession in commemoration of Latvian WW II legionnaires. The procession was organised by the national-radical youth organisation Klubs 415 (Club 415) and had received the legally required authorisation by the Riga City Council, while the opponent protestors had been denied authorisation on grounds of planning the event later, but for the same place and time, thus allegedly posing a risk of clashes. Diena, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Rigas Balss prints an article about the implementation of the minority education reform. The newspaper writes that ‘principles of Riga minority schools admit that the first year of the reform was complicated, however, students acquire subjects in the state language rather successfully and only few students, most often the laziest ones, have problems. The newspaper also provides the views of the Public Education Inspectorate ‘the Inspectorate does not rush with any conclusions. In April principles of minority schools will account for the implementation of the reform and it is possible that then various problems, such as, qualification of teachers, lack of text books, etc, will be revealed. The deputy Head of the Inspectorate Valda Puise states that ‘there are no big problems regarding the implementation of the reform. Maybe here and there is the issue of attitude. However, she does not exclude that the quality of education is getting lower because of the reform ‘we will make our conclusions on the quality of education only after few years – when todays 10th grade students will graduate the 12th grade.

Latvijas Avize writes that yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers discussed the decision of the Minister of Education Ina Druviete to transfer the Head of the Public Education Inspectorate Zigfrids Grinpauks to the Ministry of Defence. According to the newspaper the reason for Grinpauks transfer was his statements where he expressed doubts about the implementation of the minority education reform. However, the State Civil Service has established that Grinpauks has systematically violated legal norms ‘which proves his inability to manage the Inspectorate. Grinpauks objects to his transfer to the Ministry of Defence and believes that he will not be able to fulfil the new tasks because of the lack of experience and skills in the issues concerning state security and military. The Government will take its decision regarding the transfer of Zigfrids Grinpauks in its next session when Grinpauks returns from a business trip.

Vesti Segodnya talks to the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks about Latvian Russian relations. The Minister states that Latvia expects Russia to act pragmatically and sign the border agreement till 9 May. Artis Pabriks notes that he completely disagrees with the stance of his partys member Aleksandrs Kirsteins who stated that Latvia should agree with Russia on deportation of people who came to Latvia after the WWII. The Minister says that ‘it is too late to discuss this issue ...now these people are integrating into our society.

Latvijas Vestnesis reports that in 2003 Latvia experienced the lowest rate of migration since 1995, while in 2004 it has slightly increased. The newspaper also notes that there are more people who leave Latvia than those who come to Latvia. The majority of people arrive to Latvia from Russia, Lithuania, Germany, USA, Great Britain, Estonia, Ukraine, Israeli, Byelorussia and Denmark. In 2004 the ratio of non-citizens among immigrants was 0.9%, while among emigrants – 8.5%.