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.

• Police initiate criminal case on alleged hooliganism in the case of the assault against Indian man
• Newspapers continue to report on developments concerning the complaint of Jurijs Petropavlovskis
• Latvijas Avize discusses a possibility to deprive deputy of Riga City Council Jurijs Aleksejevs of Latvian citizenship
• National radical youth organisation will hold a picket to demand the establishment of the moratorium on naturalisation

Diena reports on developments in the case when a young man of Indian origin was attacked in Old Riga. As reported a dark-skinned Indian man was attacked when coming out of a shop in Riga Old Town at the beginning of March. The attack was suspected to have been racially motivated, as the victim was not robbed. A number of human rights experts expressed a hope that the police will act decisively in finding and punishing attackers of the dark-skinned Indian Arvinder Singh in order to demonstrate that every resident of Latvia is protected by the police, irrespective of his/her country of origin. However, the police have initiated a criminal case for hooliganism and not for racial violence. Concerns of integration experts that the police would avoid recognition of this case as racial violence have come true. While the police argue is that it is difficult to prove that the assault was racially motivated, because then in accordance with Article 78 of the Criminal Law it should be proved that racial violence was committed intentionally. The Head of the Riga Criminal Police Ints Kuzis argues that ‘it is impossible to sentence ones thinking. During 5 years the State Security Police have initiated 11 criminal cases on the basis of Article 78 of the Criminal Law. All cases are related to incitement of national hatred and not racial violence. The Spokesperson of the Security Police also stresses that it is very difficult to prove that alleged offences have been committed with intention. Diena

Newspapers continue to report on developments regarding the complaint of Jurijs Petropavlovskis, defender of Russian-language schools, submitted to the Petition Committee of the European Parliament. Yesterday the Committee decided to continue the revision of the complaint only after the Administrative Court of Latvia takes its decision in the case. As reported, Petropavlovskis has applied to the Administrative Court challenging the refusal of the Latvian government to grant him Latvian citizenship although he has successfully passed naturalisation exams. Russian-language newspapers interpret the decision of the Petition Committee as Petropavlovskis’ victory.

Newspapers continue to report on developments regarding the complaint of Jurijs Petropavlovskis, defender of Russian-language schools, submitted to the Petition Committee of the European Parliament. Yesterday the Committee decided to continue the revision of the complaint only after the Administrative Court of Latvia takes its decision in the case. As reported, Petropavlovskis has applied to the Administrative Court challenging the refusal of the Latvian government to grant him Latvian citizenship although he has successfully passed naturalisation exams. Russian-language newspapers interpret the decision of the Petition Committee as Petropavlovskis victory. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Jurijs Aleksejev’s, member of the Riga City Council, article on the Internet portal

Jurijs Aleksejevs, member of the Riga City Council, article on the Internet portal Delfi has raised discussions among other members of the Council about possibilities to deprive Jurijs Aleksejevs of Latvian citizenship. In his article, Jurijs Aleksejevs wrote that ‘all Latvian hookers have left for Ireland thus the only possibility to attract foreign tourists to Latvia is popularisation of fascism. The majority of Riga City Councils deputies, interviewed by Latvijas Avize, believe that a member of City Council should not give such statements and a part of Councils members agree that Jurijs Aleksejevs should be deprived of Latvian citizenship.

Tomorrow the national radical youth organisation ‘

Tomorrow the national radical youth organisation ‘Visu Latvijai! will hold pickets at several buildings where the headquarters of three parties are located. Members of the picket will demand to establish the moratorium on naturalisation and strengthen naturalisation requirements. Latvijas Avize