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.

• Yesterday Saeima adopted a declaration condemning crimes of totalitarian communism
• Neatkariga Rita Avize reports on results of a society integration project realised by students from Olaine
• Latvijas Avize continues to write about the forthcoming ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

Yesterday Saeima by 70 votes of the right-wing MPs adopted a declaration condemning the USSR totalitarian communist regime. According to the declaration, the Latvian government should claim compensations from Russia for damages caused by the occupation regime. Referring to the international documents, the declaration calls for continuing repatriation of former Soviet Army military personnel and their families. The Russian-language newspaper

Yesterday Saeima by 70 votes of the right-wing MPs adopted a declaration condemning the USSR totalitarian communist regime. According to the declaration, the Latvian government should claim compensations from Russia for damages caused by the occupation regime. Referring to the international documents, the declaration calls for continuing repatriation of former Soviet Army military personnel and their families. The Russian-language newspaper Vesti Segodnya evaluates this document as a ‘declaration of ethnic cleansing. Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks insists that repatriation of the Russian militaries does not mean deportation, but rather support to persons willing to move back to their native country. Yesterday the European Parliament also adopted a resolution on the consequences of the World War II, recognising that the end of the war for several states meant not liberation, but another tyranny, imposed by the Soviet Union. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Neatkariga Rita Avize reports on results of a society integration project, realised by the students of the Olaine College of Mechanics and Technology. The goal of the project was to promote the naturalisation process in Olaine town. Opinion poll, conducted by the students during the project, showed that non-citizens lack information about advantages provided by the Latvian citizenship. In response, students organised the Information Days on naturalisation issues, as well as seminars for non-citizens. A special Information Room was opened, where consultations on citizenship issues will be provided by the Naturalisation Board (NB). According to the NB, amount of naturalisation applications increased threefold during the implementation of the project. 61% of people living in Olaine are non-ethnic Latvians, and 40% are non-citizens.

Latvijas Avize continues to write about the forthcoming ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and possible definition of the national minority.