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.

• Peoples Harmony Party questions legitimacy of activities of state language inspectors at the National Railway
• Representative of the US Department of State about Latvias ethnic policy
• Protest against discrimination against the Russian language took place yesterday
• Interview with Yuriy Petropavlovsky about the proposed inclusion of the loyalty criteria in naturalisation procedure
• Despite the refusal of the Riga City Council organisers promise to hold TV bridge between Latvia and Russian President anyway

Members of the People’s Harmony Party have applied with the Minister of Justice questioning activities of the State Language Centre. The People’s Harmony Party received complaints from employees of the National Railway who claimed that inspectors of the State Language Centre conducted illegal examinations of persons’ state language skills and in some cases imposed fines for insufficient state language skills. According to law, inspectors may not examine person’s actual state language skills if s/he has a state language certificate indicating person’s level of language skills. Inspectors are neither entitled to impose fines in such cases.

Members of the Peoples Harmony Party have applied with the Minister of Justice questioning activities of the State Language Centre. The Peoples Harmony Party received complaints from employees of the National Railway who claimed that inspectors of the State Language Centre conducted illegal examinations of persons state language skills and in some cases imposed fines for insufficient state language skills. According to law, inspectors may not examine persons actual state language skills if s/he has a state language certificate indicating persons level of language skills. Inspectors are neither entitled to impose fines in such cases. Chas

Telegraf talks to Daniel Fried, representative of the US Department of State, who is on a visit to Latvia. When asked about Latvian Russian relations, Mr.Fried states that Latvias ethnic policy should be built on the fact that Latvian is the state language, however, it should be also built on the fact that Latvia is a multi ethnic country.

Vesti Segodnya reports that yesterday at the building of the European Commission a number of members of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia, the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools and NGOs held a protest against discrimination against the Russian language. One member of the picket was detained because he was holding a poster with the Latvian President dressed in a Nazi uniform.

Chas prints an interview with Yurij Petropavlosky, activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Schools. As reported, although Yurij Petropavlosky successfully passed naturalisation examinations, the Cabinet of Ministers decided not to grant him Latvian citizenship accusing him of being non-loyal towards Latvia. He believes that the proposed inclusion of the loyalty criteria in naturalisation criteria is the attempt of right wing parties to hamper activism of Russians.

The Russian Embassy to Latvia has expressed its incomprehension about the refusal of the Riga City Council to issue a permission to organise a TV bridge between Riga and the Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was planned that residents of Riga would come to the square in the centre of Riga and ask their questions to the President Putin. The Russian Embassy to Latvia states that the restrictions are another unfriendly step from the side of Latvia. While Russian language newspapers report that organisers will find a possibility to organise the TV bridge anyway.

The Russian Embassy to Latvia has expressed its incomprehension about the refusal of the Riga City Council to issue a permission to organise a TV bridge between Riga and the Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was planned that residents of Riga would come to the square in the centre of Riga and ask their questions to the President Putin. The Russian Embassy to Latvia states that the restrictions are another unfriendly step from the side of Latvia. While Russian language newspapers report that organisers will find a possibility to organise the TV bridge anyway. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf