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.

• OSCEs High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus held meetings with various state officials
• Supreme Court Senate published a full text of the decision on Jurijs Petropavlovskis case
• Two applicants for citizenship caught cheating in naturalisation exams
• LiepajaCity Council is planning to close a Russian-language secondary school

Yesterday, the OSCEs (Organisation for Security and Co-operation) High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus met with the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the Special Assignment Minister for Social Integration Karina Petersone, as well as other state officials. During the meeting with MP Boriss Cilevics (The Concord Centre) and the head of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools Igors Pimenovs, Rolf Ekeus discussed issues concerning naturalisation and the minority education reform. While during the meeting with Karina Petersone, the High Commissioner talked about effective participation of ethnic minorities in Latvias political life.Rolf Ekeus noted that the progress is observable regarding developments in social integration field; however the huge number of non-citizens has to be actively reduced. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena, Latvijas Vestnesis

Yesterday, the Supreme Court Senate published a full text of its decision in the Jurijs Petropavlovskis case. As reported, the Senate rejected the application of the activist of the Headquarters Jurijs Petropavlovskis where he asked to review decisions taken by first instance courts to stop court proceedings regarding his first complaint challenging the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers not to grant him Latvian citizenship. The Senate considers that the complaint is unreasonable, because the Cabinet of Ministers has unlimited freedom in taking decision regarding granting citizenship. Chas

The Naturalisation Board reports that two applicants for citizenship were caught cheating in naturalisation exams last week. The results of the exams were cancelled and the applicants were denied further procession of their naturalisation applications. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya features an article about the plans of the Liepaja City Council to close a Russian-language secondary school in Liepaja (city in the western part of Latvia). As reported, there has been the announcement by the Riga City Council that some Russian primary schools in Riga might be closed soon because of the decreasing number of students. Vesti Segodnya