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.

• Riga Regional Court sentenced a neo-Nazi Andris Jordans to one year and six months of imprisonment for incitement to ethnic hatred
• Telegraf reports about a case of a girl born in Latvia after 1991 and refused Latvian citizenship without naturalisation
• Saeima has refused the proposal to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections
• Representative of the U.S.A. State Department Jeffrey Kril: Latvian government has to make an effort to solve the problem of large scale non-citizenship in the country

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court has sentenced a neo-Nazi Andris Jordans to one year and six months of imprisonment for incitement to ethnic hatred. As reported, a criminal proceedings against Andris Jordans were opened by the Prosecutor’s Office in February 2007 when Jordans, at a public discussion, has stated that Jews and Roma people are ‘non-humans’ and it would be preferable to exterminate them. However, the Prosecutor Ieva Garanca has decided to terminate the criminal proceedings due to the lack of features constituting criminal offence, but after an appeal to the General Prosecutor’s Office the criminal proceedings were reopened ad forwarded to the court.

Yesterday, the Riga Regional Court has sentenced a neo-Nazi Andris Jordans to one year and six months of imprisonment for incitement to ethnic hatred. As reported, a criminal proceedings against Andris Jordans were opened by the Prosecutors Office in February 2007 when Jordans, at a public discussion, has stated that Jews and Roma people are ‘non-humans and it would be preferable to exterminate them. However, the Prosecutor Ieva Garanca has decided to terminate the criminal proceedings due to the lack of features constituting criminal offence, but after an appeal to the General Prosecutors Office the criminal proceedings were reopened ad forwarded to the court. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Telegraf reports about a case of a girl born in Latvia after 1991 in a family of Latvian non-citizen mother and a father- citizen of Belarus. An application to the Naturalisation Board (NB) requesting citizenship by registration was submitted by the mother only, because the girls father is deprived of custody rights and does not live with the family. The NB refused to grant the citizenship arguing that in accordance to legislation, the application should be submitted by both parents and they both should be non-citizens. The NB argues that the girl can receive citizenship by graduating Latvian language school or through naturalisation. The mother of the girl has appealed the decision of the NB in the Administrative District Court of Riga.

Yesterday, the Saeima has refused the proposal of the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections.

Yesterday, the Saeima has refused the proposal of the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, NRA

In an interview with Telegraf, representative of the State Department of the U.S.A. Jeffrey Krill has stated that the Latvian government has to make an effort to solve the problem of large scale non-citizenship in the country by motivating non-citizens to naturalise. Mr. Krill also believes that Russian speaking residents should become more active in political life.

In an interview with Telegraf, representative of the State Department of the U.S.A. Jeffrey Krill has stated that the Latvian government has to make an effort to solve the problem of large scale non-citizenship in the country by motivating non-citizens to naturalise. Mr. Krill also believes that Russian speaking residents should become more active in political life.