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.

• Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court charges four skinheads with incitement to racial hatred involving violence
• Supreme Court has upheld the ruling of Regional Court acquitting former Riga City deputy Aleksandrs Gilmans
• Director of the State Language Agency: Russian language endangers the position of the Latvian language

The Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court has charged four skinheads with incitement to racial hatred involving violence. Yesterday, three of the accused persons were charged with incitement to racial hatred after attacking an Armenian couple in February 2008. Earlier in May, all four skinheads were charged with incitement to hatred after attacking two young Roma girls in October 2007. According to the Prosecutor, these two criminal cases will be joined in one case and final charges will be brought in June.

The Prosecutor of the Riga Regional Court has charged four skinheads with incitement to racial hatred involving violence. Yesterday, three of the accused persons were charged with incitement to racial hatred after attacking an Armenian couple in February 2008. Earlier in May, all four skinheads were charged with incitement to hatred after attacking two young Roma girls in October 2007. According to the Prosecutor, these two criminal cases will be joined in one case and final charges will be brought in June. Chas, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld the acquittal ruling of the first instance court in the case of  Aleksandrs Gilmans former deputy of the Riga City Council and activist of the Headquarters for Defence of Russian Language Schools. As reported, Aleksandrs Gilmans was charged with incitement to forcible overthrow the government of Latvia and forcibly change the political system after having made statements on the internet forum of the Headquarters’ for the Defence of Russian Schools homepage in 2005.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld the acquittal ruling of the first instance court in the case of Aleksandrs Gilmans former deputy of the Riga City Council and activist of the Headquarters for Defence of Russian Language Schools. As reported, Aleksandrs Gilmans was charged with incitement to forcible overthrow the government of Latvia and forcibly change the political system after having made statements on the internet forum of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Schools homepage in 2005. Chas, Latvijas Avize

Chas reports that at the meeting of the Saeimas Citizenship Law Implementation Committee, director of the State Language Agency has reported about the situation of state (Latvian) language and Russian language in Latvia. According to the report, the position of the Russian language is too strong in Latvia and it endangers the Latvian language.