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.

Press Review

The Fifth and the Sixth

The Fifth and the Sixth Saeima have granted Latvian citizenship for an outstanding service to Latvia to more than 70 persons. The Saeima Committee on the Implementation of the Citizenship Law has proposed to grant citizenship to President of the Parex Bank Kargin recently. His candidature is supported by several prominent persons including composer Raimonds Pauls and former Latvian Ambassador to Russia Janis Peters. Neatkariga

Saeima member A.Bartashevich ("The Equal Rights") points to a contradiction between Regulations 407 "On the Status of the Unemployed" and the Labor Law. The Regulations allow to give the status and to grant unemployment benefits only to holders of "language certificates" confirming the command of the Latvian language. The Law does not contain such requirements. Mr. Bartashevich and his faction addressed Minister of Welfare Makarovs and the Prosecutor General's Office protesting against the provision. Still, the response was negative. A.Batashevich hopes that amendments to the Law on the

Saeima member A.Bartashevich ("The Equal Rights") points to a contradiction between Regulations 407 "On the Status of the Unemployed" and the Labor Law. The Regulations allow to give the status and to grant unemployment benefits only to holders of "language certificates" confirming the command of the Latvian language. The Law does not contain such requirements. Mr. Bartashevich and his faction addressed Minister of Welfare Makarovs and the Prosecutor General's Office protesting against the provision. Still, the response was negative. A.Batashevich hopes that amendments to the Law on the Satversme (Constitutional) Court currently under discussion will allow to apply to the Constitutional Court on the issue. Currently, the support of 34 Parliament members is required to appeal the Regulations in the Constitutional Court. SM