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.

• European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) refused a claim of an ex- the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis
• Ministry of Foreign affairs will forward a draft law on restitution of Jewish properties to the Saeima
• Minister of Justice Dzintars Rasnacs confirmed his plans to lay down flowers in commemoration of Latvian legionnaires at the Monument of Freedom on 16 March but did not specify the time

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) refused a claim of an ex- the activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools Jurijs Petropavlovskis. Between 2003 and 2004 Mr Petropavlovskis was actively involved in protests against language reform in ethnic minority schools and was one of the leaders of the protest movement. In 2003, he applied for Latvian citizenship and undergone the naturalisation procedure. However, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to strike his name out of the list of candidates applying for citizenship, thus refusing his application for naturalisation. After unsuccessful attempts to appeal the government’s decision in local court instances, Mr Petropavlovskis complained to the ECHR under Articles 10, 11 and 13 of the Convention that the allegedly arbitrary refusal of Latvian citizenship through naturalisation was a punitive measure imposed on him because he had imparted ideas and exercised his right of peaceful assembly in order to criticise the government’s position. In its decision, the ECHR noted that the availability or absence of a given civil status does not appear to have interfered with the applicant’s civic activities. The ECHR also noted that decisions on naturalisation or any other form of granting of nationality are matters primarily falling within the domestic jurisdiction of the state and are normally based on various criteria. Latvijas Avize, news agency LETA

The full text of the ECHR decision is available at: http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/sites/eng/pages/search.aspx?i=001-150232#{%22itemid%22:%5B%22001-150232%22%5D}

The Ministry of Foreign affairs is planning to forward a draft law on restitution of Jewish properties to the Saeima in the coming weeks. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics, the draft law foresees return of buildings owned by Jewish community before the WWII and lost due to the Holocaust to the Latvian Council Jewish Communities. Latvijas Avize, Diena

In an interview to LTV1, the Minister of Justice, member of the National Union Dzintars Rasnacs stated that he will lay down flowers in commemoration of Latvian legionnaires at the Monument of Freedom on 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires) in Riga. However, he did not clarify whether it will be done at the time of the traditional procession commemorating legionnaires. The Minister, as well as, the Saeima’s Speaker Inara Muriniece also will take part in the commemorative event at legionnaires’ cemetery in Lestene. As reported, last year, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Einars Cilinskis was forced to resign from the post because of his firm intention to participate in the procession.