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 Report

The President of Finland M.Ahtisari has arrived to an unofficial visit to Latvia. During the meeting with his Latvian colleague, M.Ahtisari also said that neither EU nor Finland would put forward any new demands concerning citizenship issue and expressed his hope that the adopted law giving possibilities for faster integration of non-Latvians in the society would come into force soon.

The President of Finland M.Ahtisari has arrived to an unofficial visit to Latvia. During the meeting with his Latvian colleague, M.Ahtisari also said that neither EU nor Finland would put forward any new demands concerning citizenship issue and expressed his hope that the adopted law giving possibilities for faster integration of non-Latvians in the society would come into force soon. Diena, Jauna Avize, Bizness & Baltiya

Professor I.Lazovskis continues his dialogue with M.Ozolins and explains in

Professor I.Lazovskis continues his dialogue with M.Ozolins and explains in Diena his position on the amendments to the Law on Citizenship. The real situation on Latvia according to I.Lazovskis is as follows - Latvia has expressed its wish to join EU that demands to observe its regulations; the Saeima has adopted a law allowing to grant Latvian citizenship to the children of non-citizens, born after August 1991 without taking a language knowledge test; the question itself to be answered in a public referendum is not known yet. There are two ways to proceed - first is the referendum, it will make the way to EU longer, second - if there is no referendum or the vote leaves the adopted amendments as they are, there is still a solution it would only demand co-ordinated efforts of specialists from education and other fields to establish a system ensuring mastering of the Latvian language at school. Diena

Galina Boicuk from Aluksne has dared to sue the head of the local DCMA office S.Redmanis for her double illegal deportation from the country. While Galena litigated to annul both decrees of deportation and finally won, she could neither find a job, nor receive children and unemployment benefits, as well as had to pay extra for medical services, etc. The defended himself did not arrive for the hearing, a lawyer from the central DCMA office came instead. Tis lawyer managed to prove that the application was not filled in correctly - S.Redmanis was treated as a juridical person but should be as a physical person instead. The court took a decision to postpone the hearing and ask I.Redmanis to arrive to it as a physical person.

Galina Boicuk from Aluksne has dared to sue the head of the local DCMA office S.Redmanis for her double illegal deportation from the country. While Galena litigated to annul both decrees of deportation and finally won, she could neither find a job, nor receive children and unemployment benefits, as well as had to pay extra for medical services, etc. The defended himself did not arrive for the hearing, a lawyer from the central DCMA office came instead. Tis lawyer managed to prove that the application was not filled in correctly - S.Redmanis was treated as a juridical person but should be as a physical person instead. The court took a decision to postpone the hearing and ask I.Redmanis to arrive to it as a physical person. Panorama Latvii