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

US State Department in its annual report of the human rights situation admits that in Latvia human rights in general are being observed, criticism was expressed concerning the conditions in prisons, violence in families and discrmination of women, week judiciary, the tendency of the law enforcement officers to abuse their power by using excessive force against citizens. Diena,

US State Department in its annual report of the human rights situation admits that in Latvia human rights in general are being observed, criticism was expressed concerning the conditions in prisons, violence in families and discrmination of women, week judiciary, the tendency of the law enforcement officers to abuse their power by using excessive force against citizens. Diena, Neatkariga

The former president of Latvia Guntis Ulmanis does not support dismissal of the Saeima but in his opinion confidence of the public in the government has never been so low.

The former president of Latvia Guntis Ulmanis does not support dismissal of the Saeima but in his opinion confidence of the public in the government has never been so low. Diena

The Saeima's Commission of State Administration and municipalities supported the suggestion to amend the law on municipal elections allowing people who have been elected in the elections of 1994 and have woked a full term to stand for the coming elections even if they have been active in forbidden organizations after 1991. The new amendment will allow the current mayor of Daugavpils to stand for elecetions.

The Saeima's Commission of State Administration and municipalities supported the suggestion to amend the law on municipal elections allowing people who have been elected in the elections of 1994 and have woked a full term to stand for the coming elections even if they have been active in forbidden organizations after 1991. The new amendment will allow the current mayor of Daugavpils to stand for elecetions. Diena

Respublika runs an interview with Silvija Dreimane from the New Party. It stresses that this party was the one who managed to convince President Freiberga that the language law should not stay as passed last July 8, also, New Party supports grantive the passive municipal election rights to non-citizens. Dreimane expresses her view on what is integration.

The case of Shishkin family against DCMA concerning spelling of their family name in passports has been going on for 7 years. Last week the Supreme Court decided the case in the favor of the Department

The case of Shishkin family against DCMA concerning spelling of their family name in passports has been going on for 7 years. Last week the Supreme Court decided the case in the favor of the Department. Chas

Vesti writes that the last weeks visit of the Pskov region governor in Latvia became a beam of light in the dark space of the relations between Latvia and Russia.

Trade unions of the Belgorod oblast of Russia wrote a letter to Vladimir Putin demanding that Russia introduces economic sanctions against Latvia to protest prosecution of Russian speakers and antifascists in Latvia.

Trade unions of the Belgorod oblast of Russia wrote a letter to Vladimir Putin demanding that Russia introduces economic sanctions against Latvia to protest prosecution of Russian speakers and antifascists in Latvia. Vesti

Latvian Committee for Protection of Human Rights is organizing a rights protection rally on March 3 in Riga. Representative of the Committee Genady Kotov presents his view on the situation of non-citizens.

Latvian Committee for Protection of Human Rights is organizing a rights protection rally on March 3 in Riga. Representative of the Committee Genady Kotov presents his view on the situation of non-citizens. Vesti

Panorama Latvii looks at the hsitory of the March 3, 1998 pensioner rally by the Riga City Council.