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

Press Review

Yesterday evening Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK announced that the party cannot further activities of Andris Skale as the prime minister and invited to start negotiations about a new prime minister. Skele was sure that this does not mean the end to the government, he was ready to continue the work and invite the New Party to join the government.

Yesterday evening Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK announced that the party cannot further activities of Andris Skale as the prime minister and invited to start negotiations about a new prime minister. Skele was sure that this does not mean the end to the government, he was ready to continue the work and invite the New Party to join the government. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize, Chas, Vesti, Respublika

In extraordinary government meeting yesterday Janis Naglis was once again confirmed in the position of the Director General of Privatization Agency till the end of the operation of this institution. Fatherland and Freedom ministers did not vote.

In extraordinary government meeting yesterday Janis Naglis was once again confirmed in the position of the Director General of Privatization Agency till the end of the operation of this institution. Fatherland and Freedom ministers did not vote.

Record number of naturalized persons was registered in Latvia in March – 1964. This is the ever biggest monthly record since 1995. In total 34.5 thousand have applied and 27.6 thousand were granted citizenship.

Record number of naturalized persons was registered in Latvia in March – 1964. This is the ever biggest monthly record since 1995. In total 34.5 thousand have applied and 27.6 thousand were granted citizenship. Diena, Chas

Saeima’s Mandate Commission does not support the initiative of the People’s Party to dismiss the Social Democrat MP Janis Adamsons from the Saeima as the court ruling did not recognize Adamsons a staff member of KGB and the border guard was a part of the USSR armed forces. The statement makes it more possible that MPs will not support Adamsons’ dismissal during the vote on Thursday.

Saeimas Mandate Commission does not support the initiative of the Peoples Party to dismiss the Social Democrat MP Janis Adamsons from the Saeima as the court ruling did not recognize Adamsons a staff member of KGB and the border guard was a part of the USSR armed forces. The statement makes it more possible that MPs will not support Adamsons dismissal during the vote on Thursday. Diena

Director of Latvia’s Institute Ojars Kalnins will send a letter to the magazine Newsweek concerning the article about Latvia. He thinks the article is biased and presents wrong facts. Also, the approach to Communist and Nazi crimes is not balanced.

Director of Latvias Institute Ojars Kalnins will send a letter to the magazine Newsweek concerning the article about Latvia. He thinks the article is biased and presents wrong facts. Also, the approach to Communist and Nazi crimes is not balanced. Diena

Yesterday, Interior Minister Mareks Seglins reported to the government on the situation in exchanging passports. As of March 17, more than 545 thousand non-citizen passports have been processed. 90.7% of the registered non-citizens have exchanged their USSR passports for the Latvian non-citizen passports. Some of them had the “brown” passports to replace, some got the non-citizen’s passport as the first ID. 12 thousand citizens or less than1% have not obtained the citizen’s passports. 5.5 thousand citizens applied but did not pick up the new document.

Yesterday, Interior Minister Mareks Seglins reported to the government on the situation in exchanging passports. As of March 17, more than 545 thousand non-citizen passports have been processed. 90.7% of the registered non-citizens have exchanged their USSR passports for the Latvian non-citizen passports. Some of them had the brown passports to replace, some got the non-citizens passport as the first ID. 12 thousand citizens or less than1% have not obtained the citizens passports. 5.5 thousand citizens applied but did not pick up the new document. Chas

Saeima’s Commission for Implementation of the Citizenship Law decided to indefinitely postpone considering of the Convention on Citizenship. Instability of the government was cited as the reason for that. Head of the Commission Janis Lagzdins explains closer the situation and considerations of the Commission.

Saeimas Commission for Implementation of the Citizenship Law decided to indefinitely postpone considering of the Convention on Citizenship. Instability of the government was cited as the reason for that. Head of the Commission Janis Lagzdins explains closer the situation and considerations of the Commission. Respublika

Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement with criticizing the ignorance of general human principles in Latvia. In the Ministry’s opinion that can be seen in the fact that Russian representatives were denied meeting with the accused war criminal Vasily Kononov. Latvian authorities did not allow the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksander Udaltsov to meet Kononov.

Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement with criticizing the ignorance of general human principles in Latvia. In the Ministrys opinion that can be seen in the fact that Russian representatives were denied meeting with the accused war criminal Vasily Kononov. Latvian authorities did not allow the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksander Udaltsov to meet Kononov. Jauna Avize, Chas, Vesti