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

Press Report

The Saeima Anticorruption Commission has drafted a law to start financing of political parties from the state budget. The current law prohibits direct financing of parties by the state, but the new law is meant to make parties more independent from business.

The Saeima Anticorruption Commission has drafted a law to start financing of political parties from the state budget. The current law prohibits direct financing of parties by the state, but the new law is meant to make parties more independent from business. Diena, Lauku Avize

Estonian Delegation to the CBSS refused to agree to extend the mandate of the Commissioner on Democratic Institutions and Human Rights O.Espersen and to this post was approved the Danish representative H.Degn. O.Espersen was accused of supporting Moscow’s accusations about the Russian minority discrimination in Latvia and Estonia and attempts to prevent to refute this Russian criticism.

Estonian Delegation to the CBSS refused to agree to extend the mandate of the Commissioner on Democratic Institutions and Human Rights O.Espersen and to this post was approved the Danish representative H.Degn. O.Espersen was accused of supporting Moscows accusations about the Russian minority discrimination in Latvia and Estonia and attempts to prevent to refute this Russian criticism. Neatkariga

The deadline for collecting signatures to propose amendments to the law on privatisation of the state Power Company Latvenergo is June 30, and the activity of the population has increased. By yesterday 95 000 people have signed this call.

The deadline for collecting signatures to propose amendments to the law on privatisation of the state Power Company Latvenergo is June 30, and the activity of the population has increased. By yesterday 95 000 people have signed this call. Neatkariga

Swedish Prime Minister J.Person is coming for a short one-day visit to Latvia. He will have meetings with Prime Minister A.Berzins and President V.V.Freiberga.

Swedish Prime Minister J.Person is coming for a short one-day visit to Latvia. He will have meetings with Prime Minister A.Berzins and President V.V.Freiberga. Neatkariga, Chas

In order to speed up border control on railway, starting from June 1 the persons crossing border by train will have to record in the forms their passport data and submit the forms to the bordergards when crossing the border. In international trains these forms will be handed to the passengers at the departure station and they should be filled in by coming to the border. The forms will be in the Latvian, English and Russian languages.

In order to speed up border control on railway, starting from June 1 the persons crossing border by train will have to record in the forms their passport data and submit the forms to the bordergards when crossing the border. In international trains these forms will be handed to the passengers at the departure station and they should be filled in by coming to the border. The forms will be in the Latvian, English and Russian languages. Neatkariga, Jauna Avize

Upon a request of the Russian speaking newspaper Chas, Latvian Prime Minister’s Press Secretary A.Lapins presented A.Berzins's position on the regulations on the State Language Law. According to A.Lapins, the Prime Minister had not studied the regulations yet and had no formulated opinion on them. The Press Secretary anticipated that the Prime Minister would receive the regulations within one month. In any case the Prime Minister had wanted to point out that during the process of elaboration and adoption the OSCE experts would participate. The Prime Minister was ready to guarantee it but was not sure about his personal decision during voting on the law.

Upon a request of the Russian speaking newspaper Chas, Latvian Prime Ministers Press Secretary A.Lapins presented A.Berzins's position on the regulations on the State Language Law. According to A.Lapins, the Prime Minister had not studied the regulations yet and had no formulated opinion on them. The Press Secretary anticipated that the Prime Minister would receive the regulations within one month. In any case the Prime Minister had wanted to point out that during the process of elaboration and adoption the OSCE experts would participate. The Prime Minister was ready to guarantee it but was not sure about his personal decision during voting on the law. Chas

The Saeima faction For Human Rights in United Latvia warned the ruling coalition that if there were no changes in the regulations on the State Language Law, they would use non-parliamental methods of struggle – of course within the limits of valid legislation. The Deputy Chairman of the faction J.Urbanovics said that it was possible that the deputies would call their electorate to start acts of civil disobedience.

The Saeima faction For Human Rights in United Latvia warned the ruling coalition that if there were no changes in the regulations on the State Language Law, they would use non-parliamental methods of struggle – of course within the limits of valid legislation. The Deputy Chairman of the faction J.Urbanovics said that it was possible that the deputies would call their electorate to start acts of civil disobedience. Vesti Segodnya