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

Russian national budget, adopted yesterday by the Russian National Council, includes a secret article in the part of financing mass media. The newspaper Izvestija considers that this article is meant to finance Russian speaking press in the CIS and Baltic States. The council refused to comment this article.

Russian national budget, adopted yesterday by the Russian National Council, includes a secret article in the part of financing mass media. The newspaper Izvestija considers that this article is meant to finance Russian speaking press in the CIS and Baltic States. The council refused to comment this article. Diena

The Prosecutor’s General Office stated that the regulations of the Ministry of Defence to permit a company owned by non-citizens to provide armament for the Latvian army did not contradict to the existing legislation. Nevertheless the Minister of Defence G.V.Kristovskis called the Saeima factions to start a discussion about a possibility for non-citizens to provide armament for defence needs.

The Prosecutors General Office stated that the regulations of the Ministry of Defence to permit a company owned by non-citizens to provide armament for the Latvian army did not contradict to the existing legislation. Nevertheless the Minister of Defence G.V.Kristovskis called the Saeima factions to start a discussion about a possibility for non-citizens to provide armament for defence needs. Diena

Yesterday the candidate for the post of Lithuanian Prime Minister R.Paks expressed his surprise and incomprehension about unwillingness of Latvian politicians to ratify Latvian – Lithuanian sea border agreement. If he would become the Prime Minister, R.Paks promised to contact lm Prime Minister A.Berzins immediately and find out the real reasons for this position.

Yesterday the candidate for the post of Lithuanian Prime Minister R.Paks expressed his surprise and incomprehension about unwillingness of Latvian politicians to ratify Latvian – Lithuanian sea border agreement. If he would become the Prime Minister, R.Paks promised to contact lm Prime Minister A.Berzins immediately and find out the real reasons for this position. Neatkariga

In the newspaper

In the newspaper Jauna Avize G.Klasons published an answer to the article of V.Lazo on ombudsmen institution in Latvia. V.Lazo wrote that this institution would fill the gap established between the society and government. G.Klasons disagrees to this statement, saying that ombudsmen will be able just to express its opinion on the exact decision, decree or action but it will not be able to interfere in activities of all four powers. It means that ombudsmen will not be able to perform any real action but proposing amendments to the existing laws.

The Association to Support the Russian Speaking School of Latvia sent out an announcement to pupils’ parents, stating that the educational reform was unjust. In this announcement they asked the parents to participate the conference “To Study in the Mother Tongue” that was taking place today.

The Association to Support the Russian Speaking School of Latvia sent out an announcement to pupils parents, stating that the educational reform was unjust. In this announcement they asked the parents to participate the conference To Study in the Mother Tongue that was taking place today. Respublika, Vesti Segodnya

The Cabinet of Ministers adopted yesterday amendment to the Administrative Violations Code. A journalist of the newspaper

The Cabinet of Ministers adopted yesterday amendment to the Administrative Violations Code. A journalist of the newspaper Respublika studied these amendments and compared changes in the proposed fines for violating the State language law. E.g. 50 Ls will be fine for organisers of meetings without providing interpretation in the state language. 100 Ls will be fine for persons using titles of institutions or enterprises not in the state language. The highest fine of 250 Ls will be for employers concluding an employment agreement with an employee who does not have the state language certificate or has too low state language proficiency category.

The annual PACE meeting in Paris was dedicated to protection of immigrant rights. This problem becomes more acute also for Latvia. In the draft resolution Latvian Saeima deputy B.Cilevich managed to include two proposals. 1. Citizens of collapsed states (including USSR) may not be deported from the newly arisen states on any conditions. 2. May not be expelled also children of former citizens of the collapsed states if they were born in the newly established state. If the resolution is be adopted, it will become a signal to Latvian authorities that it is inadmissible to expel even those non-citizens who do not have the violet passport.

The annual PACE meeting in Paris was dedicated to protection of immigrant rights. This problem becomes more acute also for Latvia. In the draft resolution Latvian Saeima deputy B.Cilevich managed to include two proposals. 1. Citizens of collapsed states (including USSR) may not be deported from the newly arisen states on any conditions. 2. May not be expelled also children of former citizens of the collapsed states if they were born in the newly established state. If the resolution is be adopted, it will become a signal to Latvian authorities that it is inadmissible to expel even those non-citizens who do not have the violet passport. Vesti Segodnya