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 new US ambassador to Latvia Brian E.Carlson praised the Baltic state’s progress in developing democracy and market economy before the US Senate committee. “Today Latvia has emerged as the region's commercial, financial and transportation centre. Latvians re-established functioning democratic and market-oriented institutions after decades of Soviet mismanagement”, said Carlson. “Demonstrating a principled commitment to human rights, Latvia's leaders have liberalised naturalisation procedures and put in place the rule of law”, he added.

The new US ambassador to Latvia Brian E.Carlson praised the Baltic states progress in developing democracy and market economy before the US Senate committee. Today Latvia has emerged as the region's commercial, financial and transportation centre. Latvians re-established functioning democratic and market-oriented institutions after decades of Soviet mismanagement, said Carlson. Demonstrating a principled commitment to human rights, Latvia's leaders have liberalised naturalisation procedures and put in place the rule of law, he added. Diena, Neatkariga

A settlement has been reached in the first Latvian case heard in the European Court of Human Rights with the state agreeing to pay compensation to the claimant. The Human Rights Court Thursday confirmed a settlement over the claim by Ms. Nina Kulakova, who will get from the Latvian state a compensation of 5,000 lats (USD 8,000) for delay in investigation of a criminal case where she was a victim and also a civil claimant. The court ruled to recognise the settlement between the parties, saying that it was in line with the human right requirements.

A settlement has been reached in the first Latvian case heard in the European Court of Human Rights with the state agreeing to pay compensation to the claimant. The Human Rights Court Thursday confirmed a settlement over the claim by Ms. Nina Kulakova, who will get from the Latvian state a compensation of 5,000 lats (USD 8,000) for delay in investigation of a criminal case where she was a victim and also a civil claimant. The court ruled to recognise the settlement between the parties, saying that it was in line with the human right requirements. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas, Vesti Segodnja

The Union for Human Rights in a United Latvia has prepared amendments to the Law on Parliamentarian Election, as well as to the Law on Municipal Election. The amendments stipulates exclusion of the requirement for deputy candidates who have not graduated from the schools with the Latvian language as an instruction language, submit a certificate proving their proficiency of the state language on the highest level. The amendments are submitted to protect the rights of all individuals to vote and run for elections, informed the faction leader J.Jurkans, indicating that restrictions provided for by election laws are discriminating on the basis of the language.

The Union for Human Rights in a United Latvia has prepared amendments to the Law on Parliamentarian Election, as well as to the Law on Municipal Election. The amendments stipulates exclusion of the requirement for deputy candidates who have not graduated from the schools with the Latvian language as an instruction language, submit a certificate proving their proficiency of the state language on the highest level. The amendments are submitted to protect the rights of all individuals to vote and run for elections, informed the faction leader J.Jurkans, indicating that restrictions provided for by election laws are discriminating on the basis of the language. Diena, Chas

5 applicants have been approved to the announced 5 vacancies for NGOs representatives at the Society Integration Foundation Board. They are the following: head of NGO “Russians of West” D.Nikolayevs, Latvian Orthodox Church Archbishop Aleksandrs, NGO centre director K.Gertnere, Latvian Deaf Association Head A.Pavlins and Latvian Romanian National Association President N.Rudevics.

5 applicants have been approved to the announced 5 vacancies for NGOs representatives at the Society Integration Foundation Board. They are the following: head of NGO Russians of West D.Nikolayevs, Latvian Orthodox Church Archbishop Aleksandrs, NGO centre director K.Gertnere, Latvian Deaf Association Head A.Pavlins and Latvian Romanian National Association President N.Rudevics. Diena.

Yesterday the Russian embassy to Latvia organised a celebration to award the best Russian language teachers with the nomination “Russian Language Teacher of the Year”.

Yesterday the Russian embassy to Latvia organised a celebration to award the best Russian language teachers with the nomination Russian Language Teacher of the Year. Chas, Vesti Segodnja

Latvian Human Rights Committee chairperson L.Raihman tells

Latvian Human Rights Committee chairperson L.Raihman tells Chas about Pre-Monitoring Report funded by the Open Society Institution. L.Raihman reproaches the Latvian authorities for being arrogant and thinking that Latvia could become a member of the EU without solving Latvias biggest problem – the situation concerning Russian speakers.

Vesti Segodnja

publishes some parts of the interview with Russias politician, Union of Right Wing Parties leader B.Nemcov aired on the Latvian National TV channel. In the first part of the interview B.Nemcov talked about Russias domestic policy. At the end of the interview he recalled how he gave Latvia a lesson in 1998 when I was working for the Government your Nazis dared to march in the centre of Riga. I issued the order to stop fuel supply. And that was it – it worked immediately. publishes some parts of the interview with Russia’s politician, Union of Right Wing Parties leader B.Nemcov aired on the Latvian National TV channel. In the first part of the interview B.Nemcov talked about Russia’s domestic policy. At the end of the interview he recalled how he gave Latvia a lesson “in 1998 when I was working for the Government your Nazis dared to march in the centre of Riga. I issued the order to stop fuel supply. And that was it – it worked immediately”.

Vesti Segodnja

publishes an article The Russian Language in the Independent Latvia where gives retrospection of the problems of Russian for the last ten years. The newspaper writes the existing language policy and practice have changed the linguistic situation, however, assimilation has not occurred. What are the reasons that prevented Russians from turning into Latvians. The newspaper names the things that are lost for the Russians in regard to the Russian language, such as libraries, Russian in the streets (signs, street names, etc.), however, there are fields where it is almost impossible to influence the usage of one or another language very much, like the radio, internet. publishes an article “The Russian Language in the Independent Latvia” where gives retrospection of the problems of Russian for the last ten years. The newspaper writes “the existing language policy and practice have changed the linguistic situation, however, assimilation has not occurred. What are the reasons that prevented Russians from turning into Latvians”. The newspaper names the things that are lost for the Russians in regard to the Russian language, such as libraries, Russian in the streets (signs, street names, etc.), however, there are fields where it is almost impossible to influence the usage of one or another language very much, like the radio, internet.