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.

SUMMARY OF LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

SUMMARY OF LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

Lauku Avize views Presidents initiative to abolish language requirement for election candidates as a publicly given permission to all political parties to work with non-Latvian electorate. The contributor also refers to other statements made by the President previously regarding the rights and life of other national minorities in Latvia and he concludes that the initiative was nothing sudden as these tendencies were left unnoticed in other statements made by the President. In the opinion of the columnist, it will lead to appearance of new faces from non-Latvian circles.

Diena, Neatkariga

: Juta Mencena's petition to the European Court of Human Rights complaining about violating her rights in the Latvianization of her surname which she had obtained after marriage, has been accepted by the Court. The Latvian Constitutional Court admits that the norms in the State Language Law pertaining to Latvianization of foreigners' surnames are in approximation with the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and the surname of Juta Mencena (of the German Mentzen) in her passport has been written lawfully. The spelling of the surname of Mencena will remain the same for the time being. However, changes could be introduced in writing surnames with new passports when original writing of the surnames will be shown on the 3rd page of new passports. : Juta Mencena's petition to the European Court of Human Rights complaining about violating her rights in the Latvianization of her surname which she had obtained after marriage, has been accepted by the Court. The Latvian Constitutional Court admits that the norms in the State Language Law pertaining to Latvianization of foreigners' surnames are in approximation with the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and the surname of Juta Mencena (of the German Mentzen) in her passport has been written lawfully. The spelling of the surname of Mencena will remain the same for the time being. However, changes could be introduced in writing surnames with new passports when original writing of the surnames will be shown on the 3rd page of new passports.

Panorama Latvii

: Russian Embassy to Latvia organised unofficial meeting with the representatives of Latvias means of mass media. : Russian Embassy to Latvia organised unofficial meeting with the representatives of Latvia’s means of mass media.