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.

INTEGRATION AND MINORITY INFORMATION SERVICE

INTEGRATION AND MINORITY INFORMATION SERVICE

 An Investigative Commission of the Ministry of Justice has finished a review of the Naturalisation Board after several employees were caught receiving bribes for helping people who wanted to pass naturalisation examinations. The Commission concluded that there are no serious violations in the work of the Naturalization Board and that the overall performance of the institution is good. The Commission will also recommend the Government to resume granting Latvian citizenship by naturalisation, a process that had been suspended when three Naturalisation Board employees were detained for selling citizenship.

An Investigative Commission of the Ministry of Justice has finished a review of the Naturalisation Board after several employees were caught receiving bribes for helping people who wanted to pass naturalisation examinations. The Commission concluded that there are no serious violations in the work of the Naturalization Board and that the overall performance of the institution is good. The Commission will also recommend the Government to resume granting Latvian citizenship by naturalisation, a process that had been suspended when three Naturalisation Board employees were detained for selling citizenship. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas, Vesti Segodnja

Daugavpils City Council denied the request of the national bolshevik organization “Pobeda” to organize a rally in support of the Russian language. The documents requesting permission to organize the rally did not comply with Latvian legislation, says a Daugavpils City Council official.

Daugavpils City Council denied the request of the national bolshevik organization Pobeda to organize a rally in support of the Russian language. The documents requesting permission to organize the rally did not comply with Latvian legislation, says a Daugavpils City Council official. Diena, Neatkariga

Vesti Segodnja

comments on the article by Klavs Sedlinieks Towards Two Communities in Latvia, published in the internet portal politika.lv. In his article, Sedlinieks writes that although the legislation of the country concerning the rights of national minorities has been acknowledged as being legitimate, it is still possible that the society is divided and full of hatred. Vesti Segodnja agrees with the statement and notes that finally not only Russian-writing journalists see this problem but also the Latvian press writes about it. The newspaper highlights another statement by Sedlinieks to the effect that that an uncritical yielding to the demands of various international organizations can foster the formation of two communities in the country. comments on the article by Klavs Sedlinieks “Towards Two Communities in Latvia”, published in the internet portal politika.lv. In his article, Sedlinieks writes that although the legislation of the country concerning the rights of national minorities has been acknowledged as being legitimate, it is still possible that the society is divided and full of hatred. Vesti Segodnja agrees with the statement and notes that finally not only Russian-writing journalists see this problem but also the Latvian press writes about it. The newspaper highlights another statement by Sedlinieks’ to the effect that that an uncritical yielding to the demands of various international organizations can foster the formation of two communities in the country. Last week officials of the Latvian and Russian Welfare Ministries held a meeting in Moscow to finalize the social guarantee agreement between the two countries. The agreement provides that more than 22,000 pensioners who live in Latvia, but who are not Latvian citizens, will receive pensions which will be calculated to include the years they worked outside the territory of Latvia for the period till 1991. It is hoped that the agreement will be signed by this parliament.

Last week officials of the Latvian and Russian Welfare Ministries held a meeting in Moscow to finalize the social guarantee agreement between the two countries. The agreement provides that more than 22,000 pensioners who live in Latvia, but who are not Latvian citizens, will receive pensions which will be calculated to include the years they worked outside the territory of Latvia for the period till 1991. It is hoped that the agreement will be signed by this parliament. Vesti Segodnja, Chas, Telegraf, Panorama Latvii.

Telegraf

provides an overview of Russian culture in Latvia, its future and key events over the last 10 years. The majority of the cultural figures interviewed believe that there is a Russian culture in Latvia and that its future depends primarily on the Russians themselves. Some of those cited think that it is impossible to single out Russian culture in Latvia as such. Many believe that the biggest achievement of Russian culture in Latvia is the Russian theatre, but they also name the magazine Daugava, the literary almanac Orbita and the newspaper provides an overview of Russian culture in Latvia, its future and key events over the last 10 years. The majority of the cultural figures interviewed believe that there is a Russian culture in Latvia and that its future depends primarily on the Russians themselves. Some of those cited think that it is impossible to single out Russian culture in Latvia as such. Many believe that the biggest achievement of Russian culture in Latvia is the Russian theatre, but they also name the magazine “Daugava,” the literary almanac “Orbita” and the newspaper TelegrafTelegraf. .