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

Four more persons have turned themselves in the General Prosecutor Office in the criminal investigation involving alleged sale of Latvian citizenship. Two persons have admitted to being mediators in bribing Naturalization Board staff, while two others claim to have given bribes. According to the law, persons who have turned themselves in can be released from criminal charges. Now the case includes more than 20 incidents of bribery.

Four more persons have turned themselves in the General Prosecutor Office in the criminal investigation involving alleged sale of Latvian citizenship. Two persons have admitted to being mediators in bribing Naturalization Board staff, while two others claim to have given bribes. According to the law, persons who have turned themselves in can be released from criminal charges. Now the case includes more than 20 incidents of bribery. Diena, Chas, Telegraf

A delegation of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is on a 5-day visit to the Russian Federation. The aim of the visit is to meet the officials of the Russian Federation’s MFA, politicians and political scientists to discuss co-operation between the two countries.

A delegation of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is on a 5-day visit to the Russian Federation. The aim of the visit is to meet the officials of the Russian Federations MFA, politicians and political scientists to discuss co-operation between the two countries. Lauku Avize, Chas, Panorama Latvii

Lauku Avize

interviews Russian Federation Baltic language linguist and researcher Vladimirs Toporovs. He says that in comparison to two other Baltic States Latvia experiences the most difficult language problems as the Russian language distorts any language proportionality in the country. However, he believes that the negative attitude of people in Russia towards the Baltic countries is gradually changing, as people understand that life for non-citizens in Latvia is better than life of most citizens in Russia. interviews Russian Federation Baltic language linguist and researcher Vladimirs Toporovs. He says that in comparison to two other Baltic States Latvia experiences the most difficult language problems as the Russian language distorts any language proportionality in the country. However, he believes that the negative attitude of people in Russia towards the Baltic countries is gradually changing, as people understand that life for non-citizens in Latvia is better than life of most citizens in Russia.

Vecernaja Riga

publishes a story by Vladimir Stroy who took part in the Latvian language training programme for persons who want to naturalize. Stroy praises the qualitative and effective work of teachers at the Folk School, and notes that only 2 students in his group could not pass the language tests. These two had skipped classes quite often. The newspaper reports that this year the Latvian Government will continue funding of the project, which had been funded by foreign donors. It has allotted 32 thousand lats for providing Latvian language courses free of charge for 255 applicants for naturalization. publishes a story by Vladimir Stroy who took part in the Latvian language training programme for persons who want to naturalize. Stroy praises the qualitative and effective work of teachers at the Folk School, and notes that only 2 students in his group could not pass the language tests. These two had skipped classes quite often. The newspaper reports that this year the Latvian Government will continue funding of the project, which had been funded by foreign donors. It has allotted 32 thousand lats for providing Latvian language courses free of charge for 255 applicants for naturalization. The European Court of Human Rights has accepted one more case from Latvia. This time the citizen of the Russian Federation and resident of Latvia Nina Sevanova has filed a claim with the ECHR concerning her forcible expulsion from Latvia. Sevanova arrived in Latvia in 1970. In the 1990 she accepted a job offer in Chechnya, and therefore acquired Russian citizenship and residency registration in Russia. When Latvian Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs officials learned that Sevanova had registered her place of residency in Russia, they refused to issue her a non-citizen passport and ordered her expulsion from Latvia. Sevanova’s application before the European Court alleges violations of the rights to privacy and family life.

The European Court of Human Rights has accepted one more case from Latvia. This time the citizen of the Russian Federation and resident of Latvia Nina Sevanova has filed a claim with the ECHR concerning her forcible expulsion from Latvia. Sevanova arrived in Latvia in 1970. In the 1990 she accepted a job offer in Chechnya, and therefore acquired Russian citizenship and residency registration in Russia. When Latvian Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs officials learned that Sevanova had registered her place of residency in Russia, they refused to issue her a non-citizen passport and ordered her expulsion from Latvia. Sevanovas application before the European Court alleges violations of the rights to privacy and family life. Telegraf