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
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Russias State Council has adopted the Statement of the State Council about the Grave Violations of Human and Minority rights in Latvia
• The response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia (MFA) to the reproach of the MFA of Israel
• MFA of Latvia excludes a possibility to provide Slivenko with an apartment in Latvia
• Inga Reine: the ECHR has received eight complaints from the citizens of the former USSR about human rights violations in Latvia
• A controversy on the establishment of the new association of minority NGOs Sadraudziba
• Zdanok and Pliner meet the officials of MFA of Russia
• Chas discusses the prospects of naturalization process in Latvia
• The festival of national cultures Ventspils Vainags will take place on Saturday
• Politologist Artis Pabriks about the policy of Russia concerning the Russian minority in Latvia

Yesterday Russia’s State Council adopted unanimously “The Statement of the State Council about the Grave Violations of Human and Minority rights in Latvia”. The Statement does not stipulate the imposition of economical sanctions on Latvia, but challenges the legitimacy of the work of the Latvian Parliament and the government; it also stresses the large number of residents having no voting rights. The authors of the Statement point to discrimination and forcible assimilation of minorities and criticize the participation of Latvian officials in the unveiling of the Latvian Legion Soldier’s Warrior Cemetery Ensemble in Lestene. According to the Statement, Russia will ratify the border agreement between Latvia and Russia only after the improvement of minority rights situation in Latvia. According to

Yesterday Russias State Council adopted unanimously The Statement of the State Council about the Grave Violations of Human and Minority rights in Latvia. The Statement does not stipulate the imposition of economical sanctions on Latvia, but challenges the legitimacy of the work of the Latvian Parliament and the government; it also stresses the large number of residents having no voting rights. The authors of the Statement point to discrimination and forcible assimilation of minorities and criticize the participation of Latvian officials in the unveiling of the Latvian Legion Soldiers Warrior Cemetery Ensemble in Lestene. According to the Statement, Russia will ratify the border agreement between Latvia and Russia only after the improvement of minority rights situation in Latvia. According to Vesti Segodnya, this document includes an appeal to examine the draft law On Prevention of Violations of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Citizens of the Russian Federation and Russian Compatriots in Latvia stipulating also the imposition of economical sanctions on Latvia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia (MFA) has stated that the Statement does not reflect the real situation in Latvia. The MFA also connects its adoption with the pre-election situation in Russia. Diena, Lauku Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

The MFA of Latvia is not planning to respond to the reproach of the MFA of Israel about the unveiling of the Latvian Legion Soldier’s Warrior Cemetery Ensemble in Lestene and the participation of the Latvian officials in this event. Rets Plesums, the representative of the MFA of Latvia, has stated that Latvia and Israel have different opinions about the

The MFA of Latvia is not planning to respond to the reproach of the MFA of Israel about the unveiling of the Latvian Legion Soldiers Warrior Cemetery Ensemble in Lestene and the participation of the Latvian officials in this event. Rets Plesums, the representative of the MFA of Latvia, has stated that Latvia and Israel have different opinions about the Waffen SS. Israel considers both the Baltic Waffen SS and SS in Germany as criminal organizations. In its turn, Latvia takes into account the statement of the USA, considering the Baltic Waffen SS as a separate unit with other goals and motivation. Diena, Lauku Avize

The MFA of Latvia excludes a possibility to provide Tatjana Slivenko with an apartment in Latvia. The MFA refers to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), stipulating a compensation only for non-pecuniary damage.

The MFA of Latvia excludes a possibility to provide Tatjana Slivenko with an apartment in Latvia. The MFA refers to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), stipulating a compensation only for non-pecuniary damage. Telegraf

According to the representative of Latvia to international human rights organizations Inga Reine, the ECHR has received eight complaints from the citizens of the former USSR about human rights violations in Latvia. Pavel Laptev, the authorized representative from Russia to the ECHR, has stated recently the ECHR has received more than 100 of such complaints.

According to the representative of Latvia to international human rights organizations Inga Reine, the ECHR has received eight complaints from the citizens of the former USSR about human rights violations in Latvia. Pavel Laptev, the authorized representative from Russia to the ECHR, has stated recently the ECHR has received more than 100 of such complaints. Rigas Balss

Rigas Balss prints an article about a controversy between the Latvian Association of National Cultural Societies (LANCS), the new association of minority NGOs Sadraudziba (Commonwealth) and the Special Tasks Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks. According to the head of the LANCS Rafi Haradzajan, the establishment of Sadraudziba has been supported by Nils Muiznieks allegedly in order to provide a stable background for the activities of the Secretariat. Haradzajan also points to political orientation of the new association. Muiznieks denies a particular support of the Secretariat to Sadraudziba, believing that the establishment of this organization should help to achieve common important goals of the society.

Vesti Segodnya features an article about the meeting of the leader of the political party Equality Tatjana Zdanok and the leader of the parliamentary group For Human Rights in the United Latvia Yakov Pliner with the officials of the MFA of Russia. According to Zdanok, the discussion was about the status of non-citizens after Latvias accession to the EU, including the rights to travel, and education reform. Vesti Segodnya

Chas interviews the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks and the deputy head of the Naturalization Board Janis Kahanovics about the prospects of naturalization. Both officials assume that the naturalization process will accelerate after Latvias accession to the EU.

The representatives of 11 minority cultural societies will participate in the second festival of national cultures “Ventspils vainags” (“Ventspils Crown”), taking place in Ventspils on next Saturday.

The representatives of 11 minority cultural societies will participate in the second festival of national cultures Ventspils vainags (Ventspils Crown), taking place in Ventspils on next Saturday. Lauku Avize

Internet portal

Internet portal www.politika.lv features an article by politologist Artis Pabriks about the policy of Russia concerning the Russian minority in Latvia.