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

• Officials of the European Commission consider the Statement of Russias State Council ungrounded
• The number of complaints against Latvia to the European Court of Human Rights has increased over the last years
• Jakov Pliner informs Russian officials about the Latvian response to the visit of Russian school students to Moscow
• The Ministry of Foreign Affais of Latvia challenges the legitimacy of Russiasrefusal to extradite the leader of the Russias National Bolshevik party Vladimir Linderman to Latvia
• Interview with Dainis Ivans, the chairperson of the Latvian Social Democratic party
• Lauku Avize criticizes the Jakov Pliners visit to Moscow
• Nikolay Kabanov discusses three articles in Latvian language media concerning state identity and language issues
• Lauku Avize prints an article published in a Dutch newspaper about minority situation in Latvia

Lauku Avize features the response of the officials of the European Commission to Russias statement about human rights situation in Latvia adopted last Tuesday. The statement stipulates imposing of economic sanctions on Latvia, invites to exclude Latvia from the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the EU and Russia and not to sign a boarder agreement between Latvia and Russia. The EU officials consider the reproaches of Russia ungrounded, and stress that the EU Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation concerns all new EU member states automatically. The Italian Presidency of the Council of the EU is planning to discuss this issue with Russian officials during the meeting of the leaders of the EU and Russia to on 28 October.

Neatkariga Rita Avize provides information about complaints against Latvia to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The number of complaints against Latvia to the European Court of Human Rights has grown from 109 in 2000 to 256 in 2002. Till 1 September 2003, the ECHR has asked Latvia to comment 45 complaints. Inga Reine, the representative of Latvia to international human rights organizations, says that before deciding on possible preventive measures, it is necessary to wait for two-three years in order to see if similar complaints continue to be submitted. So far, Latvia has lost four court cases: the case of Antonina Ignatane, Slivenko family, Ingrida Podkolzina, and Aleksandr Lavent.

During his visit to Moscow, the head of the FHRUL Jakov Pliner informed Russian officials about the negative response of Latvian officials to the meeting of a Russian school students with the President of Russia.

During his visit to Moscow, the head of the FHRUL Jakov Pliner informed Russian officials about the negative response of Latvian officials to the meeting of a Russian school students with the President of Russia. Vesti Segodnya refers to the promise of the inspection of the Ministry of Education and Science to clarify if the studentsabsence from school was well grounded. Vesti Segodnya

The Ministry of Foreign Affaires of Latvia (MFA) has stated that the arguments for refusal of Russia to extradite the leader of the Russia’s National Bolshevik party Vladimir Linderman to Latvia contradict the previous decision of Russia to refuse a refugee status to Linderman last July. The refusal of Russia to extradite Linderman to Latvia was explained by the allegation that Latvia has initiated persecution of Linderman due to his political views.

The Ministry of Foreign Affaires of Latvia (MFA) has stated that the arguments for refusal of Russia to extradite the leader of the Russias National Bolshevik party Vladimir Linderman to Latvia contradict the previous decision of Russia to refuse a refugee status to Linderman last July. The refusal of Russia to extradite Linderman to Latvia was explained by the allegation that Latvia has initiated persecution of Linderman due to his political views. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Chas features an interview with Dainis Ivans, the chairperson of the Latvian Social Democratic party (LSDP), where he discusses the prospects of cooperation between the LSDP and other social democratic parties in Latvia, education reform and granting of voting rights to non-citizens at municipal elections.

Chas features an interview with Dainis Ivans, the chairperson of the Latvian Social Democratic party (LSDP), where he discusses the prospects of cooperation between the LSDP and other social democratic parties in Latvia, education reform and granting of voting rights to non-citizens at municipal elections.

Lauku Avize columnist Maris Antonevics criticizes the visit of the head of the FHRUL and the leader of the new party BITE Jakov Pliner to Moscow last week. According to the columnist, the goal of this visit was to establish collaboration of BITE with the Russian officials.

A MP from the FHRUL Nikolay Kabanov criticizes the articles of Raivis Dzintars, the leader of the radical nationalistic movement “All for Latvia!”, Artis Pabriks, political scientist, and Denis Hanov, the representative of the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Affaires. The articles were recently published in Latvian language Internet portals delfi.lv and politika.lv and discussed the issues of state identity, the policy of Russia regarding minorities in Latvia and the role of the Latvian language in social integration. The columnist considers the establishment of the official bilinguism and equal rights as the crucial conditions for a long-term stability of the state.

A MP from the FHRUL Nikolay Kabanov criticizes the articles of Raivis Dzintars, the leader of the radical nationalistic movement All for Latvia!, Artis Pabriks, political scientist, and Denis Hanov, the representative of the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Affaires. The articles were recently published in Latvian language Internet portals delfi.lv and politika.lv and discussed the issues of state identity, the policy of Russia regarding minorities in Latvia and the role of the Latvian language in social integration. The columnist considers the establishment of the official bilinguism and equal rights as the crucial conditions for a long-term stability of the state. Vesty Segodnya

Lauku Avîze prints an article published in a Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad. The columnist argues that there is no systematic discrimination of Russians in Latvia.