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.

• Protest action against the education reform in Riga
• Peoples Harmony Party challenges amendments to the law On the Status of Former USSR Citizens Who are not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State
• Chairperson of the board of the Latvian Integration Movement ‘Runa Marina Romanenko criticises FHRUL activities
• Interview with the leader of the Jewish Survivors of Latvia George Schwab
• Newspapers write about establishment of the European Unions Russian Party

Newspapers write about the protest action against the education reform in Riga, which, according to the representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language schools, will continue until 12 June, the day of the European Parliament elections. In the course of the protest action, young representatives of the Headquarters are inviting all interested persons to join the Headquarters’ Guard and to register with the Russian community in Latvia.

Newspapers write about the protest action against the education reform in Riga, which, according to the representatives of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language schools, will continue until 12 June, the day of the European Parliament elections. In the course of the protest action, young representatives of the Headquarters are inviting all interested persons to join the Headquarters Guard and to register with the Russian community in Latvia. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

People’s Harmony Party (PHP) has submitted a claim to the Constitutional Court, challenging amendments to the law ‘On the Status of Former USSR Citizens Who are not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State’. The amendments stipulate that persons, who have obtained a residence permit in another country after 1 May 2004, can be deprived of their non-citizen status in Latvia. PHP representatives believe that the amendments violate the Constitution of Latvia, as well as the European conventions.

Peoples Harmony Party (PHP) has submitted a claim to the Constitutional Court, challenging amendments to the law ‘On the Status of Former USSR Citizens Who are not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State. The amendments stipulate that persons, who have obtained a residence permit in another country after 1 May 2004, can be deprived of their non-citizen status in Latvia. PHP representatives believe that the amendments violate the Constitution of Latvia, as well as the European conventions. Vesti Segodnya

Leader of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) Tatjana Zdanoka exploits national and patriotic feelings of Russians living in Latvia in order to achieve selfish political goals, which have nothing to do with the defence of Russians’ interests, says the chairperson of the board of the Latvian Integration Movement ‘Runa’ (The Speech) Marina Romanenko. “We understand that education problems should be solved by a dialogue, not at the barricades, as Zdanoka suggests,” stresses Marina Romanenko.

Leader of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) Tatjana Zdanoka exploits national and patriotic feelings of Russians living in Latvia in order to achieve selfish political goals, which have nothing to do with the defence of Russians interests, says the chairperson of the board of the Latvian Integration Movement ‘Runa (The Speech) Marina Romanenko. We understand that education problems should be solved by a dialogue, not at the barricades, as Zdanoka suggests, stresses Marina Romanenko. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize features an interview with Prof. George Schwab, Holocaust survivor from Latvia and one of the leaders of the US-based organisation Jewish Survivors of Latvia. Prof. Schwab speaks about activities of his organisation, about the Holocaust past and the present situation of Jews in Latvia, as well as about society integration aspects.

Newspapers write about establishment of the European Union’s Russian Party. Commentator of

Newspapers write about establishment of the European Unions Russian Party. Commentator of Latvijas Avize Aija Calite, referring to the Latvian representative of this party Tatjana Zdanoka, names the main tasks of the party as achieving status of the official language for Russian in the EU, and developing the idea of establishing the EU Committee of Minority Nationalities, so that Russians and other minorities could be directly represented in the EU. Vesti Segodnya, referring to the other representative from Latvia, Jurijs Sokolovskis, writes that the main tasks of the movement are to maintain education in the native language, to support Russian culture and Russian-language mass media, and to ensure the legal status of Russians, who are residents of the EU countries. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya