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.

• A call to establish a moratorium on education reform
• Latvia is planning to appeal the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka
• The status of Tatjana Slivenko and her daughter in Latvia will be defined by court
• Member of Riga City Council Ivans Klementjevs talks about the Russian community in Latvia
• Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Eleonor Mitrophanov speaks about the status of the Russian language in the Baltic States
• Palestinian Haisam Abu Abda becomes a citizen of Latvia

Russian language newspapers feature articles about the call by a group of public figures and teachers addressed to the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre and Prime Minister Indulis Emsis. The high officials are called to start a dialogue on the education reform with the discussion group, nominated by the Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools. The authors of the call emphasise the necessity to reach a compromise regarding the education reform, which, in their opinion, cannot be achieved if requirements developed by the discussion group are not considered. The main requirement is to set at least a one year long moratorium on the education reform. During the moratorium proposals on how to improve the quality of instruction in Latvian language should be developed, amendments to legislation which would stipulate the right to minorities’ schools to define the ratio of subjects to be taught in Latvian and minorities’ languages should be adopted, as well as a department on minorities’ education under the Ministry of Education and Science should be established.

Russian language newspapers feature articles about the call by a group of public figures and teachers addressed to the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre and Prime Minister Indulis Emsis. The high officials are called to start a dialogue on the education reform with the discussion group, nominated by the Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools. The authors of the call emphasise the necessity to reach a compromise regarding the education reform, which, in their opinion, cannot be achieved if requirements developed by the discussion group are not considered. The main requirement is to set at least a one year long moratorium on the education reform. During the moratorium proposals on how to improve the quality of instruction in Latvian language should be developed, amendments to legislation which would stipulate the right to minorities schools to define the ratio of subjects to be taught in Latvian and minorities languages should be adopted, as well as a department on minorities education under the Ministry of Education and Science should be established. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

The Government of Latvia has decided to appeal the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka.

The Government of Latvia has decided to appeal the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Cabinet of Ministers has charged the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs to file a petition to court, which would clarify what documents and status – entrance visa, temporary or permanent residence permit – must be conferred to the wife of the Russian army officer, Tatjana Slivenko, and his daughter Karina Slivenko so they could enter Latvia. Last October European Court of Human Rights satisfied one claim of the Slivenko, deciding that Latvia has violated their rights to respect for private life and home when it made the decision about deportation of the family from the state. According to the Latvian representative to the international human rights organizations Inga Reine, Latvia has already paid the compensation of 13,400 lats.

Cabinet of Ministers has charged the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs to file a petition to court, which would clarify what documents and status – entrance visa, temporary or permanent residence permit – must be conferred to the wife of the Russian army officer, Tatjana Slivenko, and his daughter Karina Slivenko so they could enter Latvia. Last October European Court of Human Rights satisfied one claim of the Slivenko, deciding that Latvia has violated their rights to respect for private life and home when it made the decision about deportation of the family from the state. According to the Latvian representative to the international human rights organizations Inga Reine, Latvia has already paid the compensation of 13,400 lats. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Chas, Telegraf

Chas features an interview with the sportsman and the deputy of Riga City Council Ivans Klementjevs (Peoples Harmony Party) about the Russian community in Latvia. According to the deputy, Russians must form a strong cultural and language community. The key task of the community would be the solution of the most urgent problems, among them, abolishment of the language exam during the naturalisation process for old persons, granting Latvian citizenship to all children born in Latvia and the right to all non-citizens, who are taxpayers in Latvia, to participate at municipal elections.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Eleonor Mitrophanov believes that Russian must be used as an official language in international communications among the Baltic States and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Eleonor Mitrophanov believes that Russian must be used as an official language in international communications among the Baltic States and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Vesti Segodnya

Chas features an article about Palestinian Haisam Abu Abda, who has succesfully passed the naturalisation exam and soon will receive the passport of a Latvian citizen.