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 actions against the education reform go on
• Saeima did not support amendments to the Law on Education, submitted by the FHRUL
• Prime Minister Indulis Emsis talks about possible mass disorders planned by opponents of the education reform
• Neatkariga Rita Avize discussed alternatives to minority school curricula
• Deputy of Russia Foreign Affairs Minister Victor Kaluznij appointed to the post of the Russia Ambassador to Latvia
• Interview with the head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins
• Detectaphone found in the premises of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools
• Riga Central Court dismiss charges against eight opponents of the education reform, who chained themselves to the doors of the Cabinet of Ministers
• Saeima refuses to give the MP Vladimirs Buzajevs a day-off to organise a protest action against the education reform

According to the information of the Education, Youth and Sports Department of the Riga City Council, approximately 95% of minority students in Riga have not responded to the call of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-Language Schools to participate in the protest action ‘empty schools.’ The widest support for the protest action has been received from minority students in Ventspils (the six largest city in Latvia): 200 or one eight of minority students were absent from school. In Daugavpils (the second largest city in Latvia) only 20 students instead of planned 1,000 participated in the protest walk and 120 were absent on 2 September. The representatives of the Headquarters assure that protest actions are continued. Meanwhile the Security and Order Committee of the Riga City Council will request information about students, who do not go to school because of protest actions. The Committee has charged the Municipal Police to impose fines on parents of absent students. According to the members of the Council, the decision is in line with the provision of the Code of Administrative Offences of Latvia, which provides imposing fine in the amount of up to LVL 50, if parents do not fulfil their duty to nurture and educate their minors. Another development regarding the education reform is that the Head of the Education, Youth and Sports Department Elmars Vebers in collaboration with teachers of 50 minority schools appealed the Executive Director of the Riga City Council asking not to issue authorisation for those protest actions which are planned during school time.

According to the information of the Education, Youth and Sports Department of the Riga City Council, approximately 95% of minority students in Riga have not responded to the call of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-Language Schools to participate in the protest action ‘empty schools. The widest support for the protest action has been received from minority students in Ventspils (the six largest city in Latvia): 200 or one eight of minority students were absent from school. In Daugavpils (the second largest city in Latvia) only 20 students instead of planned 1,000 participated in the protest walk and 120 were absent on 2 September. The representatives of the Headquarters assure that protest actions are continued. Meanwhile the Security and Order Committee of the Riga City Council will request information about students, who do not go to school because of protest actions. The Committee has charged the Municipal Police to impose fines on parents of absent students. According to the members of the Council, the decision is in line with the provision of the Code of Administrative Offences of Latvia, which provides imposing fine in the amount of up to LVL 50, if parents do not fulfil their duty to nurture and educate their minors. Another development regarding the education reform is that the Head of the Education, Youth and Sports Department Elmars Vebers in collaboration with teachers of 50 minority schools appealed the Executive Director of the Riga City Council asking not to issue authorisation for those protest actions which are planned during school time. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Yesterday the Saeima did not support amendments to the Law on Education, submitted by the parliamentary group For Human Rights in the United Latvia. The amendments stipulated the establishment of a moratorium on the education reform and charged the Cabinet of Ministers with the task to develop the Law on Minority Schools until 1 October. The amendments were supported by 17 members of FHRUL and Latvia’s Socialist Party parliamentary groups, while 76 deputies from right-wing factions voted against them.

Yesterday the Saeima did not support amendments to the Law on Education, submitted by the parliamentary group For Human Rights in the United Latvia. The amendments stipulated the establishment of a moratorium on the education reform and charged the Cabinet of Ministers with the task to develop the Law on Minority Schools until 1 October. The amendments were supported by 17 members of FHRUL and Latvias Socialist Party parliamentary groups, while 76 deputies from right-wing factions voted against them. Latvijas Avize

‘At the disposal of law enforcement institutions there is information about possible mass disorders during the Days of Rezekne City next Saturday. Dissorders are planned by opponents of the education reform,’ announced the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis.

‘At the disposal of law enforcement institutions there is information about possible mass disorders during the Days of Rezekne City next Saturday. Dissorders are planned by opponents of the education reform, announced the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis. Diena

Although the Ministry of Education and Science has not compiled information about subjects, which minority schools have chosen to teach in Latvian, according to unofficial information sports and history are the more frequently chosen subjects, while the instruction language of physics and chemistry remain Russian. Nevertheless, physics and chemistry are taught in Latvian at those schools, which major in exact sciences to prepare their students for enrolment in universities.

Although the Ministry of Education and Science has not compiled information about subjects, which minority schools have chosen to teach in Latvian, according to unofficial information sports and history are the more frequently chosen subjects, while the instruction language of physics and chemistry remain Russian. Nevertheless, physics and chemistry are taught in Latvian at those schools, which major in exact sciences to prepare their students for enrolment in universities. Neatkariga Rita Avize

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin has officially appointed the former Russia Energetic Minister and current deputy of the Russia Foreign Affairs Minister Victor Kaluznij to the post of the Russian ambassador to Latvia.

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin has officially appointed the former Russia Energetic Minister and current deputy of the Russia Foreign Affairs Minister Victor Kaluznij to the post of the Russian ambassador to Latvia. Diena, Neatkarīgā Rīta Avīze, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins about societal integration issues. Aleksandrs Kirsteins believes that those Russians, who came to Latvia during Soviet occupation looking for a job, as well as their descendants, should not be granted the status of national minority. The MP also believes that the state should promote development of Russian schools, where students could study Russian traditions of Orthodoxy. Aleksandrs Kirsteins basis his suggestion on the fact that in Latvia there are schools which teach in Russian, but there are very few Russian minority schools.

The Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools claim that they have found detectaphones in their office and accuse state authorities in installing this equipment there.

The Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools claim that they have found detectaphones in their office and accuse state authorities in installing this equipment there. Chas

The Riga Central Court dismissed the charges against nine opponents of the education reform, who chained themselves to the doors of the Cabinet of Ministers on 1 September and, according to the testimonies of the police, caused public disorder. The National News Agency LETA, referring to the judge Raimonds Buls, reports that the case was closed because the judge found no evidence that these persons committed administrative offences included in testimonies of policemen. Besides, the judge noted, that there are no other witnesses but policemen. 

The Riga Central Court dismissed the charges against nine opponents of the education reform, who chained themselves to the doors of the Cabinet of Ministers on 1 September and, according to the testimonies of the police, caused public disorder. The National News Agency LETA, referring to the judge Raimonds Buls, reports that the case was closed because the judge found no evidence that these persons committed administrative offences included in testimonies of policemen. Besides, the judge noted, that there are no other witnesses but policemen. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Yesterday the Saeima denied a request of the MP Vladimirs Buzajevs to give him a day-off to organise a protest action against the education reform.

Yesterday the Saeima denied a request of the MP Vladimirs Buzajevs to give him a day-off to organise a protest action against the education reform. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf