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.

• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga talks about the necessity to evaluate the crimes of the Soviet regime
• United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia officially registered
• Latvian members to the European Parliament from For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM will ask the prospective Commissioner for Freedom, Security and Justice Rocco Buttiglione to explain his statements
• Neatkariga Rita Avize comments on recommendations of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus
• Discussions on equalising incitement of national hatred with denial of Latvias occupation in Latvian legislation
• Saeima refuses the proposal to grant Latvian non-citizens the right to work at the Prison Administration
• Saeima National Security Committee: by publishing the envelopes with the image of the Latvian pilot Herberts Cukurs, Union of National Strength has not incited national hatred
• Interview with the Advisor of the President of Latvia on minority issues and the Chairman of the Society Integration Foundation Sols Bukingolts

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has called lawyers and historians to collect information on the damages brought by the Soviet regime during Latvia’’s so Latvia could apply with court and ask Russia for compensation. The President has also pointed to the fact that Russia has accepted the former properties and permanent assets of the USSR, but has not taken a responsibility of crimes committed by the Soviet regime. Russian-language newspapers express their criticism towards the President’s statements.

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has called lawyers and historians to collect information on the damages brought by the Soviet regime during Latvias so Latvia could apply with court and ask Russia for compensation. The President has also pointed to the fact that Russia has accepted the former properties and permanent assets of the USSR, but has not taken a responsibility of crimes committed by the Soviet regime. Russian-language newspapers express their criticism towards the Presidents statements. Diena, Rigas Balss, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Telegraf

The United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia has been officially registered by the Register of Enterprises yesterday.

The United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia has been officially registered by the Register of Enterprises yesterday. Latvijas Avize features the statements of several right-wing MPs. The majority of them believe that the organisation should not be registered. However, they admit that a registered organisation is possible to control more effectively. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Latvian members of the European Parliament from the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM have asked to invite the prospective Commissioner for Freedom, Security and Justice Rocco Buttiglione to the meeting of the Union for Europe of the Nations. According to the Latvian MPs, Rocco Buttiglione should explain his statement about the situation of non-citizens in Latvia and the suggestion to apply with the European Court to solve the issue. MPs are convinced that the prospective commissioner should recall his statement.

Latvian members of the European Parliament from the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM have asked to invite the prospective Commissioner for Freedom, Security and Justice Rocco Buttiglione to the meeting of the Union for Europe of the Nations. According to the Latvian MPs, Rocco Buttiglione should explain his statement about the situation of non-citizens in Latvia and the suggestion to apply with the European Court to solve the issue. MPs are convinced that the prospective commissioner should recall his statement. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize

Responding to the recommendations of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus to grant non-citizens the right to participate in municipal elections, the columnist of

Responding to the recommendations of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus to grant non-citizens the right to participate in municipal elections, the columnist of Neatkariga Rita Avize Anita Daukste states that naturalisation process in Latvia is liberal enough. According to the journalist, the language proficiency is almost the only criteria to pass naturalisation. Therefore, easements in naturalisation process would be a wrong step. Neatkariga Rita Avize

Latvijas Avize claims that Latvian residents believe that conscious denial of Latvia’s occupation should be interpreted as racial hatred in Latvian legislation. such conclusion was made after the National Radio and TV Council fined the First Baltic Channel for “one-sided and subjective reflection of Molotov-Ribentrop Pact.” The newspaper asks views of the Minister for Special Affairs on Social Integration Nils Muiznieks. He states that the denial of occupation should not be mixed with non-recognition of mass deportations and other repressions. Muiznieks does not think that new norms on incitement of racial hatred should be added to the existing legal norms. While the Head of the Human Rights Institute of the University of Latvia Arturs Kucs states that it is very difficult to apply the existing norms as they provide that it should be proved that a person has incited national hatred intentionally. 

Latvijas Avize claims that Latvian residents believe that conscious denial of Latvias occupation should be interpreted as racial hatred in Latvian legislation. such conclusion was made after the National Radio and TV Council fined the First Baltic Channel for one-sided and subjective reflection of Molotov-Ribentrop Pact. The newspaper asks views of the Minister for Special Affairs on Social Integration Nils Muiznieks. He states that the denial of occupation should not be mixed with non-recognition of mass deportations and other repressions. Muiznieks does not think that new norms on incitement of racial hatred should be added to the existing legal norms. While the Head of the Human Rights Institute of the University of Latvia Arturs Kucs states that it is very difficult to apply the existing norms as they provide that it should be proved that a person has incited national hatred intentionally.

Saeima did not support amendments, submitted by the MP of the For Human Rights in the United Latvia Vladimirs Buzajevs, to the Law on Prison Administration. Amendments stipulated granting non-citizens the right to work at the Prison Administration and the requirement for all employees of the Administration to have a good command of the Russian language. The MP claims that prison guards must know Russian because 70% of prisoners are Russian-speakers. According to Vladimirs Buzajevs, the restrictions for non-citizens to hold certain offices are ‘the heaviest and aggressive forms of apartheid and russophobia’.

Saeima did not support amendments, submitted by the MP of the For Human Rights in the United Latvia Vladimirs Buzajevs, to the Law on Prison Administration. Amendments stipulated granting non-citizens the right to work at the Prison Administration and the requirement for all employees of the Administration to have a good command of the Russian language. The MP claims that prison guards must know Russian because 70% of prisoners are Russian-speakers. According to Vladimirs Buzajevs, the restrictions for non-citizens to hold certain offices are ‘the heaviest and aggressive forms of apartheid and russophobia. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

‘By publishing the envelopes with the image of the Latvian pilot Herberts Cukurs, who in the World War Two participated in the Holocaust, the political organisation Union of National Strength has not incited national hatred,’ concluded the representatives of the Saeima National Security Committee after the meeting of the head of the State Security Police Janis Reiniks.

‘By publishing the envelopes with the image of the Latvian pilot Herberts Cukurs, who in the World War Two participated in the Holocaust, the political organisation Union of National Strength has not incited national hatred, concluded the representatives of the Saeima National Security Committee after the meeting of the head of the State Security Police Janis Reiniks. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the advisor of the President of Latvia on minority issues and the Chairman of the Society Integration Foundation Sols Bukingolts about the recent activities of the national-radicals and the formation of the United Congress of the Russian Community in Latvia. Sols Bukingolts believes that publishing and distribution of the envelopes with the image of Herberts Cukurs, who participated in the Holocaust, is a provocation towards all members of society. The Advisor evaluates attempts of the United Congress of the Russian Community to form economic groupings on the basis of ethnic lines as a dangerous tendency.