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.

• Diena: recent statements of the Russian Ambassador to Latvia were anti-Semitic
• Racial attacks at Latvians in the UK raises comparison between Latvia and the UK
• Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins: Russian officials intentionally provide biased information about the situation of minorities in Latvia
• Interview with the Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands-Kehris
• Leader of the National Democratic Party Jevgenijs Osipovs plans to apply with the European Court of Human Rights against Latvia
• Member of the European Parliament from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka received the title ‘Compatriot of the Year
• Childrens fairy tales reflect clichés and stereotypes of the adults world

In the opinion of integration experts, historians and representatives of the Jewish community surveyed by the daily

In the opinion of integration experts, historians and representatives of the Jewish community surveyed by the daily Diena the recent statements of the Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kaluznij are anti-Semitic. The Ambassador said that Russia should not apologise to Latvia for the Soviet occupation because ‘what should the Russian people be blamed for? The KGB was headed by Pole Dzerzinskis; out of 44 members of the War Council 38 were Jews, 4 Latvians and only one was a Russian. The former Society Integration Minister Nils Muiznieks argues that anti-Semitism historically has been a characteristic feature of Russian nationalism, which implies construction of a negative Jewish prototype and that people are not perceived as individuals but a group. Diena notes that there have been other expressions of Kaluznijs disrespect towards Jews: the Ambassador demonstratively did not use the kipa when he attended the Synagogue. The Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks said that the Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry will not issue any official statements regarding the Ambassador Kaluznijs statements, however, the Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister invited the Russian Ambassador to the Occupation Museum and the Russian Ambassador accepted the invitation.

In the response to recent attacks at Latvians in the United Kingdom

In the response to recent attacks at Latvians in the United Kingdom Diena prints an article ‘Do They Hate Us? about the attitude of ‘old Europe towards guest workers from East Europe. The author of the article provides data about the attitude of Brits towards ‘others, in particular people from East Europe. The newspaper concludes that the level of tolerance of the Great Britains society is lower than expected. In the conclusion the author provides opinions from the Internet discussions in the Latvian website. One of the comments says ‘the attitude of Latvian guest workers [towards the country and society they have come] does not differ from the one Russians have towards Latvia: if things are not like at home, than they are stupid and damn.

‘Russian officials intentionally provide biased information on the situation of minorities in Latvia,’ stated the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins referring to the recent statements of the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Vladimir Chizhov. The Russian official stated that Russian experts have found 59 differences between the social, political and legal rights of Latvian citizens and non-citizens and provides as an example the prohibition of the right of Latvian non-citizens to participate in municipal elections.

‘Russian officials intentionally provide biased information on the situation of minorities in Latvia, stated the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins referring to the recent statements of the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Russia Vladimir Chizhov. The Russian official stated that Russian experts have found 59 differences between the social, political and legal rights of Latvian citizens and non-citizens and provides as an example the prohibition of the right of Latvian non-citizens to participate in municipal elections. Latvijas Avize

Chas features an interview with director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands-Kehris. The main topic of the interview is societal integration. Ilze Brands-Kehris expresses her concern concerning the situation in minority education. According to Ilze Brands-Kehris people who are responsible for minority education reform, have paid little attention to ensuring the quality of education and development of a positive motivation to acquire the Latvian language. The Director of the Centre believes that the existing segregation of Latvian and Russian schools should be eliminated as it further leads to society segregation in general. Ilze Brands-Kehris also points to the tendency to treat the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities as a threat for Latvians. The attempts to block ratification of the Convention show that the attitude towards minorities is not very positive, as well as it impedes naturalisation.

The leader of the National Democratic Party Jevgenijs Osipovs is planning to submit a claim with the European Court of Human Rights against Latvia. The leader of the Party believes that his rights to the freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and free movement were violated. Jevgenijs Osipovs is accused of attacking a policeman during the unapproved protest action against the education reform in Liepaja and now is under the supervision of the police. He is denied the right to leave the city and participate in public meetings and processions.

The leader of the National Democratic Party Jevgenijs Osipovs is planning to submit a claim with the European Court of Human Rights against Latvia. The leader of the Party believes that his rights to the freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and free movement were violated. Jevgenijs Osipovs is accused of attacking a policeman during the unapproved protest action against the education reform in Liepaja and now is under the supervision of the police. He is denied the right to leave the city and participate in public meetings and processions. Vesti Segodnya

Mayor of Moscow Jurij Luzhkov has presented an award ‘The Compatriot of the Year’ to the member of the European Parliament from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka. The award was given to Tatjana Zdanoka as acknowledgement of her persistent attempts to protect the rights of Russians in Latvia and the EU.

Mayor of Moscow Jurij Luzhkov has presented an award ‘The Compatriot of the Year to the member of the European Parliament from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka. The award was given to Tatjana Zdanoka as acknowledgement of her persistent attempts to protect the rights of Russians in Latvia and the EU. Vesti Segodnya

This year the fairy tale contest has been organised in Latvia and 865 children from all Latvia wrote and sent in their own fairy tales.

This year the fairy tale contest has been organised in Latvia and 865 children from all Latvia wrote and sent in their own fairy tales. Diena prints comments of two critics on the most common characters and themes in stories written by children. One of the critics states that childrens fairy tales reflect the values, stereotypes and clichés most common in the adults world. The dominant number of childrens stories is about the rich and the poor and how sharp is the division between these two groups, while the ethnic prejudices ‘Russians are such and such, but Latvians are better and superior were observed in only few fairy tales. Diena