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: the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools attempts to cause social instability
• Professor, dr.jur.habil. Juris Bojars comments on ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Latvian government appoints the ECHR special judge from Latvia in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka
• Peoples Harmony Party proposes amendments to the Law on Politically Repressed Persons
• Left-wing parties call teachers and parents of minority students to submit any information on the influence of the minority education reform on the level of academic success of minority students
• Russian-language newspaper reproach authors of a new text book for distortion of the Latvian history
• Russian language school teachers from all Baltic States meet in Riga
• Former Minister of Economics Juris Lujans (Latvias First Party) comments the stance of the party on social integration issues

The daily

The daily Diena argues that the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools, after their failure to stop the implementation of the minority education reform, probably, attempts to cause social instability by encouraging employees of several industries (for example, nurses and bus drivers) to start strikes. According to the daily the Headquarters is acting through the recently formed organisation Latvian Council of Labour Unions (LCLU). Activists of the Headquarters as well as the LCLU refuse reproaches and state that these two organisations do not have anything in common. However, Diena states that there is a link between the two organisations – the leader of the LCLU Janis Kuzins together with members of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) fought against the minority education reform. The Minister of Health Gundars Berzins and the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis announced that the plans of LCLU to organise a strike in February is a pre-election campaign. Neatkariga Rita Avize prints an article of Aigars Lavrinovics, the President of the Latvian Union of Nurses, who is one of LCLU members. Aigars Lavrinovics denies any assumptions that the FHRUL and LCLU are co-operating. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an article by the professor, dr.jur.habil. Juris Bojars on ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Juris Bojars believes that it is very important that Latvia adopts its own minority definition. According to the professor, in case of Latvia national minorities should be defined on citizenship, historical and numerical criteria. Juris Bojars argues that the state will not be able to provide primary education in minority languages for about 100 ethnic minorities living in Latvia.

Professor of International Law of the Lund University Ineta Ziemele is appointed by the Latvian Government to the post of a special judge of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka. As reported, Latvia has appealed the verdict of Small Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights which ruled that the state of Latvia has violated the right of Zdanoka to free elections and obligated to pay EUR 10,000 for moral damages and to compensate the court and travel expenses.

Professor of International Law of the Lund University Ineta Ziemele is appointed by the Latvian Government to the post of a special judge of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Tatjana Zdanoka. As reported, Latvia has appealed the verdict of Small Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights which ruled that the state of Latvia has violated the right of Zdanoka to free elections and obligated to pay EUR10,000 for moral damages and to compensate the court and travel expenses. Diena

The Parliamentary Faction of the People’s Harmony Party issued an official statement calling to introduce amendments to the Law on Politically Repressed Persons. The effective law foresees giving the status of a politically repressed person to those who suffered from Nazi activities in 1942-1943 and Latvian citizens who were deported from Latvia to forced labour camps in other countries. While the PHP suggests that the status of a politically repressed person should be granted to all those persons who were sent to labour camps in Germany and other countries from 22 June 1941 till 8 May 1945, as well as to those permanent residents who were inmates of prisons, ghettos and concentration camps located in Latvia, Germany and other countries. The Party stresses that Latvian non-citizens should be the subjects of the Law on Politically Repressed Persons.

The Parliamentary Faction of the Peoples Harmony Party issued an official statement calling to introduce amendments to the Law on Politically Repressed Persons. The effective law foresees giving the status of a politically repressed person to those who suffered from Nazi activities in 1942-1943 and Latvian citizens who were deported from Latvia to forced labour camps in other countries. While the PHP suggests that the status of a politically repressed person should be granted to all those persons who were sent to labour camps in Germany and other countries from 22 June 1941 till 8 May 1945, as well as to those permanent residents who were inmates of prisons, ghettos and concentration camps located in Latvia, Germany and other countries. The Party stresses that Latvian non-citizens should be the subjects of the Law on Politically Repressed Persons. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Constitutional Court of Latvia announced that the claim challenging the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia and international norms will be reviewed in a public hearing. Therefore MPs of the three opposition parties, who are the authors of the claim, call parents of minority students and teachers to participate in this case and submit any information on how the implementation of the education reform has influenced the level of academic success of minority students.

The Constitutional Court of Latvia announced that the claim challenging the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia and international norms will be reviewed in a public hearing. Therefore MPs of the three opposition parties, who are the authors of the claim, call parents of minority students and teachers to participate in this case and submit any information on how the implementation of the education reform has influenced the level of academic success of minority students. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday the presentation of the book ‘The Latvian History: XX Century’ took place.  The Russian language newspapers note that the book is published in two languages, however, they state that the authors of the book ‘have carefully avoided talking about atrocious events committed during the Nazi regime in Latvia.’

Yesterday the presentation of the book ‘The Latvian History: XX Century took place. The Russian language newspapers note that the book is published in two languages, however, they state that the authors of the book ‘have carefully avoided talking about atrocious events committed during the Nazi regime in Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Chas reports on the meeting of teachers of Russian-language schools from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The meeting took place in Riga. Teachers agreed to organise regular meetings to support each in their efforts to develop and protect Russian schools.

Latvijas Avize features an interview with the former Minister of Economics Juris Lujans (Latvia's First Party) running for post of Riga Mayor in the forthcoming municipal elections. When asked to comment the stance of his party on social integration issues, Juris Lujans states that Latvian First Party will not support granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. The Party will not support the cancellation of the minority education reform either. Juris Lujans states that the draft Law on Minority Education, initiated by the former Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, has not received the support of the governing coalition and hence it is not forwarded for its revision in Saeima. He states: ‘We hope that loyal Russian speakers who have moderate political views will vote for us. However, he notes that there is a lack of choices of political parties for Russian speakers and that leads to rather monolithic support for the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia.