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.

• Administrative District Court cancels decision of Ludza Election Commission which prohibited candidates from the Latvia Socialist Party to stand for municipal elections in Ludza
• Neatkariga Rita Avize features a commentary on usage of the minority education reform as a political instrument during the pre-election campaign
• Russian-language newspapers print large interviews with three members of FHRUL standing for municipal elections in Riga
• Konstantin Kosatchev: situation of Russian-speakers in Estonia is better than in Latvia
• Liepaja City Council authorises organisation of the procession on the Commemoration day for the Latvian Legion

Administrative District Court has satisfied a claim of two former activists of the Soviet Union’s Communist Party Fridijs Bokiss and Filips Strogonovs, cancelling  decision of the Ludza Election Commission prohibiting them to stand for municipal elections in Ludza from the Latvian Socialist Party. Election Commission based their decision upon the previous judgements of the Riga Central Court, which in 1995 established that both deputy candidates have collaborated with the Communist Party of Latvia after 13 January 1991 and hence cannot stand for Saeima elections. The Administrative District Court ruled that the fact of these persons’ collaboration with the Communist Party after the 13 January 1991 was not fully proven, and hence there are no restrictions for Fridijs Bokiss and Filips Strogonovs to stand for municipal elections.

Administrative District Court has satisfied a claim of two former activists of the Soviet Unions Communist Party Fridijs Bokiss and Filips Strogonovs, cancelling decision of the Ludza Election Commission prohibiting them to stand for municipal elections in Ludza from the Latvian Socialist Party. Election Commission based their decision upon the previous judgements of the Riga Central Court, which in 1995 established that both deputy candidates have collaborated with the Communist Party of Latvia after 13 January 1991 and hence cannot stand for Saeima elections. The Administrative District Court ruled that the fact of these persons collaboration with the Communist Party after the 13 January 1991 was not fully proven, and hence there are no restrictions for Fridijs Bokiss and Filips Strogonovs to stand for municipal elections. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Neatkariga Rita Avize features a commentary on the usage of minority education reform by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia as a political instrument during the pre-election campaign. According to columnist Viktors Avotins, FHRUL (party Equality) and the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language schools have abandoned the initial goal of protecting the quality of education, turning the issue of education reform into an instrument of political manipulation in favour of a particular party. The journalist also stresses that it is not possible to talk neither about the unitary position of the opposition parties nor about consolidate attitude of Russian community towards the education reform.

Chas and Vesti Segodnya print large interviews with two journalists of Russian-language media, Elina Cujanova and Jurijs Aleksejevs, who stand for municipal elections in Riga from the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL), as well as with one of the leaders of the FHRUL Jurijs Petropavlovskis. According to Elina Cujanova, the deputies of the Riga City Council have a possibility to minimise losses caused by the ill-prepared minority education reform to the Russian-language schools. The journalist also believes that Riga City Council should form a working group to carry out an objective and independent appraisal of the minority students knowledge of subjects taught in Latvian. Cujanova also believes that there is a necessity to provide additional lessons in minority languages for students who are not able to acquire a subject in Latvian, as well as necessity of improvement of the Latvian language teaching in minority kindergartens. At the same time, Jurijs Petropavlovskis stresses that the FHRULs goal is not to achieve the status of second state language for Russian, but rather a status of a second official language.

‘The situation of Russian-speakers in Estonia is better than in Latvia’ stated the chairman of the Russia State Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosatchev. The Russian official mentions granting of the rights for foreigners permanently living in this state to participate in municipal elections, as well as ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and deliberated implementation of the minority education reform in Estonia as prerequisites of better relationship between Russia and Estonia.

‘The situation of Russian-speakers in Estonia is better than in Latvia stated the chairman of the Russia State Councils Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosatchev. The Russian official mentions granting of the rights for foreigners permanently living in this state to participate in municipal elections, as well as ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, and deliberated implementation of the minority education reform in Estonia as prerequisites of better relationship between Russia and Estonia. Telegraf

Liepaja City Council has authorised organisation of the procession on the Commemoration day for the Latvian Legion on 16 March despite warnings about possible violence during the event expressed by the representatives of left-wing political parties. Latvian National Democratic party and For Human Rights in the United Latvia in collaboration with the Russian Community of Liepaja and other organisations are planning to ask Liepaja City Council to recall the authorisation of the procession, otherwise they will organise protest actions on 16 March.

Liepaja City Council has authorised organisation of the procession on the Commemoration day for the Latvian Legion on 16 March despite warnings about possible violence during the event expressed by the representatives of left-wing political parties. Latvian National Democratic party and For Human Rights in the United Latvia in collaboration with the Russian Community of Liepaja and other organisations are planning to ask Liepaja City Council to recall the authorisation of the procession, otherwise they will organise protest actions on 16 March. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya