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.

• Compliance of the minority education reform with Latvias Constitution and international norms will be reviewed tomorrow
• Supporters of Russian schools will held their congress on 17 April
• Riga City Council most likely will not issue a permission to organise protest activities in support of rights of Russian speakers on 4 May
• Members of the Russian community declare that the municipality elections were not democratic because non-citizens were not entitled to take part in the elections
• Newspapers comment on the visit of two members of FHRUL to the Riga Secondary School No 33
• Nils Muiznieks launches the project aimed at fostering the formation of integrated society
• American official: USA President's visit to Latvia should not be viewed as a signal to Russia

On Tuesday the Constitutional Court will review the application submitted by left-wing parties challenging the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia, international norms and practices. The lecturer of the Riga Graduate School of Law Kristine Kruma says that the Court will have to decide whether the principle of proportionality has been observed, that is, whether proportions of studies in the Latvian language and a native language set by the Education Law are adequate, whether the reform was necessary and whether the measures taken to implement the reform were adequate. The lawyer of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilvija Puce states that the involvement of minorities in the process of decision making and taking regarding these issues is arguable, however, she believes that to challenge the proportion of languages of instruction set by the Law is very difficult and even impossible.

On Tuesday the Constitutional Court will review the application submitted by left-wing parties challenging the compliance of the minority education reform with the Constitution of Latvia, international norms and practices. The lecturer of the Riga Graduate School of Law Kristine Kruma says that the Court will have to decide whether the principle of proportionality has been observed, that is, whether proportions of studies in the Latvian language and a native language set by the Education Law are adequate, whether the reform was necessary and whether the measures taken to implement the reform were adequate. The lawyer of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilvija Puce states that the involvement of minorities in the process of decision making and taking regarding these issues is arguable, however, she believes that to challenge the proportion of languages of instruction set by the Law is very difficult and even impossible. Diena

Supporters of Russian schools will have their second congress on 17 April in Riga. About 500 people are expected to attend the congress.

Supporters of Russian schools will have their second congress on 17 April in Riga. About 500 people are expected to attend the congress. Telegraf

Rigas Balss writes that ‘people who protect rights of Russian-speakers are planning to organise protest actions on 4 May – the day of the re-establishment of Latvias independence. The newspaper reports that most probably organisers of the protest action will not receive the permission of the Riga City Council to organise a protest action. The Executive Director of the Riga City Council states that he will take decision on the basis of effective legal norms; however, he believes that amendments, which would ban mass activities on specific days, should be introduced.

A number of members of the Russian community have turned to the European Parliament and embassies of the EU member states with the application, which says that the municipality elections, which took place in Latvia on 12 March, were not democratic because Latvian non-citizens did not have the right to participate in the elections.

A number of members of the Russian community have turned to the European Parliament and embassies of the EU member states with the application, which says that the municipality elections, which took place in Latvia on 12 March, were not democratic because Latvian non-citizens did not have the right to participate in the elections. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers comment on the visit of two FHRUL’s members to the Riga Secondary School No 33. FHRUL’s members claimed that they had come to school to protect a student, who refused to take off a T-shirt with the slogan ‘Yes to Russian Schools!’ and therefore experienced repressions from the school administration. According to

Newspapers comment on the visit of two FHRULs members to the Riga Secondary School No 33. FHRULs members claimed that they had come to school to protect a student, who refused to take off a T-shirt with the slogan ‘Yes to Russian Schools! and therefore experienced repressions from the school administration. According to Latvijas Avize, the members of FHRUL simply wanted to disharmonise schools work, because the school supports the implementation of the minority education reform. While Russian-language newspapers provide a detailed description of the visit and expresses their incomprehension at the schools major argument that ‘T-shirts with the symbols of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian Language Schools destabilise the whole system. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports that the former Social Integration Minister Nils Muiznieks has launched a project ‘Personalities in Latvias Democracy. The main activity of the project is to recognise those personalities who have contributed to the development of democracy in Latvia. The key goal of the project is to foster formation of integrated society, based on common values.

The representative of the USA State Department Robert Zoelick paid a visit to Latvia and discussed a number of issues, including the upcoming visit of the USA President to Latvia. When asked about the interpretation of the visit, the official stated that the USA President’s visit should not be interpreted as a signal to Moscow ‘Frankly speaking, the President’s visit to Latvia should not be viewed as a signal to Russia, these are relations between the States and Latvia.’

The representative of the USA State Department Robert Zoelick paid a visit to Latvia and discussed a number of issues, including the upcoming visit of the USA President to Latvia. When asked about the interpretation of the visit, the official stated that the USA Presidents visit should not be interpreted as a signal to Moscow ‘Frankly speaking, the Presidents visit to Latvia should not be viewed as a signal to Russia, these are relations between the States and Latvia. Diena, Telegraf