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.

• State officials comment on the demands of the second Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language Schools
• Draft resolution on the minority education reform has been submitted to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
• Petition Committee of the European Parliament will review a complaint about the refusal of the Latvian government to grant Jurijs Petropavlovskis Latvian citizenship
• Participants of the unsanctioned meeting of 16 March appeal the judgement of the Riga Centre District Court
• Web pages of the national radical organisation Latvian National Front and the national radical newspaper DDD are not available on the internet anymore

Latvijas Avize features views of several state officials about the demands of the second Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language Schools. As reported, the Congress demanded the state to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and harmonise the State Language Law and the Law on Education with the provisions of the Convention. Besides the Congress demanded to grant all Latvian non-citizens the right to participate in municipal elections and grant Latvian citizenship to all Russian-speakers living in Latvia through registration. The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane states that by demanding to grant Latvian citizenship to all Russian-speakers these people are given false hopes. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis believes that the Congress came up with these requirements because of the upcoming Saeima elections. Ainars Latkovskis argues that politicians who stand behind the activities of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language schools have realised that manipulations with the education reform have failed, therefore these politicians turn to actualisation of other issues. While Andris Berzins, the chairman of the Saeima Subcommittee on Social Integration, states that he is 90% sure that the Convention will be ratified with reservations and adds that no laws will be amended. Vesti Segodnya continues to publish statements of Congress participants. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Two draft resolutions concerning Latvia – on the implementation of the minority education reform and granting the right Latvian non-citizens to participate in municipal elections - have been submitted to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The draft resolutions have been developed and submitted by 20 member of the European Parliament from 12 countries. The authors of the resolution on the implementation of the minority education reform argue that the minority education reform has been implemented despite the mass protests of non-Latvians and recommendations of human rights organisations. The draft resolution states that the reform has limited the right of national minorities to education in their native tongue. The authors of the resolution also believe that the protest activities against the reform show that Latvian authorities lack the will and desire to start an open dialogue on the Law on Education. The Head of the Latvian delegation to the PACE Andris Berzins notes that this document has been initiated by representatives from Russia.

Two draft resolutions concerning Latvia – on the implementation of the minority education reform and granting the right Latvian non-citizens to participate in municipal elections - have been submitted to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The draft resolutions have been developed and submitted by 20 member of the European Parliament from 12 countries. The authors of the resolution on the implementation of the minority education reform argue that the minority education reform has been implemented despite the mass protests of non-Latvians and recommendations of human rights organisations. The draft resolution states that the reform has limited the right of national minorities to education in their native tongue. The authors of the resolution also believe that the protest activities against the reform show that Latvian authorities lack the will and desire to start an open dialogue on the Law on Education. The Head of the Latvian delegation to the PACE Andris Berzins notes that this document has been initiated by representatives from Russia. Chas

Today the Petition Committee of the European Parliament will review a complaint submitted by Jurijs Petropavlovskis, member of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and defender of Russian-language schools, on the refusal of the Latvian government to grant him Latvian citizenship. The government refused to grant Jurijs Petropavlovskis Latvian citizenship arguing that Jurijs Petrapovlovskis is disloyal to the Latvian state. While Jurijs Petrapovlovskis argues that the government’s refusal to grant him Latvian citizenship is related to his ethnic origin.  He stresses that he has defended the rights of ethnic minorities in accordance with the effective legislation. The Petition Committee will also review another complaint on ‘mistreatment and persecution of approximately 500,000 Russian-speaking Latvians’ submitted by Geoffrey Simmonds, the representative of Great Britain.  Simmonds demands Latvia to recognise that all Latvian non-citizens are citizens of the EU and that they have the right to exchange their non-citizens passports for passports of Latvian citizens without going through naturalisation. The International Council of Russian Compatriots has submitted a similar complaint as well.

Today the Petition Committee of the European Parliament will review a complaint submitted by Jurijs Petropavlovskis, member of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and defender of Russian-language schools, on the refusal of the Latvian government to grant him Latvian citizenship. The government refused to grant Jurijs Petropavlovskis Latvian citizenship arguing that Jurijs Petrapovlovskis is disloyal to the Latvian state. While Jurijs Petrapovlovskis argues that the governments refusal to grant him Latvian citizenship is related to his ethnic origin. He stresses that he has defended the rights of ethnic minorities in accordance with the effective legislation. The Petition Committee will also review another complaint on ‘mistreatment and persecution of approximately 500,000 Russian-speaking Latvians submitted by Geoffrey Simmonds, the representative of Great Britain. Simmonds demands Latvia to recognise that all Latvian non-citizens are citizens of the EU and that they have the right to exchange their non-citizens passports for passports of Latvian citizens without going through naturalisation. The International Council of Russian Compatriots has submitted a similar complaint as well. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Yesterday 23 participants of the unsanctioned meeting, which took place on 16 March as a protest action against the commemoration ceremony of WW II Latvian legionnaires, appealed the judgement of the Riga Centre District Court (Rigas Centra rajona tiesa). As reported, Riga Centre District Court ruled that activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Viktors Dergunovs shall be fined with LVL 50 (EUR 72) for disobedience to police during the meeting. The court imposed a number of smaller fines on other members of the protest action.

Yesterday 23 participants of the unsanctioned meeting, which took place on 16 March as a protest action against the commemoration ceremony of WW II Latvian legionnaires, appealed the judgement of the Riga Centre District Court (Rigas Centra rajona tiesa). As reported, Riga Centre District Court ruled that activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools Viktors Dergunovs shall be fined with LVL 50 (EUR 72) for disobedience to police during the meeting. The court imposed a number of smaller fines on other members of the protest action. Vesti Segodnya,Chas

Vesti Segodnya reports that the web pages of the national radical organisation Latvian National Front and the national radical newspaper DDD are not available on the Internet anymore. Although the representatives of the organisation stress that the web pages have been closed due to technical problems, Vesti Segodnya claims that the web pages have been closed by state security institutions.