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.

• Six members of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools detained at the official ceremony of Latvias Independence Declaration at the Freedom Monument
• Supreme Court rules ineffective the decision of the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs on the refusal to register a child, whose one parent is a Latvian non-citizen and another is a Russian citizens, as a Latvian non-citizen
• Deputy Head of the General Education Department accounts to the Saeima Integration Sub-committee for the implementation of the minority education reform

On 4 May official celebrations of the Proclamation of Latvia’s Independence Declaration and flower placing ceremony were held at the Freedom Monument. Among people who came to the ceremony there were also members of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools (according to

On 4 May official celebrations of the Proclamation of Latvias Independence Declaration and flower placing ceremony were held at the Freedom Monument. Among people who came to the ceremony there were also members of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools (according to Chas about 150) dressed in prisoner clothes and headbands saying ‘alien although they had received the denial from the Riga City Council to organise a protest action at that time and place. When the official ceremony started, members of the protest action shouted ‘shame! and waved with flowers bundled with black mourning bands. After a while there was some jostling, however, no serious incidents occurred. Police detained 6 persons; all of them are members of the protest action, including two MPs. The Interior Minister commented ‘probably for the first time since independence so many police officers were present in an official public event, however, their presence was justified because it was necessary to ensure security… these people [members of the protest action] showed disrespect not only towards the President but also the state. The Minister will propose to develop stronger norms on holding mass meetings. While Diena adds views of people who came to celebrate the declaration: many of them state that police should not be so tolerant with participants of protest actions. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Senators of the Administrative Department of the Supreme Court have ruled ineffective the decision taken by the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs that the data of a child whose one parent is a Latvian non-citizen and another is a Russian citizen cannot be included in the Population Register and the child may not be granted the personal code. As reported the DCMA refused to register the child as a Latvian non-citizen and suggested the parents to ask the child Russian citizenship. The Supreme Court refused the argument of the DCMA that they did not register the child as a Latvian non-citizen because international organisations have advised Latvia to reduce the number of non-citizens. The Supreme Court argues that these recommendations may not be interpreted in this way: ‘by that international organisations have implicitly stated that naturalisation of non-citizens should be promoted.’

Senators of the Administrative Department of the Supreme Court have ruled ineffective the decision taken by the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs that the data of a child whose one parent is a Latvian non-citizen and another is a Russian citizen cannot be included in the Population Register and the child may not be granted the personal code. As reported the DCMA refused to register the child as a Latvian non-citizen and suggested the parents to ask the child Russian citizenship. The Supreme Court refused the argument of the DCMA that they did not register the child as a Latvian non-citizen because international organisations have advised Latvia to reduce the number of non-citizens. The Supreme Court argues that these recommendations may not be interpreted in this way: ‘by that international organisations have implicitly stated that naturalisation of non-citizens should be promoted. Diena

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Deputy Head of the General Education Department of the Ministry of Science and Education Evija Papule was invited to the session of the Saeima Integration Subcommittee. The official reported on the implementation of the minority education reform. According to Evija Papule the grades in subjects taught in Latvian this year do not differ from the grades received in these subjects last year when they were taught in Russian. She also noted that for the moment none of minority schools has asked for additional textbooks or funding.