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 features an article about the allegedly racially motivated harassment against leader of the Afro-Latvian Association Christopher Ejugbo
• Interview with the head of the Integration Department of the Ministry of Education and Science Evija Papule
• European Parliament adopts a resolution on minority rights in the enlarged EU
• Russia calls the EU and the OSCE to take measures to convince Latvia to ‘stop implementation of discriminatory policies against Russians and Russian-speakers

Diena features an article about the allegedly racially motivated harassment against leader of the Afro-Latvian Association Christopher Ejugbo. As reported, the State Police did not initiate a criminal case against perpetrators, because ‘Christopher Ejugbo was not physically attacked. Author of the article Karlis Streips expresses his concern regarding the attitude towards hate crimes at the state level. He is convinced that Latvia should educate representatives of law enforcement institutions to prevent such situations in the future. The journalist also calls all members of society to discuss these issues. The daily also reports that the Riga District Prosecutors Office (Rigas tiesu apgabala prokuratura) will examine whether the polices decision only to inform perpetrators about legal consequences of their behaviour and then release them complies with law. The Prosecutors Office took the decision to examine the case because mass media stated that ‘police did not react adequately. Diena

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the head of the Integration Department of the Ministry of Education and Science Evija Papule about the implementation of the minority education reform. Evija Papule stresses that the ministry fully agrees with the decision of the Constitutional Court on the necessity to establish an institution, which would be responsible for controlling of the quality of education. Evija Papule believes that the ministry will continue to develop a dialogue on minority education issues with representatives of minority non-governmental organisations which are represented in the Advisory Board on Minority Education Issues under the Ministry of Education and Science. According to Papule, no specific study programmes particularly for teachers who want to work in Russian language schools will be developed.

Yesterday the European Parliament adopted a resolution on minority rights in the enlarged EU. After the call of the Latvian MEP Girts Kristovskis (For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM), the proposals to grant Latvian non-citizens the right to participate in municipal elections as well as rights to travel within the EU territory without visa was deleted from the document. However, EU member states called Latvia to encourage naturalisation of non-citizens and facilitate the naturalisation procedure.

Yesterday the European Parliament adopted a resolution on minority rights in the enlarged EU. After the call of the Latvian MEP Girts Kristovskis (For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM), the proposals to grant Latvian non-citizens the right to participate in municipal elections as well as rights to travel within the EU territory without visa was deleted from the document. However, EU member states called Latvia to encourage naturalisation of non-citizens and facilitate the naturalisation procedure. Diena, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Yesterday Russia called the EU and the OSCE to take measures to convince Latvia to stop implementation of ‘discriminatory policies against Russians and Russian-speakers in the country.’ Russia criticises Latvia for ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities with reservations. Russia claims that the ratified Convention in Latvia provides that non-citizens are not the subjects of the Convention.

Yesterday Russia called the EU and the OSCE to take measures to convince Latvia to stop implementation of ‘discriminatory policies against Russians and Russian-speakers in the country. Russia criticises Latvia for ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities with reservations. Russia claims that the ratified Convention in Latvia providesthatnon-citizens are not the subjects of the Convention. Diena, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf