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.

• Court issues a verbal note to two young men for chasing a dark-skin person
• Government amends the provisions on the procedures of the acquisition of Latvian citizenship to children under the age of 15
• Rigas Balss: no protest actions against the minority education reform is planned in Riga on 1 September
• Representatives of the State Boarder Guards concerned about lack of resources for illegal immigrants

Yesterday the Riga Central Court issued a verbal note of reprimand to two young men who chased a dark skin man along the streets of the Riga Old Town in June. Just after the incident the Police drew up the protocol for hooliganism. Although the Administrative Violation Code foresees a penalty of LVL 25 – 50 (EUR 35,5 – 71) or an administrative arrest up to 15 days for the violation mentioned in the protocol, the Court decided to issue only the note of reprimand because both men admitted to be guilty.

Yesterday the Riga Central Court issued a verbal note of reprimand to two young men who chased a dark skin man along the streets of the Riga Old Town in June. Just after the incident the Police drew up the protocol for hooliganism. Although the Administrative Violation Code foresees a penalty of LVL 25 – 50 (EUR35,5 – 71) or an administrative arrest up to 15 days for the violation mentioned in the protocol, the Court decided to issue only the note of reprimand because both men admitted to be guilty. Diena

Yesterday the government amended the rules on the procedures of the acquisition of Latvian citizenship to children under the age of 15 of recently naturalised persons. The amendments provide that parents may apply for the registration of their child as a Latvian citizen also during and after naturalisation of at least one parent. The former provisions stipulated that the application about the registration of the child can be submitted only when a parent himself applies for naturalisation.

Yesterday the government amended the rules on the procedures of the acquisition of Latvian citizenship to children under the age of 15 of recently naturalised persons. The amendments provide that parents may apply for the registration of their child as a Latvian citizen also during and after naturalisation of at least one parent. The former provisions stipulated that the application about the registration of the child can be submitted only when a parent himself applies for naturalisation. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

‘We do not plan to organise new protest actions against the minority education reform in Riga on 1 September 2005,’ confirmed the Chair of the Board of the Latvian Association for the Support of the Russian-Language Schools Igors Pimenovs. At the same time Pimenovs states that they will continue to fight for keeping the Russian language in Russian schools. The Chair of the Board stresses that it is necessary to improve the minority education programmes.

‘We do not plan to organise new protest actions against the minority education reform in Riga on 1 September 2005, confirmed the Chair of the Board of the Latvian Association for the Support of the Russian-Language Schools Igors Pimenovs. At the same time Pimenovs states that they will continue to fight for keeping the Russian language in Russian schools. The Chair of the Board stresses that it is necessary to improve the minority education programmes. Rigas Balss

Representatives of the State Boarder Guards are concerned about the lack of material resources which limit their possibilities to provide the recently detained seven illegal immigrants from Somalia with warm clothes if they stay in the Olaine refugee camp also in the fall and winter.

Representatives of the State Boarder Guards are concerned about the lack of material resources which limit their possibilities to provide the recently detained seven illegal immigrants from Somalia with warm clothes if they stay in the Olaine refugee camp also in the fall and winter. Neatkariga Rita Avize