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.

• Today the Constitutional Court will review the application challenging a provision of the Law on Education
• Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry concerned about the foreseen adoption of the ‘loyalty concept to the Citizenship Law
• Russian language newspapers report on actions planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools

Today the Constitutional Court in a closed hearing will launch the revision of the application submitted by left-wing politicians challenging the provision of the Law on Education. The challenged provision stipulates that the state may provide financial support only to those private minority schools, which ensure education in the Latvian language. 

Today the Constitutional Court in a closed hearing will launch the revision of the application submitted by left-wing politicians challenging the provision of the Law on Education. The challenged provision stipulates that the state may provide financial support only to those private minority schools, which ensure education in the Latvian language. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry is concerned about the ‘loyalty’ concept in the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law prepared by the Latvian Ministry of Justice. The Russian Ministry argues that the ‘loyalty’ concept is not clearly defined in the amendments thus it would provide rather unlimited possibilities for the Latvian authorities to take unjustified decisions. ‘It is regrettable that […] official Riga not only ignores the voice of authoritative international organisations, but also plans to make naturalisation more difficult,’ states the Russian Ministry.

The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry is concerned about the ‘loyalty concept in the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law prepared by the Latvian Ministry of Justice. The Russian Ministry argues that the ‘loyalty concept is not clearly defined in the amendments thus it would provide rather unlimited possibilities for the Latvian authorities to take unjustified decisions. ‘It is regrettable that […] official Riga not only ignores the voice of authoritative international organisations, but also plans to make naturalisation more difficult, states the Russian Ministry. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Russian language newspapers report on actions planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools in Brussels, Strasbourg, Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Kiev, Simpheropol and Moscow. According to the representative of the Headquarters Genadijs Kotovs, young members of the Headquarters will tell about the difficulties to acquire education in a mother tongue in Latvia and the lack of political rights for a large number of people. They will also call for granting Russian the status of the official language. The newspapers also report about another youth initiative regarding the rights of Russians. Yesterday participants of the Russian youth organisations’ summer meeting called the presidents of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, asking to solve the problem of mass non-citizenship immediately. According to the call, the first step would be granting of citizenship for all persons who were born in these states.

Russian language newspapers report on actions planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools in Brussels, Strasbourg, Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Kiev, Simpheropol and Moscow. According to the representative of the Headquarters Genadijs Kotovs, young members of the Headquarters will tell about the difficulties to acquire education in a mother tongue in Latvia and the lack of political rights for a large number of people. They will also call for granting Russian the status of the official language. The newspapers also report about another youth initiative regarding the rights of Russians. Yesterday participants of the Russian youth organisations summer meeting called the presidents of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, asking to solve the problem of mass non-citizenship immediately. According to the call, the first step would be granting of citizenship for all persons who were born in these states. Chas, Vesti Segodnya