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.

Press Report

The Procurator General is studying the documents on Minister of Defense Krastins's activities. Last Wednesday Mr. Krastins and Prime-Minister Skele met to discuss the documents that might be used as evidence against Mr. Krastins. The Minister of Defense said that although he would have to resign upon the Prime-Minister's demand, he believed that accusation of being corrupt should come first. Mr. Krastins does not exclude that the Prime-Minister was deliberately misinformed on the issue. He refused to comment on the possibility of connections between the scandal and the upcoming merging of the LNNK and "Tevzemei un Brivibai."

The Procurator General is studying the documents on Minister of Defense Krastins's activities. Last Wednesday Mr. Krastins and Prime-Minister Skele met to discuss the documents that might be used as evidence against Mr. Krastins. The Minister of Defense said that although he would have to resign upon the Prime-Minister's demand, he believed that accusation of being corrupt should come first. Mr. Krastins does not exclude that the Prime-Minister was deliberately misinformed on the issue. He refused to comment on the possibility of connections between the scandal and the upcoming merging of the LNNK and "Tevzemei un Brivibai." Diena

Yesterday the Saeima introduced amendments to the Land law allowing non-citizens to own land in urban areas and adopted the first reading of the Law on Refugees.

Yesterday the Saeima introduced amendments to the Land law allowing non-citizens to own land in urban areas and adopted the first reading of the Law on Refugees. SM

Latvia has become a unique country, its residents using six different identification documents. The main document is a citizen's passport (1). Another commonly used document is a former USSR internal passport (2) held by approximately one third of Latvia's residents. In September 1995 the Ministry of the Interior ran out of its stock of former USSR travel passports (3). Still, those documents are used by some residents of Latvia. The Government tried to resolve the problem by issuing non-citizens "brown" passports (4). Still, those were not recognized by several European countries. In 1996 the Cabinet of Ministers approved new aliens' passports (5) now available to Latvia's non-citizens. Along with the aforementioned documents, Russian citizens residing in Latvia on the basis of residence permits hold Russian passports (6). Although Russia has not recognized new aliens' passports yet, Head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane sees no connection between the passport problem and the slow speed of the naturalization process. 124 thousand Latvia's residents currently have the right to apply for citizenship while only 10% used the right.

Latvia has become a unique country, its residents using six different identification documents. The main document is a citizen's passport (1). Another commonly used document is a former USSR internal passport (2) held by approximately one third of Latvia's residents. In September 1995 the Ministry of the Interior ran out of its stock of former USSR travel passports (3). Still, those documents are used by some residents of Latvia. The Government tried to resolve the problem by issuing non-citizens "brown" passports (4). Still, those were not recognized by several European countries. In 1996 the Cabinet of Ministers approved new aliens' passports (5) now available to Latvia's non-citizens. Along with the aforementioned documents, Russian citizens residing in Latvia on the basis of residence permits hold Russian passports (6). Although Russia has not recognized new aliens' passports yet, Head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane sees no connection between the passport problem and the slow speed of the naturalization process. 124 thousand Latvia's residents currently have the right to apply for citizenship while only 10% used the right. Diena

Yesterday the Russian Parliamentary Delegation visited the Human Rights' Office. Acting Head of the Office Kaija Gertnere told Delegation members that the Office supported amending the Citizenship Law to allow individuals born on the territory of Latvia to receive citizenship. She also told the Delegation about non-compliance of certain provisions of the draft Language Law with international agreements signed by Latvia. The Acting Head of the Human Rights Office believes that the State would only benefit from increasing the number of its loyal citizens. She put Saeima members in a rather awkward situation by naming 34 differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens while deputies insisted there were only nine differences. Russian Parliament members stressed that Latvian politicians should not see the State Duma as a direct descendant of the Soviet political system. Russia is a newly established independent state that would not take any responsibility for the policy of the former USSR, says one of the Delegation members.

Yesterday the Russian Parliamentary Delegation visited the Human Rights' Office. Acting Head of the Office Kaija Gertnere told Delegation members that the Office supported amending the Citizenship Law to allow individuals born on the territory of Latvia to receive citizenship. She also told the Delegation about non-compliance of certain provisions of the draft Language Law with international agreements signed by Latvia. The Acting Head of the Human Rights Office believes that the State would only benefit from increasing the number of its loyal citizens. She put Saeima members in a rather awkward situation by naming 34 differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens while deputies insisted there were only nine differences. Russian Parliament members stressed that Latvian politicians should not see the State Duma as a direct descendant of the Soviet political system. Russia is a newly established independent state that would not take any responsibility for the policy of the former USSR, says one of the Delegation members. SM

Human rights activist Vladimir Bogdanov claims Natalya Parfenova's deportation to Russia to be illegal. N.Parfenova did not enter Latvia illegally, she has been residing in the country since the seventies, and she has no place of residence or any other connections with Russia. Mr. Bogdanov believes that Parfenova was forced to agree to leave Latvia by being kept in custody in inhuman conditions. Persons detained for violating immigration laws are badly fed, cannot use a shower and are often not allowed to contact their lawyers (Natalya Parfenova was not allowed even to appeal the expulsion order as provided for by the Law). According to Mr. Bogdanov, one of the individuals kept in custody by the Immigration Police has contracted TB.

Human rights activist Vladimir Bogdanov claims Natalya Parfenova's deportation to Russia to be illegal. N.Parfenova did not enter Latvia illegally, she has been residing in the country since the seventies, and she has no place of residence or any other connections with Russia. Mr. Bogdanov believes that Parfenova was forced to agree to leave Latvia by being kept in custody in inhuman conditions. Persons detained for violating immigration laws are badly fed, cannot use a shower and are often not allowed to contact their lawyers (Natalya Parfenova was not allowed even to appeal the expulsion order as provided for by the Law). According to Mr. Bogdanov, one of the individuals kept in custody by the Immigration Police has contracted TB. SM