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.

• The European Court of Human Rights received over 2000 complaints from residents of Latvia during the last 9 years
• Delegation of Russian MPs visit Latvia

Latvias residents filed 2047 human rights violations complaints to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) during the last 9 years. 1276 complaints have been declared admissible. 20 ECHR judgements have entered into force so far and in 18 cases Latvia was found in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. Most often, Latvias residents complaints were related to the length of pre-trial detention and trial proceedings.NRA

Newspapers report on the visit of the delegation of the Russian Federation’s MPs to Latvia. The delegation has met with the Ombudsman and Latvian MP’s to discuss situation of Russian speaking minorities. The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhny has pointed to Latvia’s adopted reservations to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities concerning minority language use with administrative authorities and topographical and street signs. He has also noted that the definition of minorities applied to citizens only. Anita Kovalevska representing the Ombudsman’s Office has emphasized the importance of the Convention’s ratification, even with the reservations. According to the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis, granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections would their decrease motivation to naturalize. Dainis Turlais, the head of the Saeima group for cooperation with the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (Latvian First Party/Latvian Way), has admitted that the procedure registration of non-citizens’ children born after 1991 as Latvia citizens could be simplified.

Newspapers report on the visit of the delegation of the Russian Federations MPs to Latvia. The delegation has met with the Ombudsman and Latvian MPs to discuss situation of Russian speaking minorities. The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhny has pointed to Latvias adopted reservations to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities concerning minority language use with administrative authorities and topographical and street signs. He has also noted that the definition of minorities applied to citizens only. Anita Kovalevska representing the Ombudsmans Office has emphasized the importance of the Conventions ratification, even with the reservations. According to the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis, granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections would their decrease motivation to naturalize. Dainis Turlais, the head of the Saeima group for cooperation with the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (Latvian First Party/Latvian Way), has admitted that the procedure registration of non-citizens children born after 1991 as Latvia citizens could be simplified. Latvijas Avize reports on the delegations visit to a Riga Russian language school in order to discuss minority education reform, state exams, and the situation of minority language in education. Some the schools representatives expressed their concern that the education process and graduation have become more difficult as the result of the education reform. Chas, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize