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.

• Saeima supported in the final reading the draft amendments stipulating that initiators of a referendum should gather about 150,000 signatures of the voters
• Well known Latvian lawyer Andris Grutups criticizes claim to return properties to Jewish community

 Yesterday, the Saeima supported in the final reading the draft amendments to the Law on National Referendum and Legislative Initiatives stipulating that initiators of a referendum should gather about 150,000 signatures of the voters. At present, the initiators are required to collect 10,000 signatures in order to start the second stage – state funded collection of signatures. If the state President Andris Berzins proclaims the amendments those will come into force on 1 January 2015. The oppositional parties appealed to the President asking not to proclaim the amendments. Latvijas Avize

 

Well known Latvian lawyer, co-author of Latvia’s restitution legislation Andris Grutups (also known for his controversial statements regarding Jews) stated that claims of the Jewish community to return pre-war properties is a manifestation of greed and shamelessness of certain individuals. Mr Grutups stated that thanks to the Latvian denationalisation legislation 90% of Jewish properties are already returned to Jews and their descendants. According to Mr Grutups, there were specific time limits when persons could claim their properties, but the properties which had no inheritors passed to the state. Mr Grutups believes that no exemptions should be made to Jews because Latvia is the state of ethnic Latvians and therefore such exemptions could only be made for ethnic Latvians. As reported, the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins resigned from the post formally stating that the reason is pressure of the Prime Minister to solve issues with restitution of Jewish properties. Chas