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.

• Ex-head of the Constitutional Court Aivars Endzins: granting Latvian citizenship to non-citizens automatically is a threat to the independence of Latvia
• Former President Valdis Zatlers: referendum on non-citizens does not threaten national security
• Teacher Vladislavsks Rafalskis will have to give explanations about his recent statements
• Daugavpils City Council is not ably to satisfy high demand for Latvian language courses this season
• Non-citizens are not able to use only the ID card when crossing the country border

Ex-head of the Constitutional Court and one of the authors of the Citizenship Law accepted in 1994, Aivars Endzins believes that granting Latvian citizenship to non-citizens automatically is a threat to the independence of Latvia. According to Mr Endzins, ethnic composition in Latvia was substantially changed during the Soviet era and in the end of 80’s there were only 52% of ethnic Latvians. Such proportion could be a threat on the way for Latvia’s independence and its strengthening. Therefore, the elaborated Citizenship Law stipulated that Latvian citizenship can be granted by registration only to those residents and their descendants who had Latvian citizenship until the occupation of Latvia by 17 June 1940. Mr Endzins considers, despite the situation with ethnic proportion has changed, these changes are not convincing and irreversible.

Former President, the MP Valdis Zatlers (Reforms Party) considers that the referendum on granting citizenship to non-citizens does not threaten national security. Mr Zatlers maintains that the citizens have the right to initiate referendums. Mr Zatlers does not support the idea to grant citizenship to non-citizens automatically; he does, however believe that the children of non-citizens should be granted citizenship without any additional requirements. Vesti Segodnya

A teacher of a Russian language school Vladislavsks Rafalskis will have to give his explanations to the administration of the school where he is employed about his recent statements. As reported, the nationalists’ union “All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM appealed to the Minister of Education calling to evaluate whether Vladislavs Rafalskis who stated in a radio interview: “I am not loyal towards this state, I despise the regime, because it repels my children, it permanently complicates their life.” The school also plans to conduct a survey among the students whether Mr Rafalskis is appropriate for his job as well as to discuss the matter at school board’s meeting and at the committee on ethics. The Security Police, in its turn, refused to initiate a criminal case against Mr Rafalskis arguing that subjective opinion of a person towards the state cannot be the reason for criminal legal evaluation. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

TheDaugavpils City Council is able to grant funding for free-of-charge Latvian language courses for only 300 persons this season, while, 400 persons are in a waiting list for courses till January 2013. The City Council granted LVL 10,000 for the courses and appealed for additional funding to the Ministry of Education and Science, the State Language Centre and the State Employment Agency. However, all the institutions refused to grant the funding and suggested to attract the EU grants. Chas

Vesti Segodnya reports that non-citizens are not able to use only the ID card when crossing the border and they have to show the passport. According to a representative of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, the ID card is valid for travelling within Europe as the only ID document only for citizens.