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.

Integration and Minority Information Service of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights

• State Language Centre requested the State Police to remove booklets printed in Russian language
• Leader of an organisation “Union against Nazism” Janis Kuzins appealed the decision of the Central Elections Committee on referendum
• Candidate to the post of the Mayor of Riga Baiba Broka: Riga should be ethnic Latvian

Inspectors of the State Language Centre (SLC) visited the central office of the State Police and requested to remove booklets printed in Russian language.  The booklets in Russian provided information about damage of drug addiction and information for victims of crimes and were placed in information stands alongside the same booklets in Latvian language. The booklets also contained other useful information regarding residents’ security and were printed using the EU funds. However, according to the language inspectors, provision of information in foreign languages at public spots of the state institutions is a violation of the rules of the Cabinet of Ministers. Such information can be provided only on individual basis by special request of residents. Earlier, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs received the same remark from the language inspectors and removed all information in foreign languages from public spots despite the fact that the majority of its clients are foreigners. The Minister of Interior Rihards Kozlovskis does not agree with the SLC and believes information about state security should be provided also in foreign languages. Vesti Segodnya

Leader of an organisation “Union against Nazism” Janis Kuzins appealed in the court the decision of the Central Elections Committee (CEC) to cancel the next stage of initiation of referendum on non-citizens. Mr Kuzins believes that the CEC exceeded its authority taking such decision. It should be noted that Mr Kuzins submitted the appeal without consulting with the initiators of the referendum. Vesti Segodnya

Telegraf and Neatkariga print interview with a candidate to the post of the Mayor of Riga from the nationalists’ union Baiba Broka. Mrs Broka believes Riga has a lack of two things – national ideology and national identity. Mrs Broka believes Riga should be a state symbol and therefore should be ethnic Latvian. Mrs Broka also criticizes the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs for taking part in 9 May celebrations (Victory Day) in Riga and organising concerts with participation of Russian musicians during the days of Riga.

Yours sincerely,
Integration Monitor