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 Review

Press Review

Public organisation

Public organisation Union of Citizens and Non-citizens has submitted to the Saeima amendments to the draft law On the elections of city councils and parish councils giving non-citizens the right of vote. But in accordance with the law they will not be able to candidate. Neatkariga

Russian newspaper

Russian newspaper Nevskoe Vremya, writing about the research of USA Georgetown Foundation, analysing the course of Latvian Foreign Policy, stated that it was not clear where Latvijas Cels was leading Latvia to, at the same time pointing out that Latvian Russian relations should be decided just by Riga and Moscow. As Nevskoe Vremya informs, V.Kristopans had made it understand that current Latvian government would continue its attempts to integrate into NATO and no promises of Russia would make them to swerve from this goal. Neatkariga

Representatives of security services assured that several extremist organisations in Latvia, also Barkashovecs, are under control and their activities did not exceed the limits of administrative norms. Security services are working now on finding out persons and illegal groups that could organise instigations on March 16. The Minister if the Interior R.Jurdzs assured that people did not have to worry because security institutions were working to prevent possible instigations.

Representatives of security services assured that several extremist organisations in Latvia, also Barkashovecs, are under control and their activities did not exceed the limits of administrative norms. Security services are working now on finding out persons and illegal groups that could organise instigations on March 16. The Minister if the Interior R.Jurdzs assured that people did not have to worry because security institutions were working to prevent possible instigations. Neatkariga

The Saeima has adopted in the final reading the draft law “On the status of a stateless person” regulating the status of those persons who have legally entered the territory of Latvia without having citizenship of any country. The law stipulates that such persons shall be issued a stateless person ID. The Deputies did not support the proposal of the faction

The Saeima has adopted in the final reading the draft law On the status of a stateless person regulating the status of those persons who have legally entered the territory of Latvia without having citizenship of any country. The law stipulates that such persons shall be issued a stateless person ID. The Deputies did not support the proposal of the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia to grant this status to those persons who had illegally entered Latvia and had received no refugee status. According to the member of this faction B.Cilevich, there are about 2000 such people. Neatkariga

Yesterday the leader of the Saeima faction

Yesterday the leader of the Saeima faction For Human Rights in United Latvia J.Jurkans sent an open letter to the State President, Prime Minister and Saeima Chairman asking to use their authority and cross out from the list of commemoration days March 16 because the faction considered that this day would increase tension within the society, thus endangering the integration process. Neatkariga

The leaders of the faction

The leaders of the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia met with the Prime Minister and informed him about their forecasts of the possible outcome of the March 16 event and got an impression that the Prime Minister took it very seriously. Next Tuesday V.Kristopans is planning to have a closed meeting of the government to consider the commemoration of March 16. SM, Chas, Panorama Latvii, Bizness & Baltiya

Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK

have adopted two announcements about the events on March 16 and the book The Dreadful Year. The Chairman M.Grinblats did not want to speak about the content of these announcements because they were still working on their wording. have adopted two announcements about the events on March 16 and the book “The Dreadful Year”. The Chairman M.Grinblats did not want to speak about the content of these announcements because they were still working on their wording. NeatkarigaNeatkariga Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador of France to Latvia exchanged the notes on introducing no visa regime between Latvia and France. It is planned that the agreement will take effect on March 1.

Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador of France to Latvia exchanged the notes on introducing no visa regime between Latvia and France. It is planned that the agreement will take effect on March 1. Neatkariga

The leader of

The leader of Social Democrats J.Bojars has elaborated a completely new Law on Citizenship that has been given to experts for evaluation and afterwards would be submitted to the Saeima for consideration. This new draft law makes it easier to receive citizenship for several groups of residents, at the same time fixing stricter norms of naturalisation. Diena

Deputy Chairman of the Russian National Council S.Baburin is going to visit Riga upon an invitation of the Saeima

Deputy Chairman of the Russian National Council S.Baburin is going to visit Riga upon an invitation of the Saeima Social Democrats faction leader G.Bojars. This visit will be economically orientated but there will be also meetings with the representatives of the Russian community, Saeima factions and the Presidium. Russian representatives will also visit several Latvian cities. Diena