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

All newspapers write about the expression of the Director of the Latvian Constitution Defence Bureau Lainis Kamaldins concerning the investigation versions of the explosion at the Riga Synagogue last April. According to Lainis Kamaldins, one version is that the members of the Jewish community might have been involved into the organising of the explosion. The Rabbi of Riga and Latvia Natans Barkans strongly denied these allegations, saying that Mr. Kamaldins should officially apologise. Today Mr. Kamaldins will meet with the President of the Riga Jewish Community Grigorijs Krupnikovs.

All newspapers write about the expression of the Director of the Latvian Constitution Defence Bureau Lainis Kamaldins concerning the investigation versions of the explosion at the Riga Synagogue last April. According to Lainis Kamaldins, one version is that the members of the Jewish community might have been involved into the organising of the explosion. The Rabbi of Riga and Latvia Natans Barkans strongly denied these allegations, saying that Mr. Kamaldins should officially apologise. Today Mr. Kamaldins will meet with the President of the Riga Jewish Community Grigorijs Krupnikovs. Neatkariga, Chas, Panorama Latvii

Yesterday the deputies of the Russian Duma sent a letter to the Latvian Saeima with the request to change the date of the Latvian Soldiers Commemoration Day from the 16th of March to the 17th of March. In response, the Speaker of the Latvian Saeima J. Straume said that the issue of the 16th of March is under the Latvian parliament’s competence, and the Russian Duma should care more about the situation within Russia.

Yesterday the deputies of the Russian Duma sent a letter to the Latvian Saeima with the request to change the date of the Latvian Soldiers Commemoration Day from the 16th of March to the 17th of March. In response, the Speaker of the Latvian Saeima J. Straume said that the issue of the 16th of March is under the Latvian parliaments competence, and the Russian Duma should care more about the situation within Russia. Chas, Neatkariga

Yesterday the Saeima adopted the draft state language law in the 2nd reading. None of 36 proposals by the fraction

Yesterday the Saeima adopted the draft state language law in the 2nd reading. None of 36 proposals by the fraction For Human Rights was supported by the majority. Later the fraction For Human Rights distributed the statement in which it argues that the adopted draft law promotes the assimilation rather than integration of the society. The fraction is concerned that adopted provisions exclude the Russian language from many spheres and that it contradicts with the OSCE recommendations concerning the use of the language in the private sphere. The Chair of the Saeima Education Commission Dzintars Abikis informed that the OSCE representatives closely follow the consideration of the State Language Law and that they will provide their assessment of the draft law before the final reading.

B&B; publishes the opinion of the deputies from the ruling coalition about the draft law. According to MP Kristiana Libane at this stage the draft law does not contain anything scandalous. MP Andris Skele believes that after the assessment done by the experts there will be no changes in the draft law.

B&B publishes the opinion of the deputies from the ruling coalition about the draft law. According to MP Kristiana Libane at this stage the draft law does not contain anything scandalous. MP Andris Skele believes that after the assessment done by the experts there will be no changes in the draft law.

SM journalist A. Elkin summarises the proposals to the draft language law which were submitted by the fraction For Human Rights and rejected by the majority of the deputies. He concludes that the main objective of the drafted law is to humiliate the representatives of the national minorities, using repressive administrative methods. Diena, Neatkariga, B&B

SM publishes the article by MP J. Pliner and Dr. V. Buhalov analysing the chapter on education in the draft framework document on the State Social Integration Program. According to the authors, this program is directed towards the assimilation of the non-Latvians. “The exclusion of the Russian language from the education system will lead to the denial of the Russian culture and consequently to the formation of people who do not possess any cultural values (...)“ The authors believe that the integration in the education system can succeed only if the state schools with the Russian as the language of instruction will be preserved They suggest to revise the programs of the bilingual education, so, that the subjects taught in the Latvian language would not exceed the 30% of the total of the subjects.

SM publishes the article by MP J. Pliner and Dr. V. Buhalov analysing the chapter on education in the draft framework document on the State Social Integration Program. According to the authors, this program is directed towards the assimilation of the non-Latvians. The exclusion of the Russian language from the education system will lead to the denial of the Russian culture and consequently to the formation of people who do not possess any cultural values (...) The authors believe that the integration in the education system can succeed only if the state schools with the Russian as the language of instruction will be preserved They suggest to revise the programs of the bilingual education, so, that the subjects taught in the Latvian language would not exceed the 30% of the total of the subjects. SM

The journalist of the Latvian TV Irina Vinnika believes that the simultaneous translation of the news broadcast “Panorama” from Latvian to Russian will enlarge the gap between the Latvian and the Russian information spheres, since people of other nationalities prefer to watch the news read by non-Latvians. As a result, many people of other nationalities would refuse to watch the news prepared by the Latvian Television. She expressed the worries about the idea of the leadership of the Latvian TV to liquidate the TV news broadcast in the Russian language.

The journalist of the Latvian TV Irina Vinnika believes that the simultaneous translation of the news broadcast Panorama from Latvian to Russian will enlarge the gap between the Latvian and the Russian information spheres, since people of other nationalities prefer to watch the news read by non-Latvians. As a result, many people of other nationalities would refuse to watch the news prepared by the Latvian Television. She expressed the worries about the idea of the leadership of the Latvian TV to liquidate the TV news broadcast in the Russian language. Diena