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 Report

Chief Expert of the CID Juridical Division Laima Lace told NRA that the OSCE was pressing upon the CID. According to L.Lace, the pressure has increased lately. She told the newspaper that during one of her meetings with the OSCE representatives they said the following: "If you wish to be part of Europe you should take back all those demobilized servicemen, who have already left for Russia according the agreement and have received apartments there." The OSCE representatives, according to Lace, explained that it would be a "humane" step since "demobilized Russian servicemen are elderly people." Lace also says that the OSCE Mission informs its superiors about their recommendations being ignored and provide data completely different from information received from the CID. Ministry of Justice Press-Secretary Vitenburg told the newspaper that the Ministry had not addressed the CID with a letter accusing the CID officers in "deliberate cheating". A spokesman for the Ministry of Interior agrees that the word "cheating" was not used by the Ministry of Justice. Still, he refers to a letter by the Ministry of Justice of February 12, that says that despite the fact of implementation of a decree could be verbally confirmed by a CID officer, the actually might not be implemented. The letter also mentions the CID ignoring court decrees that have already come into force. Mr. Vitenburg of the Ministry of Justice explained that letters sent by the Ministry to the CID were purely informative, and that the Ministry did not require an investigation of the CID activities. CID Deputy-Director Dombrovskis among factors delaying court decree implementation named discrepancies in legislation and different interpretation of laws by legal bodies. The CID officers are working under a great strain and are underpaid, which also contributes to slow review of immigration-related cases, says Dombrovskis. When asked about the expected results of the inspection Dombrovskis replied that he was not sure about political forces that had initiated the inspection and about whether its aim was to improve the work of the CID or to eliminate the Department. Yesterday Minister of Interior Turlais issued an order on relieving CID Director's Advisor Ugis Sulcs and CID Deputy-Director Peteris Zviedris of their duties. CID Director Zitars received an official reprimand. The Ministry sent personal records of Head of the Supervision Division Janis Straume and Immigration Division Head Janis Eihmanis to Board for Civil Service. It is for the Board to decide whether to discharge them, since the two CID officers are candidates for state officials and the Minister is not in the position to replace them. Head of Passport Division Andris Janis Leins and officer of the Division Liga Jurjeva received an official reprimand for a low quality of materials prepared in response to the Saeima inquiries. CID Director Zitars yesterday submitted an application asking to be relieved of his duties. CID Deputy-Director Dombrovskis doubts whether the decision is properly justified. he characterizes Ugis Sulcs as a fanatic who has performed an immense amount of work but is lacking flexibility. Ugis sulcs told NRA that he had been hinted by a Russian Embassy officer about possible sanctions against the CID already few weeks before. It was only yesterday that Sulcs received materials containing claims put toward him by the Minister. Those include incorrect application of laws, ignoring terms set for review of cases, and non-implementation of court decrees. he explained that the CID was re-examining all former USSR passports exchanged for noncitizens' IDs. Those measures help to disclose illegal immigrants holding counterfeit or illegally issued passports. That could be the reason for his dismissal.

Chief Expert of the CID Juridical Division Laima Lace told NRA that the OSCE was pressing upon the CID. According to L.Lace, the pressure has increased lately. She told the newspaper that during one of her meetings with the OSCE representatives they said the following: "If you wish to be part of Europe you should take back all those demobilized servicemen, who have already left for Russia according the agreement and have received apartments there." The OSCE representatives, according to Lace, explained that it would be a "humane" step since "demobilized Russian servicemen are elderly people." Lace also says that the OSCE Mission informs its superiors about their recommendations being ignored and provide data completely different from information received from the CID. Ministry of Justice Press-Secretary Vitenburg told the newspaper that the Ministry had not addressed the CID with a letter accusing the CID officers in "deliberate cheating". A spokesman for the Ministry of Interior agrees that the word "cheating" was not used by the Ministry of Justice. Still, he refers to a letter by the Ministry of Justice of February 12, that says that despite the fact of implementation of a decree could be verbally confirmed by a CID officer, the actually might not be implemented. The letter also mentions the CID ignoring court decrees that have already come into force. Mr. Vitenburg of the Ministry of Justice explained that letters sent by the Ministry to the CID were purely informative, and that the Ministry did not require an investigation of the CID activities. CID Deputy-Director Dombrovskis among factors delaying court decree implementation named discrepancies in legislation and different interpretation of laws by legal bodies. The CID officers are working under a great strain and are underpaid, which also contributes to slow review of immigration-related cases, says Dombrovskis. When asked about the expected results of the inspection Dombrovskis replied that he was not sure about political forces that had initiated the inspection and about whether its aim was to improve the work of the CID or to eliminate the Department. Yesterday Minister of Interior Turlais issued an order on relieving CID Director's Advisor Ugis Sulcs and CID Deputy-Director Peteris Zviedris of their duties. CID Director Zitars received an official reprimand. The Ministry sent personal records of Head of the Supervision Division Janis Straume and Immigration Division Head Janis Eihmanis to Board for Civil Service. It is for the Board to decide whether to discharge them, since the two CID officers are candidates for state officials and the Minister is not in the position to replace them. Head of Passport Division Andris Janis Leins and officer of the Division Liga Jurjeva received an official reprimand for a low quality of materials prepared in response to the Saeima inquiries. CID Director Zitars yesterday submitted an application asking to be relieved of his duties. CID Deputy-Director Dombrovskis doubts whether the decision is properly justified. he characterizes Ugis Sulcs as a fanatic who has performed an immense amount of work but is lacking flexibility. Ugis sulcs told NRA that he had been hinted by a Russian Embassy officer about possible sanctions against the CID already few weeks before. It was only yesterday that Sulcs received materials containing claims put toward him by the Minister. Those include incorrect application of laws, ignoring terms set for review of cases, and non-implementation of court decrees. he explained that the CID was re-examining all former USSR passports exchanged for noncitizens' IDs. Those measures help to disclose illegal immigrants holding counterfeit or illegally issued passports. That could be the reason for his dismissal. Neatkariga

"Tevzemei un Brivibai" will address Prime-Minister Skele with a request to hold an extraordinary meeting of the Council for Interfaction Cooperation for listening to the opinion of the CID officers. Minister of Interior Parliamentary Secretary Janis Straume (TB) said that Sulcs' dismissal would paralyze all activities connected with retired Russian servicemen. He also noted that the dismissal of the CID executives was a violation of agreement between the governing coalition factions. The order issued by the Ministry of Interior among reasons for the dismissals names Zviedris' poor organizational skills along with delays in review of applications. The document also mentions complaints received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. Still, according to Mr. Straume, the Ministry of Justice mentioned improvement of the CID work. Minister of Interior Turlais at a meeting held at the Ministry yesterday stressed that "superficial and impolite treatment of inhabitants, non-implementation of court decrees, and justice of laws caused criticism also on the part of international organizations.

"Tevzemei un Brivibai" will address Prime-Minister Skele with a request to hold an extraordinary meeting of the Council for Interfaction Cooperation for listening to the opinion of the CID officers. Minister of Interior Parliamentary Secretary Janis Straume (TB) said that Sulcs' dismissal would paralyze all activities connected with retired Russian servicemen. He also noted that the dismissal of the CID executives was a violation of agreement between the governing coalition factions. The order issued by the Ministry of Interior among reasons for the dismissals names Zviedris' poor organizational skills along with delays in review of applications. The document also mentions complaints received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. Still, according to Mr. Straume, the Ministry of Justice mentioned improvement of the CID work. Minister of Interior Turlais at a meeting held at the Ministry yesterday stressed that "superficial and impolite treatment of inhabitants, non-implementation of court decrees, and justice of laws caused criticism also on the part of international organizations. Diena

head of the OSCE mission Charles Magee approved of the measures taken by Minister of Interior Turlais to improve the work of the CID. In an interview for "SM" he said that basic changes should be made within the CID. When asked about violation of human rights the Head of the Mission explained that though human rights were not directly included into the Mission's mandate, the Mission carefully monitors the human right situation in the country. The mission has collected numerous documents showing that the CID misinterprets laws on noncitizens. Talking about the CID Director Mr. Magee called the Mission's relations with Mr. Zitars "constructive". The number of violations has decreased under Zitars, says the Head of the Mission.

head of the OSCE mission Charles Magee approved of the measures taken by Minister of Interior Turlais to improve the work of the CID. In an interview for "SM" he said that basic changes should be made within the CID. When asked about violation of human rights the Head of the Mission explained that though human rights were not directly included into the Mission's mandate, the Mission carefully monitors the human right situation in the country. The mission has collected numerous documents showing that the CID misinterprets laws on noncitizens. Talking about the CID Director Mr. Magee called the Mission's relations with Mr. Zitars "constructive". The number of violations has decreased under Zitars, says the Head of the Mission. SM