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

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

Newspapers report on the names of MPs of the 8th Saeima.

Newspapers report on the names of MPs of the 8th Saeima. Diena emphasises that about half of the new MPs have never worked in the parliament.

The Russian language press stress that according to official results of the 8th Saeima elections FHRUL received one more seat in the Parliament while the People’s Party lost one.

The Russian language press stress that according to official results of the 8th Saeima elections FHRUL received one more seat in the Parliament while the Peoples Party lost one. Panorama Latvii also notes that leader of FHRUL Janis Jurkans received the biggest support of Latvian voters. Although BNS reports that the most supported election candidate was Einars Repse, followed by Janis Jurkans and Andris Skele. Neatkariga, Vechernaya Riga, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Panorama Latvii

The Cabinet of Ministers approved Agris Timuska for the post of the director of the State Language Centre. He had previously served as deputy director under former director Dzintra Hirsa. In the interview for

The Cabinet of Ministers approved Agris Timuska for the post of the director of the State Language Centre. He had previously served as deputy director under former director Dzintra Hirsa. In the interview for Rigas Balss, Agris Timuska states that control of language usage, in particular in the business sphere, is insufficient. According to Agris Timuska one of his first tasks will be the review of the responsibilities of the State Language Centre and the delegation of some of them to other institutions. Linguist Ina Druviete (the candidacy of the New Era for the post of the Minister of Societal Integration) comments that nothing has changed with the appointment of the new director and that Latvian authorities will have to pay more attention to securing the position of the state language. She suggests that up till now Latvia has yield to the pressure of Europe too much. Neatkariga, Rigas Balss, Vechernaya Riga

The French police detained 5 persons who very likely are related to alleged sale of Latvian citizenship in Paris. For the time being no “customers” of Latvian citizenship have been discovered. 5 persons had founded a firm which offered its clients to “legally” obtain Latvian, Estonian or French citizenship for USD 20,000. The police do not disclose the names of suspects.

The French police detained 5 persons who very likely are related to alleged sale of Latvian citizenship in Paris. For the time being no customers of Latvian citizenship have been discovered. 5 persons had founded a firm which offered its clients to legally obtain Latvian, Estonian or French citizenship for USD 20,000. The police do not disclose the names of suspects. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas

When analysing the activities of the emerging governing coalition,

When analysing the activities of the emerging governing coalition, Neatkarigas columnist Viktors Avotins states that the formation of a ministry which will exclusively deal only with integration issues is not a reasonable decision as almost all existing ministries already deal with different aspects and areas of integration.

Chas

publishes a letter of a Russian from Daugavpils who states that education in Latvia should be in Latvian already from the first grade. The newspaper comments that some officials of the Ministry of Education share the opinion and these officials declare that many parents of Russian students support education in the state language. publishes a letter of a Russian from Daugavpils who states that education in Latvia should be in Latvian already from the first grade. The newspaper comments that some officials of the Ministry of Education share the opinion and these officials declare that many parents of Russian students support education in the state language. The anti-NATO NGO “Prata Speks” which organises Latvian language courses for naturalisation applicants free of charge asked President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to come up with an initiative to ask the Saeima to allot money for its activities. The President suggested that it apply for funding in the Integration Foundation.

The anti-NATO NGO Prata Speks which organises Latvian language courses for naturalisation applicants free of charge asked President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to come up with an initiative to ask the Saeima to allot money for its activities. The President suggested that it apply for funding in the Integration Foundation. Panorama Latvii