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 and Ethnic Studies

• Protest meeting against the 1991 resolution on citizenship
• Diena discusses the ECHR judgment in the case of Slivenko
• Discussion on the establishment of the new association Sadraudziba
• Interview with Nils Muiznieks, the Special Tasks Minister for Societal Integration
• Opinions of Latvian MPs about the Statement of Russias State Council
• Jakov Pliner, the head of the FHRUL, presents the factions stance on education reform at the forum in Moscow
• Ernest Buivids, the independent economist, about the negative impact of the state language policy on the economic situation of minorities

Yesterday around 300 people participated in a protest meeting against the resolution “On the Renewal of the Rights of Citizens of the Republic of Latvia and Fundamental Principals of Naturalization” passed by the Supreme Council on 15 October 1991. The meeting took place near the Saeima building and was organized by the Headquarters for the defense of Russian schools. According to

Yesterday around 300 people participated in a protest meeting against the resolution On the Renewal of the Rights of Citizens of the Republic of Latvia and Fundamental Principals of Naturalization passed by the Supreme Council on 15 October 1991. The meeting took place near the Saeima building and was organized by the Headquarters for the defense of Russian schools. According to Lauku Avize, representatives of the parliamentary group For Human Rights in the United Latvia and the party Equality invited the participants of the meeting to naturalize in order to defend their human rights. Lauku Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Chas, Vecernaya Riga

Diena prints an article about the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Tatjana Slivenko family. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, so far, Tatjana Slivenko has not applied for the return of the familys apartment in Riga and for residence permit. The newspaper also features an article of the MP from the People's Harmony Party Janis Urbanovics who points to the shortcomings of the court practice in Latvia.

Lauku Avize prints an article about the establishment of the NGO Sadraudziba, believing that its goals are contrary to promotion of social integration. The Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks has underlined the neutral stance of the Secretariat on the establishment of the new association. He also stated that the task of the Secretariat is to deal with all minority NGOs. In his article for Neatkariga Rita Avize, Muiznieks stressed that the government will not change its priorities in the area of the state language policy. Lauku Avize, Neatkariga Rita Avize

Internet portal

Internet portal www.policy.lv features an interview with the Special Tasks Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks who discusses social integration problems and prospects in Latvia.

Chas refers to the opinions of Latvian MPs about the statement of Russias State Council about minority rights violations in Latvia. Most MPs from different factions sharply criticize the statement.

Vesti Segodnya features an article about the forum Foreign Diaspora – the Intellectual Resource of Russia taking place in Moscow. The head of the parliamentary group For Human Rights in the United Latvia Jakov Pliner informed the participants of the forum about the stance of the FHRUL on education reform in Latvia.

Vesti Segodnya features an article by an independent economist Ernest Buivids who considers the state language policy in Latvia as the means to deprive minorities from economic benefits and to put them in a disadvantaged position on the labor market.