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

• Opposition-party parliamentarians criticize statements by the Minister of Educations and Science Karlis Sadurskis
• Diena commentator Askolds Rodins about protest actions against education reform
• FHRUL proposes granting voting rights at municipal elections for non-citizens
• Establishment of new deputies group of Riga City Council Cita politika

Russian-language newspapers feature politicians’ criticism of statements of the Minister of Educations and Science Karlis Sadurskis the responsibility of such political organizations as Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR) and Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools for promoting destructive actions, such as the recent vandalism against the Ministry of Education allegedly perpetrated by National Bolsheviks. The MP of People’s Harmony Party Boris Tsilevich views the expressions of the Minister as incitement to hostility. Head of the Saeima FHRUL parliamentary group Jakov Pliner stresses that the act of vandalism was caused by the Ministry’s openly discriminating policy against the minority children and not by the activities of the defenders of Russian Schools. The politicians also criticize the Minister’s view on Latvia’s compliance with the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in the area of minority education.

Russian-language newspapers feature politicians criticism of statements of the Minister of Educations and Science Karlis Sadurskis the responsibility of such political organizations as Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR) and Headquarters for the Defense of Russian Schools for promoting destructive actions, such as the recent vandalism against the Ministry of Education allegedly perpetrated by National Bolsheviks. The MP of Peoples Harmony Party Boris Tsilevich views the expressions of the Minister as incitement to hostility. Head of the Saeima FHRUL parliamentary group Jakov Pliner stresses that the act of vandalism was caused by the Ministrys openly discriminating policy against the minority children and not by the activities of the defenders of Russian Schools. The politicians also criticize the Ministers view on Latvias compliance with the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in the area of minority education. Telegraf, Vechernaya Riga, Chas

Diena features a commentary of Askolds Rodins about the protest actions against the education reform 2004. He believes that the organizers of such actions first of all are more troubled about their own future not about the future of Russian-language school students.

For Human Rights in the United Latvia has drawn up amendments to the Constitution of Latvia and the laws of Saeima elections and municipal elections, which stipulate the granting of voting rights at municipal elections to non-citizens. According to the consultant of the Saeima FHRUL parliamentary group Miroslav Mitrofanov, the faction also calls for removing the prohibition to stand for Saeima elections and municipal elections for ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991.

For Human Rights in the United Latvia has drawn up amendments to the Constitution of Latvia and the laws of Saeima elections and municipal elections, which stipulate the granting of voting rights at municipal elections to non-citizens. According to the consultant of the Saeima FHRUL parliamentary group Miroslav Mitrofanov, the faction also calls for removing the prohibition to stand for Saeima elections and municipal elections for ex-officials of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia and those individuals who were members of the Communist Party and related organizations after January 13, 1991. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday a new deputies’ group of Riga City Council “Cita politika” (Other Policy) was established, uniting Riga Vice-Mayor Sergey Dolgopolov and three other councilors, who have also discontinued their membership to the People’s Harmony Party after the exclusion of Sergey Dolgopolov.

Yesterday a new deputies group of Riga City Council Cita politika (Other Policy) was established, uniting Riga Vice-Mayor Sergey Dolgopolov and three other councilors, who have also discontinued their membership to the Peoples Harmony Party after the exclusion of Sergey Dolgopolov. Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Chas, Telegraf