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

• About protest actions against the education reform
• Prime Minister Indulis Emsis asks law enforcement organizations to investigate threats received by teachers, parents and students
• Chairman of the Security Police Janis Reiniks: Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools are not capable of controlling the situation
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga calls on Russia to sign a boarder agreement with Latvia
• Suggestion to deprive teachers, who participated in the protest actions against the education reform, of their additional payments
• More articles on the call of the European Council Human Rights Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles on Sweden to influence Latvian integration policy more actively

According to the police information, approximately 5,000 students and their parents participated in the protest actions against the education reform yesterday in Riga. Approximately 1,000 minority students participated in the protest actions in Daugavpils, and several hundreds in Liepaja. During the protest action the MPs from the For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) Jakovs Pliners and Vladimirs Buzajevs submitted a letter to the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics, requiring to establish a moratorium on the education reform and to begin a constructive dialogue with the representatives, nominated by the Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools. According to the minister, both MPs refused his invitation to discuss the issue of education reform already yesterday, stating that their goal was only to deliver a letter.

According to the police information, approximately 5,000 students and their parents participated in the protest actions against the education reform yesterday in Riga. Approximately 1,000 minority students participated in the protest actions in Daugavpils, and several hundreds in Liepaja. During the protest action the MPs from the For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) Jakovs Pliners and Vladimirs Buzajevs submitted a letter to the Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics, requiring to establish a moratorium on the education reform and to begin a constructive dialogue with the representatives, nominated by the Congress of the Defenders of Russian-language schools. According to the minister, both MPs refused his invitation to discuss the issue of education reform already yesterday, stating that their goal was only to deliver a letter. Rigas Balss informs that Juris Radzevics is not planning to cancel the education reform, but suggests to take extra measures in its implementation, like, for example, dividing minority classes into smaller groups so that lessons in the Latvian language are better understood by the students. Diena, Latvijas Vestnesis, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Prime Minister Indulis Emsis has made an official statement, asking the law enforcement institutions to investigate information, provided by the teachers, children and parents about threats received from the ‘unfriendly towards Latvia forces’, who are trying to ensure their participation in the protest actions against the education reform. According to the Prime Minister, his Cabinet of Ministers will not give in to the pressure.

Prime Minister Indulis Emsis has made an official statement, asking the law enforcement institutions to investigate information, provided by the teachers, children and parents about threats received from the ‘unfriendly towards Latvia forces, who are trying to ensure their participation in the protest actions against the education reform. According to the Prime Minister, his Cabinet of Ministers will not give in to the pressure. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Latvijas Vestnesis, Rigas Balss, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Chairman of the Security Police Janis Reiniks believes that the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools are not capable any more to control the situation, and that level of aggressiveness during the protest actions, organized by the Headquarters, is increasing. Four administrative protocols have been filed against the representatives of FHRUL for the unapproved protest actions’ organization.  Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics is planning to discuss a possible review of the legislation in order to prevent ‘organized lesson-skipping’ in the future.

Chairman of the Security Police Janis Reiniks believes that the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools are not capable any more to control the situation, and that level of aggressiveness during the protest actions, organized by the Headquarters, is increasing. Four administrative protocols have been filed against the representatives of FHRUL for the unapproved protest actions organization. Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics is planning to discuss a possible review of the legislation in order to prevent ‘organized lesson-skipping in the future. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has called on Russia to sign a boarder agreement with Latvia, at the same time stressing that pressure from Russia’s side on Latvia has increased recently due to Latvia’s close accession to the EU.

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has called on Russia to sign a boarder agreement with Latvia, at the same time stressing that pressure from Russias side on Latvia has increased recently due to Latvias close accession to the EU. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Riga City Council’s Security and Order Committee has suggested to deprive teachers, who failed to show up at schools due to the participation in the protest actions against the education reform, of their additional payments.

Riga City Councils Security and Order Committee has suggested to deprive teachers, who failed to show up at schools due to the participation in the protest actions against the education reform, of their additional payments. Diena

There are more articles in the newspapers about the call of the European Council Human Rights Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles on Sweden, as a big authority for the Baltic countries, to influence Latvian integration policy more actively, in order to help solving the problem of non-citizens.

There are more articles in the newspapers about the call of the European Council Human Rights Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles on Sweden, as a big authority for the Baltic countries, to influence Latvian integration policy more actively, in order to help solving the problem of non-citizens. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf