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

• The Minister of Justice suspends the draft law on municipal elections
• Comments on the new Latvian language proficiency requirements for foreigners applying for permanent residence
• Representative of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs asks Prime Minister Indulis Emsis to recall his statements
• The Secretariat of the Special Tasks Minister on Societal Integration Issues is planning a mailing campaign to explain rules of citizenship registration for parent of the children born in Latvia after 21 August 1991
• Russia is planning to raise question of the education reform in Latvia at the next session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
• The Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools deny all recent accusations
• Russian youngsters suspected in vandalizing the parks gazebo with anti-reform slogans
• Presidents advisor on economic issues Sols Bukingolts about Latvia-Russia relations
• Chas columnist: education reform can be suspended only if all Latvian residents participate in the elections

The minister of Justice Vineta Muizniece from the People’s party has suspended the draft law on municipal elections which cancels the prohibition to candidate for elections for former State Security Committee’s staff and Communist Party’s members after 13 January 1991. According to the minister, the People’s party will not support this change, and there are also other reasons for the draft law review.

The minister of Justice Vineta Muizniece from the Peoples party has suspended the draft law on municipal elections which cancels the prohibition to candidate for elections for former State Security Committees staff and Communist Partys members after 13 January 1991. According to the minister, the Peoples party will not support this change, and there are also other reasons for the draft law review. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

According to the representative of the State Human rights Office Liga Bikseniece, the state partially intrudes in private life by adopting government regulations which oblige foreigners applying for the permanent residence in Latvia to pass Latvian language examination. However, points Liga Bikseniece, lack of proficiency in the state language cannot lead to the person’s expulsion, as he or she can always apply for the temporary residence permit, which foresees no language proficiency requirements. The Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks points to the need of training course for foreigners in the Latvian language and in ‘what this country is about’.

According to the representative of the State Human rights Office Liga Bikseniece, the state partially intrudes in private life by adopting government regulations which oblige foreigners applying for the permanent residence in Latvia to pass Latvian language examination. However, points Liga Bikseniece, lack of proficiency in the state language cannot lead to the persons expulsion, as he or she can always apply for the temporary residence permit, which foresees no language proficiency requirements. The Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Affairs Nils Muiznieks points to the need of training course for foreigners in the Latvian language and in ‘what this country is about. Diena

The representative of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs has promised to sue the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis in court if he will not recall his statements to the mass media. The Prime Minister has named Kazakovs a ‘Moscow consultant’ in organizing protest actions against the education reform, and accused him in being on Moscow’s payroll. In his letter to the prime minister, Kazakov has stated that he is a voluntary deputy’s assistant, not occupying an official position and not receiving a salary.

The representative of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs has promised to sue the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis in court if he will not recall his statements to the mass media. The Prime Minister has named Kazakovs a ‘Moscow consultant in organizing protest actions against the education reform, and accused him in being on Moscows payroll. In his letter to the prime minister, Kazakov has stated that he is a voluntary deputys assistant, not occupying an official position and not receiving a salary. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

The Secretariat of the Special Task’s Minister on Society Integration Issues is planning to mail to all parents, whose children were born in Latvia after 21 August 1991, booklets explaining the rules of registering  their children as Latvian citizens.

The Secretariat of the Special Tasks Minister on Society Integration Issues is planning to mail to all parents, whose children were born in Latvia after 21 August 1991, booklets explaining the rules of registering their children as Latvian citizens. Vesti Segodnya

Russian delegation is planning to raise the question about human rights violation in Latvia, specifically in the area of the education reform, on the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 26-30 April,

Russian delegation is planning to raise the question about human rights violation in Latvia, specifically in the area of the education reform, on the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 26-30 April, Chas

At the press conference yesterday, representatives of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools denied all recent accusations of Latvian officials, including collaboration with the ‘foreign sponsors’. According to Jakovs Pliners, the state provokes ethnic conflict by denying all proposals made by opposition regarding the 2004 education reform.

At the press conference yesterday, representatives of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools denied all recent accusations of Latvian officials, including collaboration with the ‘foreign sponsors. According to Jakovs Pliners, the state provokes ethnic conflict by denying all proposals made by opposition regarding the 2004 education reform. Vesti Segodnya

A pagoda-like gazebo, which Riga received as a present on the 800 years anniversary from the Chinese city of Suzhou, had been covered by graffiti last Tuesday. The slogans read “No to the reform” and “Latvians forbidden to enter” in the Russian language, which makes staff of the Riga City Council Environmental department think that Russian youngsters are to be blamed. The City council deputy Aleksandrs Gilmans, one of the protest actions' leaders, counters by saying that graffiti may be a provocation with the aim of casting a shadow over the education reform opponents.

A pagoda-like gazebo, which Riga received as a present on the 800 years anniversary from the Chinese city of Suzhou, had been covered by graffiti last Tuesday. The slogans read No to the reform and Latvians forbidden to enter in the Russian language, which makes staff of the Riga City Council Environmental department think that Russian youngsters are to be blamed. The City council deputy Aleksandrs Gilmans, one of the protest actions' leaders, counters by saying that graffiti may be a provocation with the aim of casting a shadow over the education reform opponents. Rigas Balss

Latvijas Avize reprints an interview with the advisor to the Latvian president on economic issues Sols Bukingolts to the Russian information agency Regnum-News Spb. According to Sols Bukingolts, Latvian-Russian relations should be developed on the basis of common interests. He also believes that it is important that Russians in Latvia will feel themselves as Latvian Russians, but Latvians should not  automatically consider Russians as left-wing forces or ‘agents of Russia’s influence’.

Latvijas Avize reprints an interview with the advisor to the Latvian president on economic issues Sols Bukingolts to the Russian information agency Regnum-News Spb. According to Sols Bukingolts, Latvian-Russian relations should be developed on the basis of common interests. He also believes that it is important that Russians in Latvia will feel themselves as Latvian Russians, but Latvians should not automatically consider Russians as left-wing forces or ‘agents of Russias influence. Latvijas Avize

Chas columnist Viktors Guscins believes that suspension of the education reform can be achieved only with changing existing elections practice, i.e. ensuring participation of all state residents in the elections.