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

• Latvia expels Russian diplomat
• President of the European Commission Romano Prodi says almost all contradictions in negotiations with Moscow have been resolved
• European Council Human Rights Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles calls the Russians-speakers situation in Latvia and Estonia a very serious problem
• Russian State Dumas stance on the EU enlargement
• Prime Minister Indulis Emsis names eight persons who initiate unsanctioned protest actions
• The Riga City Centre district court has imposed a second fine on City Councils deputy Aleksandrs Gilmans for organizing protest activities against the education reform
• Chairman of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Artis Pabriks on Latvian-Russian relations and education reform
• Launch of the State Language Agency
• The NGO Russian Society of Latvia will boycott minority children sports festival
• Protest activities against the education reform in Rezekne
• New division of Roma organization Nevo Drom (New Way) established in Daugavpils
• Diena reports that non-citizens problems are given priority attention by the foreign media

On Friday, Latvia has expelled a Russian diplomat who has not been named officially so far. According to the note submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs parliamentary secretary Maris Riekstins to the Russian ambassador to Latvia Igor Studennikov, the ministry has found that “one of the Russian diplomats has engaged in activities not compatible with the diplomatic status,” thus indicating espionage. According to the information of the Constitutional Defense Bureau, the diplomat has tried to get information on NATO military infrastructure and some topical internal and external political issues. According to

On Friday, Latvia has expelled a Russian diplomat who has not been named officially so far. According to the note submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs parliamentary secretary Maris Riekstins to the Russian ambassador to Latvia Igor Studennikov, the ministry has found that one of the Russian diplomats has engaged in activities not compatible with the diplomatic status, thus indicating espionage. According to the information of the Constitutional Defense Bureau, the diplomat has tried to get information on NATO military infrastructure and some topical internal and external political issues. According to Neatkariga Rita Avize, foreign policy experts assume that this diplomat has also been interested in the Russian-language schools protests. The Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs has named the diplomats expulsion as provocative and unfounded. Russia has also stated that this step was not surprising since the Ministry warned in press about such plans of Latvian Russophobic politicians already on 12 April. These warnings were related to accusations of Latvian officials to Russia in rising social tensions over the education reform. Chas features comments by Latvian officials on this issue. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

At a press conference in Moscow, the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi stated that almost all contradictions have been resolved in negotiations with Moscow in order to sign a protocol of the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the European Union, applying it to all new EU member states. According to Prodi, Russia and the EU will continue to pay special attention to minority protection in the Baltic States, while no special agreement between Russia and the EU regarding this issue is expected.

At a press conference in Moscow, the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi stated that almost all contradictions have been resolved in negotiations with Moscow in order to sign a protocol of the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the European Union, applying it to all new EU member states. According to Prodi, Russia and the EU will continue to pay special attention to minority protection in the Baltic States, while no special agreement between Russia and the EU regarding this issue is expected. Latvijas Avize

On Friday, the European Council Human Rights Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles stated that the Russians-speakers’ situation in Latvia and Estonia is “a very serious problem”.

On Friday, the European Council Human Rights Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles stated that the Russians-speakers situation in Latvia and Estonia is a very serious problem. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

On Friday the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and the head of Moscow delegation at the UN Human Rights Committee’s session in Geneva Jurij Fedotov stated that minority protection in the Baltic States has been one of the core Russian tasks during the session. The Russian delegation calls on the international community to prevent violation of Russian-speakers’ rights in the Baltic States.

On Friday the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and the head of Moscow delegation at the UN Human Rights Committees session in Geneva Jurij Fedotov stated that minority protection in the Baltic States has been one of the core Russian tasks during the session. The Russian delegation calls on the international community to prevent violation of Russian-speakers rights in the Baltic States. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize

The Russian State Duma is planning to ratify the protocol of the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the European Union, applying it to all new EU member states in September. According to the First Vice Speaker of Russian State Duma Lubov Sliska, Russia considers the EU enlargement an internal EU issue, but remains concerned about the transit issue in Kaliningrad area and violations of Russian-speakers’ rights in the Baltic States.

The Russian State Duma is planning to ratify the protocol of the treaty on collaboration between Russia and the European Union, applying it to all new EU member states in September. According to the First Vice Speaker of Russian State Duma Lubov Sliska, Russia considers the EU enlargement an internal EU issue, but remains concerned about the transit issue in Kaliningrad area and violations of Russian-speakers rights in the Baltic States. Neatkariga Rita Avize

The Prime Minister Indulis Emsis in an interview to

The Prime Minister Indulis Emsis in an interview to Latvijas Avize named eight persons who have organized unsanctioned protest actions and against whom the State Police has initiated administrative legal cases: Sergejs Malahovskijs, Ivans Grigorjevs, Jurijs Petropavlovskis, Olegs Goculaks, MPs Andris Tolmacovs, Jakovs Pliners, Vladimirs Buzajevs and Riga City Councils deputy Genadijs Kotovs. The possibility that criminal charges will be brought after the initial investigation is not excluded. Latvijas Avize

The Riga City’s Centre district court has imposed a 100 lats fine on the City Council’s deputy Aleksandrs Gilmans, who has been accused in violations of social order on 11 February by organizing a meeting of the opponents of education reform with the Saeima’s deputies. Last week Gilmans was fined 80 lats for social order’s violations (disturbing traffic) on 5 February. According to Gilmans, the court ruling was politically motivated.

The Riga Citys Centre district court has imposed a 100 lats fine on the City Councils deputy Aleksandrs Gilmans, who has been accused in violations of social order on 11 February by organizing a meeting of the opponents of education reform with the Saeimas deputies. Last week Gilmans was fined 80 lats for social orders violations (disturbing traffic) on 5 February. According to Gilmans, the court ruling was politically motivated. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas,

Chas reports on the interview with the chairman of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Artis Pabriks for the Russian-language TV program From Positions of Power. Artis Pabriks believes that after Latvias accession to the EU, the dialog between Latvia and Russia will improve. According to Pabriks, education reform is necessary in order to ensure that all schools graduates can speak Latvian freely.

Latvijas Avize features an article about the State Language Agency, which was opened yesterday. The State Language Agency has 12 staff members. Establishment of the national terminology database, sociolinguistic research and development of consulting service networks in Latvias largest cities are among the priorities of the State Language Agency.

The Russian Society of Latvia has decided to boycott minority children sports festival to be held on 2 May. The Russian Society explains its decision by the fact that the government continuously ignores claims of the education reform’s opponents. The organization calls other NGOs to boycott similar “decorative events”.

The Russian Society of Latvia has decided to boycott minority children sports festival to be held on 2 May. The Russian Society explains its decision by the fact that the government continuously ignores claims of the education reforms opponents. The organization calls other NGOs to boycott similar decorative events. Vesty Segodnya, Chas

Vesti Segodnya reports critical opinions of school representatives, students and their parents in Rezekne schools on the education reform, and describes protest activities of the schools. The Rezeknes Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools organized a meeting against education reform on 16 April.

New division of Roma organization “Nevo Drom” (New Way”) has been established in Daugavpils. According to the department’s head, the main organization’s task is to promote Roma children school attendance and Roma employment.

New division of Roma organization Nevo Drom (New Way) has been established in Daugavpils. According to the departments head, the main organizations task is to promote Roma children school attendance and Roma employment. Chas

Diena prints an article about publications about Latvia in the foreign press. Non-citizens problems are one of the priority subjects reflected in the foreign media.