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

• No additional obligations in minority rights area are expected to be imposed on Latvia as a result of the mutual agreement between the EU and Russia
• The President of Latvia is concerned with accusations and threats towards directors of minority schools successfully implementing education reform
• State Police bringscharges against protest actions organizers
• The ruling coalition has decided not to submit draft amendments to the Citizenship Laws to the government and the Saeima
• About possible impact of the Latvian language proficiency requirements for foreigners on the Latvian labor market
• The Prime Minister Indulis Emsis is not planning to recall his statement about Russias financial support to the education reforms opponents
• The Riga City Councils deputy Aleksandrs Gilmans is considering a possibility to waive the fines imposed by court
• Russian-language media criticize the governments attitude towards the Ventspils schools problems
• MP from the Peoples Harmony Party Aleksandrs Bartasevics about the partys stance on the education reform
• Vesty Segodnya on the meeting with non-citizens teachers organized by the Education, Youth and Sports Department of the Riga City Council and NGO Civic Initiative XIX
• Lithuanian NGOs have adopted a statement supporting the education reform
• The number of applications for Estonian citizenship has doubled since January

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia Rihards Piks has stated that no additional obligations in minority rights area may be imposed on Latvia as a result of the mutual agreement between the EU and Russia related to the protocol on the treaty on collaboration, applicable for the new EU member states, which is to be signed today. According to

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia Rihards Piks has stated that no additional obligations in minority rights area may be imposed on Latvia as a result of the mutual agreement between the EU and Russia related to the protocol on the treaty on collaboration, applicable for the new EU member states, which is to be signed today. According to Diena, a diplomatic statement about Russias and the EUs mutual obligation to protect minority rights will be included in the agreement. Diena, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has met with 20 directors of the minority schools. According to the President, extremely negative and sometimes threatening attitude from the reform opponents towards the school directors supporting the reform, which was also reflected in some Russian- language press publications, presents a serious problem. The President will be looking for opportunities to protect school administration from such influence within existing legal framework, and to discuss activities of the education reform’s opponents with the Interior Minister and the National Security Council.

Yesterday the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has met with 20 directors of the minority schools. According to the President, extremely negative and sometimes threatening attitude from the reform opponents towards the school directors supporting the reform, which was also reflected in some Russian- language press publications, presents a serious problem. The President will be looking for opportunities to protect school administration from such influence within existing legal framework, and to discuss activities of the education reforms opponents with the Interior Minister and the National Security Council. Vesty Segodnya has denied the Presidents accusation towards Russian-language press in rising ethnic tensions and putting pressure on school administration. The newspaper stresses that Russian-language press has objectively reflected various opinions on the events related to the education reform. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

According to

According to Diena, the State Police has brought the case against S. Malahovskis, I. Grigorjevs and O. Goculaks for violations of the rules organizing protest actions to court. The State Police has also sent an application to the Saeima asking for permission to initiate administrative case against two other reforms opponents, who are also MPs. The protocols on administrative violations have been prepared against G. Kotovs and J. Petropavlovsksis.

The ruling coalition has decided not to submit the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law, prepared by the Special Task Minister for Children and Family Affairs Secretariat, to the government and Saeima for examination. The aim of the amendments, prepared by the secretariat, is to ease the process of obtaining citizenship for children and other persons. For example, draft amendments foresee rights to obtain citizenship through registration for adopted children and orphans, as well as for children whose parents obtained Latvian citizenship after their children were born, and abolishing the norm that non-citizens’ children born after 21 August 1991 have the right to get Latvian citizenship through registration only till they are 18 years old. The Special Task Minister for Children and Family Affairs Ainars Bastiks has allegedly stated that due to the tensions in the society over the coming education reform, it may be not a right moment to open the Citizenship Law for examination.

The ruling coalition has decided not to submit the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law, prepared by the Special Task Minister for Children and Family Affairs Secretariat, to the government and Saeima for examination. The aim of the amendments, prepared by the secretariat, is to ease the process of obtaining citizenship for children and other persons. For example, draft amendments foresee rights to obtain citizenship through registration for adopted children and orphans, as well as for children whose parents obtained Latvian citizenship after their children were born, and abolishing the norm that non-citizens children born after 21 August 1991 have the right to get Latvian citizenship through registration only till they are 18 years old. The Special Task Minister for Children and Family Affairs Ainars Bastiks has allegedly stated that due to the tensions in the society over the coming education reform, it may be not a right moment to open the Citizenship Law for examination. Latvijas Avize

Diena features an article on the recently adopted regulations stipulating Latvian language proficiency requirements for foreigners who apply for the permanent residence permit. While some foreign employees in Latvia support the norm, others think that this norm interferes in the private business sphere and could hinder the work of qualified specialists in Latvia, thus reducing Latvias competitiveness on the international labor market. According to the deputy director of Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) Mara Roze, the norm is necessary in order to ensure foreigners integration into the society and their respect towards the state, and that it will not influence foreign investment in Latvia. The OCMA estimates that around 200 persons, who are eligible for permanent residence in Latvia, will pass Latvian language proficiency exam. There are 7,553 foreigners who presently hold temporary residence permits in Latvia.

The Prime Minister Indulis Emsis is not planning to recall his statements concerning Russia’s financial support to the protest activities against the education reform, and the role of the representative of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs in organizing protest events. The prime minister has named Kazakovs a ‘Moscow consultant’ in organizing protest actions, and accused him in being on Moscow’s payroll. 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 Indulis Emsis is not planning to recall his statements concerning Russias financial support to the protest activities against the education reform, and the role of the representative of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs in organizing protest events. The prime minister has named Kazakovs a ‘Moscow consultant in organizing protest actions, and accused him in being on Moscows payroll. Aleksandrs Kazakovs has promised to sue the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis in court if he will not recall his statements to the mass media. Latvijas Avize

The Riga City Council’s deputy Aleksandrs Gilmans is considering a possibility to waive the fines imposed by the court for social order’s violations during the protest activities against the education reform. The deputy is planning to consult lawyers on appeal possibilities.

The Riga City Councils deputy Aleksandrs Gilmans is considering a possibility to waive the fines imposed by the court for social orders violations during the protest activities against the education reform. The deputy is planning to consult lawyers on appeal possibilities. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Russian-language media report on the meeting of Venstpils schools’ administration and students with the Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics and the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks last week in Ventspils. The newspapers point to the lack of true dialog between school administration and the Latvian authorities, who allegedly are unwilling to understand the schools’ problems.

Russian-language media report on the meeting of Venstpils schools administration and students with the Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics and the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks last week in Ventspils. The newspapers point to the lack of true dialog between school administration and the Latvian authorities, who allegedly are unwilling to understand the schools problems. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Latvijas Avize features an interview with MP from the Peoples Harmony Party (PHP) and a European Parliament deputy candidate Aleksandrs Bartasevics. According to Bartasevics, the main problem in the area of education reform is the poor preparation of schools and teachers to the reform implementation, and lack of the governments support. The PHP is planning to initiate a constructive discussion on education reform with the government. The PHP concedes that reform may be implemented, but is willing to change the proportion of 60/40 percent defined by the Education Law for the one established by municipalities, students parents and principals.

Vesti Segodnya critically reports on the meeting with the school teachers, who have the non-citizen status, organized by the Education, Youth and Sports Department of the Riga City Council and NGO Civic Initiative XXI. The aim of the meeting was to motivate teachers to apply for Latvian citizenship. The newspaper calls the meeting ‘propaganda, and expresses an opinion that Latvian citizenship will not empower minorities to influence the state policies.

Three Lithuanian NGOs have adopted a statement supporting the education reform in Latvia. There are 32,000 Lithuanians living in Latvia.

Three Lithuanian NGOs have adopted a statement supporting the education reform in Latvia. There are 32,000 Lithuanians living in Latvia. Latvijas Avize

Diena refers to the Estonian newspaper Eesti Paevaleht informing that the number of applications for Estonian citizenship has doubled since January. According to the interviewed Estonian official, the main reason behind the increase is that non-citizens have finally understood that the EU will not require Estonia to grant them automatic citizenship.