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.

• About Saeima decision to make content of the State Security Committees of the Soviet Republic of Latvia former agents files publicly available
• Amendments to the law On the Status of Former USSR Citizens Who are not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State
• Peoples Harmony Party invited the Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks to participate in the events within PHP European Parliament election campaign
• Most of Riga minority schools are ready for the education reform
• Issue about refusal of an entry visa to Latvia to the Russian diplomat Mikhail Demurin can possibly be included in the agenda of the summit of Russia and the EU
• Member of the Peoples Party Vaira Paegle comments on the possible ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools is forming the Youth Guard
• Saeima Mandate and Submissions Committee prepared a draft decision on authorizing incrimination of administrative charges against the deputy Andris Tolmacovs
• Discussion about the politicians readiness to restrict activities of the opponents of the education reform who incite to hatred
• European Commission Representation in Latvia supports the project Integration – an Opportunity for the Future

Newspapers continue discussion about Saeima decision to make content of the State Security Committee’s of the Soviet Republic of Latvia former agents’ files publicly available. 

Newspapers continue discussion about Saeima decision to make content of the State Security Committees of the Soviet Republic of Latvia former agents files publicly available. Diena, referring to statements of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike- Freiberga, writes that the president could return the law to the parliament for elaboration. President has criticized the parliament for not justifying the goal of making this information publicly available, as well as necessity to do it precisely at this particular moment. Other important considerations against opening the files mentioned by the newspapers is incompleteness of the existing information, and impossibility to determine degree of involvement of a particular person. According to the Head of the Center of Documenting the Consequences of Totalitarianism Indulis Zalite, out of existing 4300 former agents files only slightly over 600 are identified with the ‘ideological counteraction, or informing on people ‘hostile to the communist regime, while others concern agents who were involved in espionage, counterespionage, economic crime investigation, etc. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Saeima has adopted amendments to the law On the Status of Former USSR Citizens Who are not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State in the second reading, stipulating that persons who have received a residence permit in another country after 1 May 2004 can be deprived of their non-citizen status in Latvia.

Saeima has adopted amendments to the law On the Status of Former USSR Citizens Who are not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State in the second reading, stipulating that persons who have received a residence permit in another country after 1 May 2004 can be deprived of their non-citizen status in Latvia. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

People’s Harmony Party has invited Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks to participate in the events, organized within the PHP European Parliament election campaign, with the aim of clarifying the citizenship issues to the public.

Peoples Harmony Party has invited Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks to participate in the events, organized within the PHP European Parliament election campaign, with the aim of clarifying the citizenship issues to the public. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

According to the information of the State Education Inspection of the Ministry of Education and Science, most of Riga minority schools are ready for the education reform.

According to the information of the State Education Inspection of the Ministry of Education and Science, most of Riga minority schools are ready for the education reform. Rigas Balss features an opinion of the Riga Secondary School No. 34 director Ludmila Porunkevica, who says that although the school is allegedly ready for the implementation of the education reform, it would benefit from a three-year transition period to the tuition in Latvian language. During the opinion poll, conducted by the state inspection, many students have expressed opinions that they are not able to study in Latvian. Deputy Chairman of the inspection Valda Puise points to the possible impact of the protest actions on the students attitude towards the reform – according to her, students, who have recognized themselves as able to study in Latvian last year, during the latest poll stated that they are not ready. Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Chas

According to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Vladimir Chizhov, issue about refusal of an entry visa to Latvia to the Russian diplomat Mikhail Demurin may be included in the agenda of the summit of Russia and the EU. Vladimir Chizhov has pointed that the Baltic States’ policy regarding national minorities and heroization of fascists, as well as “sophistication of the visa requirements” is a cause of concern for the Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry.

According to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Vladimir Chizhov, issue about refusal of an entry visa to Latvia to the Russian diplomat Mikhail Demurin may be included in the agenda of the summit of Russia and the EU. Vladimir Chizhov has pointed that the Baltic States policy regarding national minorities and heroization of fascists, as well as sophistication of the visa requirements is a cause of concern for the Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Cha, Telegrafs

Latvijas Avize features a commentary of the member of the People’s Party Vaira Paegle about possible ratification of the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia. Vaira Paegle believes that Latvia should not yield to the internal or external pressure to ratify the convention, because ratification was not a precondition for Latvia’s accession to the EU, and because Latvian legislation already corresponds to the convention’s requirements.

Latvijas Avize features a commentary of the member of the Peoples Party Vaira Paegle about possible ratification of the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia. Vaira Paegle believes that Latvia should not yield to the internal or external pressure to ratify the convention, because ratification was not a precondition for Latvias accession to the EU, and because Latvian legislation already corresponds to the conventions requirements.

Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools are forming the Youth Guard – organization, which could ensure participation of minority students in protest actions against the education reform during the summer holidays. Minority students, who want to join the Guard, are invited to send a short message to a mobile phone number, providing name, surname, mobile phones’ numbers, year of birth and represented school. Communication with the ones who signed up is also foreseen via text messages. State Security Police has no information about the Headquarters’ plans to form a military unit, according to the Deputy Chairman Ints Ulmanis, who adds that Headquarters are trying to use military terminology wherever they can.

Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools are forming the Youth Guard – organization, which could ensure participation of minority students in protest actions against the education reform during the summer holidays. Minority students, who want to join the Guard, are invited to send a short message to a mobile phone number, providing name, surname, mobile phones numbers, year of birth and represented school. Communication with the ones who signed up is also foreseen via text messages. State Security Police has no information about the Headquarters plans to form a military unit, according to the Deputy Chairman Ints Ulmanis, who adds that Headquarters are trying to use military terminology wherever they can. Latvijas Avize

Saeima Mandate and Submissions Committee has prepared a draft decision on authorizing incrimination of administrative charges against the deputy Andris Tolmacovs (For Human Rights in the United Latvia). Riga Central Police Department has appealed to the Saeima to authorize incrimination of administrative charges against the MP for organizing and participating in the unapproved picket and procession against the education reform.

Saeima Mandate and Submissions Committee has prepared a draft decision on authorizing incrimination of administrative charges against the deputy Andris Tolmacovs (For Human Rights in the United Latvia). Riga Central Police Department has appealed to the Saeima to authorize incrimination of administrative charges against the MP for organizing and participating in the unapproved picket and procession against the education reform. Latvijas Avize

Rigas Balss prints a discussion among the MPs about politicians readiness to take decisive measures against opponents of the education reform who incite to hatred. Former Ministers of Interior Maris Gulbis and Mareks Segliņš believe that security institutions are ready to act, but they are waiting for a ‘message from the minister.

European Commission’s Representation in Latvia has supported a project of the Vidzeme Development Agency “Integration – an Opportunity for the Future”. The goal of the project is to increase Russian-speakers’ and rural women’s competitiveness and level of knowledge about the opportunities in the EU. Mainly municipalities of the regions, where Russian-speakers live in substantial numbers will be included in the project.

European Commissions Representation in Latvia has supported a project of the Vidzeme Development Agency Integration – an Opportunity for the Future. The goal of the project is to increase Russian-speakers and rural womens competitiveness and level of knowledge about the opportunities in the EU. Mainly municipalities of the regions, where Russian-speakers live in substantial numbers will be included in the project. Diena