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.

• Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly has supported Russias stance on continuation of the post-monitoring dialogue with Latvia
• Saeima Legal Affairs Committee prepares law amendments stipulating prolongation of the prohibition for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia to hold certain offices and naturalize
• Latvia Foreign Affairs Minister and experts about Russias decision to sign a boarder agreement with Latvia
• Prime Minister Indulis Emsis believes he has not caused moral damage to the activist of the Headquarters Aleksandrs Kazakovs when naming him a ‘Moscow consultant in organizing protest actions
• Claim to the Constitutional Court against the education reform
• A call to establish a moratorium on education reform until minorities schools, students and parents are not fully prepared
• Representatives of Saeima Citizenship Law Implementation Committee meet with the head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane
• Russian Community in Latvia and organization Youth, Traditions, Eternity expresses support to the Special Tasks Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks
• European Parliament candidates discuss education reform
• Freedom House evaluates freedom of speech in Latvia

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly has supported the Russia’s stance on the continuation of the post-monitoring dialogue with Latvia, informs Russian information agency RIA Novosti. Hence, according to the deputy chairman of the Russia State Council’s International Affairs Committee Leonid Slutsky, Russia will be able to continue protecting the Russian-speakers’ rights in Latvia.

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly has supported the Russias stance on the continuation of the post-monitoring dialogue with Latvia, informs Russian information agency RIA Novosti. Hence, according to the deputy chairman of the Russia State Councils International Affairs Committee Leonid Slutsky, Russia will be able to continue protecting the Russian-speakers rights in Latvia. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize

Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has prepared amendments to the law, stipulating prolongation of the prohibitions for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia to hold certain offices and naturalize for the next 10 years, at the same time obliging the Cabinet of Ministers to evaluate necessity of retaining  prohibitions in the specific areas by next June. Most likely, Saeima will make a decision on this issue today.

Saeima Legal Affairs Committee has prepared amendments to the law, stipulating prolongation of the prohibitions for the ex-staff of the State Security Committee of the Soviet Republic of Latvia to hold certain offices and naturalize for the next 10 years, at the same time obliging the Cabinet of Ministers to evaluate necessity of retaining prohibitions in the specific areas by next June. Most likely, Saeima will make a decision on this issue today. Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Chas, Telegraf

Latvia Foreign Affairs Minister Rihards Piks believes that Russia’s practical interests are the main reason for the allegedly expressed readiness to ratify the boarder agreement with Latvia. Diena, referring to the former diplomat Peteris Vinkelis, writes that the President’s of Russia priority is simplification of the visa regime between Russia and the EU, and one of the EU prerequisites is a boarder agreement between Russia and Latvia. At the same time experts, questioned by the

Latvia Foreign Affairs Minister Rihards Piks believes that Russias practical interests are the main reason for the allegedly expressed readiness to ratify the boarder agreement with Latvia. Diena, referring to the former diplomat Peteris Vinkelis, writes that the Presidents of Russia priority is simplification of the visa regime between Russia and the EU, and one of the EU prerequisites is a boarder agreement between Russia and Latvia. At the same time experts, questioned by the Neatkariga Rita Avize, believe that new requirements from Russia will follow shortly. Diena, Telegraf

Prime Minister Indulis Emsis believes that he had not caused  moral damage to the assistant of the Russia’s State Council deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin and activist of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs when naming him as a ‘Moscow consultant’ in organizing protest actions. Aleksandrs Kazakovs has submitted a claim to the court, requiring the prime minister to recall this statement.

Prime Minister Indulis Emsis believes that he had not caused moral damage to the assistant of the Russias State Council deputy speaker Dmitry Rogozin and activist of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools Aleksandrs Kazakovs when naming him as a ‘Moscow consultant in organizing protest actions. Aleksandrs Kazakovs has submitted a claim to the court, requiring the prime minister to recall this statement. Latvijas Avize

Newspapers continue to write about the claim to the Constitutional Court challenging implementation of the education reform, submitted by the MPs from People’s Harmony Party Boris Tsilevitch and Vitalijs Orlovs.

Newspapers continue to write about the claim to the Constitutional Court challenging implementation of the education reform, submitted by the MPs from Peoples Harmony Party Boris Tsilevitch and Vitalijs Orlovs. Diena, Chas, Telegraf

Yesterday the youth organization of the Latvian Social Democratic Labor Party and Organization of the Working Youth, in collaboration with the young representatives of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools, made an appeal to the government to establish a moratorium on education reform until minorities’ schools, students and parents are not fully prepared for it.

Yesterday the youth organization of the Latvian Social Democratic Labor Party and Organization of the Working Youth, in collaboration with the young representatives of the Headquarters for the Defense of Russian-language Schools, made an appeal to the government to establish a moratorium on education reform until minorities schools, students and parents are not fully prepared for it. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize features article about meeting of the representatives of Saeima Citizenship Law Implementation Committee with the head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane in order to discuss problems in the area of naturalization. During the meeting MPs have expressed their concern about the fact that some non-citizens in Daugavpils have been unsuccessfully trying to pass the Latvian language examination on repeated occasions. Eizenija Aldermane responded by pointing to the necessity of developing a special program for improving the Latvian language environment in the town. The head of the Naturalization Board also believes that there is no necessity to make amendments to the legislation restricting possibilities to pass the language examination repeatedly due to the problems encountered in one particular town.

Russian Community in Latvia and minorities’ youth organization Youth, Traditions, Eternity has expressed support to the Special Tasks Minister for the Society Integration Nils Muiznieks.

Russian Community in Latvia and minorities youth organization Youth, Traditions, Eternity has expressed support to the Special Tasks Minister for the Society Integration Nils Muiznieks. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Telegraf features discussion between the three European Parliament candidates - Tatjana Zdanoka (For Human Rights in the United Latvia), Inese Vaidere (For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM) and Nils Muiznieks (Latvias First Party) on society integration issues.

Independent non-profit, nonpartisan organization Freedom House has published its annual report on freedom of speech in Europe and former USSR. Out of all former soviet countries, the Baltic States have received the highest appraisal.

Independent non-profit, nonpartisan organization Freedom House has published its annual report on freedom of speech in Europe and former USSR. Out of all former soviet countries, the Baltic States have received the highest appraisal. Diena