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.

• Party New Era demanded resignation of the government
• Minister of Education and Science Juris Radzevics discusses education reform with the representatives of the expert group formed by the Peoples Harmony Party
• Russia State Council accuses Latvia and Estonia of Russian-speakers rights violations
• Unapproved protest action against the education reform
• Administrative Court cancels ban on organising a protest action against the education reform at Ratslaukums, Maris Tralmaks plans to appeal
• Interview with the ambassador of Russia to Latvia Igor Stoudennikov
• Boris Tsilevitch about his plans in case he gets elected to the European Parliament
• Sweden newspaper Dagens Nyheter about non-citizens rights in Latvia

Party New Era has demanded resignation of the government of Indulis Emsis. According to the New Era, Saeima’s yesterday decision not to pass proposal for the budget amendments, prepared by opposition, was the reason behind it. Proposed amendments stipulate raise of teachers’ salaries and pension index. Prime minister has said to the press that government is planning to evaluate budget amendments in September.

Party New Era has demanded resignation of the government of Indulis Emsis. According to the New Era, Saeimas yesterday decision not to pass proposal for the budget amendments, prepared by opposition, was the reason behind it. Proposed amendments stipulate raise of teachers salaries and pension index. Prime minister has said to the press that government is planning to evaluate budget amendments in September. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas

Following initiative of the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, yesterday Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics met with the representatives of the expert group formed by the People’s Harmony Party (PHP). During discussion on the education reform, representative of the PHP group Vladilens Dozorcevs has pointed to the necessity of amending the Law on Education, stipulating that the instruction in the state schools take place in the state language or in minorities’ languages. Party representatives believe that if the law cannot be opened, then a moratorium on the reform should be established. According to the PHP, the state should control only the quality of Latvian language instruction at minority schools, but the minorities’ schools should be able to choose educational programmes.

Following initiative of the Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, yesterday Minister for Education and Science Juris Radzevics met with the representatives of the expert group formed by the Peoples Harmony Party (PHP). During discussion on the education reform, representative of the PHP group Vladilens Dozorcevs has pointed to the necessity of amending the Law on Education, stipulating that the instruction in the state schools take place in the state language or in minorities languages. Party representatives believe that if the law cannot be opened, then a moratorium on the reform should be established. According to the PHP, the state should control only the quality of Latvian language instruction at minority schools, but the minorities schools should be able to choose educational programmes. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Statement to the European Parliament, adopted by the Russia State Council, accuses Latvia and Estonia of violations of the Russian-speakers rights. The statement points to the fact that half a million of Latvian residents cannot participate in the European Parliament elections. It also says that there is obvious ethnic discrimination in Latvia, because while 99,6% of ethnic Latvians are citizens, only 47,4%  of Russians, 27,3% of Belarussians and 16,3% of  Ukrainians living in Latvia possess Latvian citizenship.

Statement to the European Parliament, adopted by the Russia State Council, accuses Latvia and Estonia of violations of the Russian-speakers rights. The statement points to the fact that half a million of Latvian residents cannot participate in the European Parliament elections. It also says that there is obvious ethnic discrimination in Latvia, because while 99,6% of ethnic Latvians are citizens, only 47,4% of Russians, 27,3% of Belarussians and 16,3% of Ukrainians living in Latvia possess Latvian citizenship. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

Yesterday representatives of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) organised a protest action against the education reform despite refusal of the executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks to authorise this event. One of the leaders of the union Tatjana Zdanoka says that FHRUL is planning to challenge Maris Tralmaks’s decision at the court.

Yesterday representatives of the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia (FHRUL) organised a protest action against the education reform despite refusal of the executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks to authorise this event. One of the leaders of the union Tatjana Zdanoka says that FHRUL is planning to challenge Maris Tralmakss decision at the court. Rigas Balss, Chas

Administrative Court cancelled the ban on organising a protest action against the education reform on 1 June at Ratslaukums.  Executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks has previously refused to authorise the meeting on the grounds that Ratslaukums is not suitable for the events with the large numbers of participants. Maris Tralmaks is planning to appeal.

Administrative Court cancelled the ban on organising a protest action against the education reform on 1 June at Ratslaukums. Executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks has previously refused to authorise the meeting on the grounds that Ratslaukums is not suitable for the events with the large numbers of participants. Maris Tralmaks is planning to appeal. Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the ambassador of Russia to Latvia Igor Stoudennikov. Ambassador believes that expulsion of the Russian diplomat and refusal to issue an entry visa to Latvia to another Russian diplomat, Mikhail Demurin, do not promote good relations between the two states.

Chas prints an interview with the European Parliament candidate Boris Tsilevitch (Peoples Harmony Party) about his plans in case of being elected. According to Boris Tsilevitch, PHP wants to ask the European Commission to deal with minority rights ‘not only on the level of political decisions, which Latvia tends to ignore, but on the level of legal acts, which would guarantee rights for minorities.

Diena reprints fragments of the article about the non-citizens rights in Latvia, published by the Sweden newspaper Dagens Nyheter. Newspaper stresses that 481,000 Russian-speakers have no rights to participate at the European Parliament election. Dagens Nyheter also interviews two Latvian non-citizens about their attitude towards naturalisation. Diena