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.

• European Court of Human Rights received a claim versus Latvia
• Newspapers report on the consultations between Russia and EU on the human rights issues
• Article about the meeting of representatives of the Romani community and state officials
• Interview with the head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins
• Headquarters appeals with the court the Riga City Councils refusal to authorise the protest action ‘With a smile about the reform
• Approximately 250 students participated in the protest action against the education reform
• Protest meeting at the building of the Latvian Embassy in Moscow took place yesterday
• Interview with a minority student who supports the implementation of the minority education reform

The European Court of Human Rights received the claim from Natella Kaftailova against Latvia. Natella Kaftailova objects to the decision of the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (DCMA) of the Interior Affairs Ministry of Latvia. On the basis of this decision she was deprived of her personal code and expelled from Latvia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Natella Kaftailova was born in Georgia, but in 1984 moved to Latvia with her husband, who was an official of the Soviet Union’s Ministry of Interior. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Natella Kaftailova did not acquire citizenship of any country. In 1994 the DCMA annulled her personal code and a year later took a decision on her expulsion from Latvia. The DCMA based its decision on arguments that till 1 July 1992 Natella Kaftailova had not declared Latvia as her permanent place of residence and had failed to apply for the status of a permanent resident until the date required by Latvian legislation.

The European Court of Human Rights received the claim from Natella Kaftailova against Latvia. Natella Kaftailova objects to the decision of the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (DCMA) of the Interior Affairs Ministry of Latvia. On the basis of this decision she was deprived of her personal code and expelled from Latvia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Natella Kaftailova was born in Georgia, but in 1984 moved to Latvia with her husband, who was an official of the Soviet Unions Ministry of Interior. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Natella Kaftailova did not acquire citizenship of any country. In 1994 the DCMA annulled her personal code and a year later took a decision on her expulsion from Latvia. The DCMA based its decision on arguments that till 1 July 1992 Natella Kaftailova had not declared Latvia as her permanent place of residence and had failed to apply for the status of a permanent resident until the date required by Latvian legislation. Diena, Chas

Newspapers report on the consultations between Russia and EU on human rights issues. During the meeting Russia noted to the situation of national minorities in Latvia and Estonia. The Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that these countries should speed up the naturalisation process, ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and grant non-citizens the right to vote in municipal elections.

Newspapers report on the consultations between Russia and EU on human rights issues. During the meeting Russia noted to the situation of national minorities in Latvia and Estonia. The Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that these countries should speed up the naturalisation process, ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and grant non-citizens the right to vote in municipal elections. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Vesti Segodnya reports on the meeting of representatives of the Romani community with state officials. The head of the Romani community in Jelgava Haralds Didzus stated that in Latvia there is racial discrimination against Roma ‘employers refuse to employ Roma because of their ethnicity, although they speak very good Latvian. While the acting Parliamentary Secretary of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Denis Hanovs stressed that xenophobia towards Roma is an issue for all members of society.

The Jewish Community in Latvia condemned the publication printed in the daily 

The Jewish Community in Latvia condemned the publication printed in the daily Latvijas Avize. The author of the publication doubted whether Herberts Cukurs, a famous Latvian pilot, who is accused in taking part in the Holocaust, took part in the Holocaust was doubted. Telegraf

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Head of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins about societal integration in Latvia. Referring to a study conducted at the end of the 90-ties, Aleksandrs Kirsteins argues that only one third of non-citizens want to naturalise, one third wants to emigrate to Western countries and remaining one third wants to return to Russia. According to Aleksandrs Kirsteins, the national programme ‘Society Integration in Latvia attempts to implement forceful integration. When asked about the possible results of the forthcoming municipal elections, Aleksandrs Kirsteins believes that the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia will not collect many votes, because there are other left-wing parties as well and there is no co-operation among them.

The Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools appealed with the court the decision of the Executive Director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks. Maris Tralmaks refused to authorise the protest action ‘

The Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools appealed with the court the decision of the Executive Director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks. Maris Tralmaks refused to authorise the protest action ‘With a smile about the reform in Esplanade, the centre of Riga, on 5 March. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Approximately 250 students participated in the protest action against the education reform in Liepaja. The action was organised by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and the Latvian National Democratic Party.

Approximately 250 students participated in the protest action against the education reform in Liepaja. The action was organised by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia and the Latvian National Democratic Party. Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday the protest meeting against marking of the Commemoration Day of the Latvian Legion on 16 March in Latvia took place at the building of the Latvian Embassy in Moscow. The protest meeting was organised by the Russia’s youth movement ‘For Fatherland.’ One of the members of the organisation is Aleksandrs Kazakovs, the former activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools, who was recently expelled from Latvia.

Yesterday the protest meeting against marking of the Commemoration Day of the Latvian Legion on 16 March in Latvia took place at the building of the Latvian Embassy in Moscow. The protest meeting was organised by the Russias youth movement ‘For Fatherland. One of the members of the organisation is Aleksandrs Kazakovs, the former activist of the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools, who was recently expelled from Latvia. Chas, Telegraf

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with 12th grade student Jelizaveta Mardanja, who study at a Russian language secondary school in Riga. Jelizaveta Mardjana states that she has no problems to study in Latvian because her school launched bilingual education model when she was in 8th grade. However, she argues that there is a necessity to increase the number of Latvian language classes and implement multicultural education models. Jelizaveta Mardanja states that several teachers of her school not only agitate against the education reform, but also put better marks to those students who participate in protest actions against the education reform.