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.

• Discussion about judgement of the Constitutional Court on compliance of the law ‘On the Status of Former USSR Citizens Who are not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State with the Constitution of Latvia
• Deputy candidates standing for municipal elections in Riga address minority issues
• A planned picket against prohibitions for non-citizens to participate in municipal elections
• Register of Enterprises will have to provide explanations on registering an organisation associated with the National Bolsheviks

Newspapers continue discussion about a recent judgement of the Constitutional Court in a case about compliance of the law ‘On the Status of Former USSR Citizens Who are not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State’ with the Constitution of Latvia. As reported, the Court recognised that a norm of the law, which stipulates that persons who have received a permanent residence permit in another country after 1 May 2004 can be deprived of Latvian non-citizen’s status, contradicts the Constitution of Latvia.

Newspapers continue discussion about a recent judgement of the Constitutional Court in a case about compliance of the law ‘On the Status of Former USSR Citizens Who are not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State with the Constitution of Latvia. As reported, the Court recognised that a norm of the law, which stipulates that persons who have received a permanent residence permit in another country after 1 May 2004 can be deprived of Latvian non-citizens status, contradicts the Constitution of Latvia. Latvijas Avize criticises the Russian-language newspaper Chas for misinterpretation of the judgement. Chas wrote that ‘the Constitutional Court has made a revolutionary decision - the non-citizens status should be cancelled, when in fact the Court recognised that non-citizens do not belong to any category of persons, established by the international law. Press secretary of the Court Edgars Pastars stresses that the judgement of the Constitutional Court neither cancels the non-citizens status, nor recognises it as contradictory to the Constitution. The head of the Saeima Legal Affairs Committee Mareks Seglins announced that no political discussion about the necessity of changing the legal status of non-citizens took place in the Saeima.

Russian-language newspapers feature statements on minority issues made by deputy candidates standing for municipal elections in Riga. A representative of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-language Schools Igors Pimenovs (The New Centre) in interviews to

Russian-language newspapers feature statements on minority issues made by deputy candidates standing for municipal elections in Riga. A representative of the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-language Schools Igors Pimenovs (The New Centre) in interviews to Chas and Vesti Segodnya states that it is necessary to form a department of minority education under the Riga City Council. One of the main goals of such a department, according to Pimenovs, should be monitoring of implementation of bilingual education. Igors Kuzmuks(Peoples Harmony Party), head of a non-governmental organisation Prata Speks, criticises the state for being disinterested in speeding up the naturalisation process. A former parliamentary secretary of the Special Assignments Ministers for Society Integration Secretariat Aleksandrs Brandavs (Latvias First Party) in the interview to Vesti Segodnya points to the necessity of establishing a department on minority issues in the Riga City Council. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday Riga City Council authorised organisation of a picket planned by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia. The goal of the picket is to protest against the prohibitions for non-citizens to participate in municipal elections. The picket is planned on 12 March, when elections take place.

Yesterday Riga City Council authorised organisation of a picket planned by the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia. The goal of the picket is to protest against the prohibitions for non-citizens to participate in municipal elections. The picket is planned on 12 March, when elections take place. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Today the Minister of Justice Solvita Aboltina is planning to meet the Chief State Notary Janis Endzins to receive explanations about the fact of registration of an organisation NBP, which supports ideas of National Bolsheviks. The Register of Enterprises allegedly took no account of the State Security Police’s recommendations regarding NBP prior to registering the organisation.

Today the Minister of Justice Solvita Aboltina is planning to meet the Chief State Notary Janis Endzins to receive explanations about the fact of registration of an organisation NBP, which supports ideas of National Bolsheviks. The Register of Enterprises allegedly took no account of the State Security Polices recommendations regarding NBP prior to registering the organisation. Diena, Chas, Vesti Segodnya