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.

• Latvian daily Diena discusses results of the municipal elections in Riga
• National Broadcasting Council of Latvia suspends broadcast of the Russian-language radio station PIK for three days
• Neatkariga Rita Avize features a commentary by Sandris Tocs about the success of left-wing political parties in the municipal elections
• Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry issues a statement regarding the prohibitions for non-citizens to participate in municipal elections in Latvia
• Ambassador of Great Britain to Latvia Andrew Tesoriere talks about societal integration in Latvia
• Latvijas Avize reports on the growing number of Latvian citizens who renounce Latvian citizenship
• Neatkariga Rita Avize features an article about non-citizen Belorussian Sofija Bizna
• Russian national union Rodina announces the picket for the support for anti-fascism as a protest against the procession in commemoration of Latvian legionnaires

The Latvian daily

The Latvian daily Diena discusses the results of the municipal elections in Riga. The daily analyses results from different polling stations in Riga. According to the newspaper, residents of Riga did vote in accordance with ethnic principles, as it was forecasted by a number of experts. The daily argues that the biggest number of votes for so-called Russian parties was collected in Rigas suburb districts, where the majority of residents are Russian-speakers. While so-called Latvian parties were more popular in the centre of Riga and in the districts of individual houses, which, according to Diena, are traditionally inhabited by Latvians. The political analyst Reinis Aboltins believes that results of the municipal elections confirm that peoples choice was determined by ethnic principles as well as their social status. He argues that people who live in the centre of Riga and districts of individual houses have better material situation and more frequently support liberal and conservative parties, while people living in blockhouses vote for centrist and left-wing political parties. Diena

The National Radio and TV Council suspended broadcast of the Russian-language radio station

The National Radio and TV Council suspended broadcast of the Russian-language radio station PIK for three days. According to the Council, the radio station broadcasted hidden political advertisement of the union Dzimtene before municipal elections. As reported, the success of the union Dzimtene in the municipal elections in Riga was a big surprise. Sociologist Aigars Freimanis, interviewed by Rigas Balss, believes that unions success is directly related to extensive hidden political advertisements of the party in broadcast of the radio PIK. The sociologist argues that in according to the opinion polls the party was not very popular - only 1.7% of voters supported the union just couple days before the municipal elections. The leader of the United Social Democratic Welfare Party (the party is a member of the union Dzimtene) Juris Zuravlovs is a co-owner of the radio PIK. Rigas Balss and Russian-language media feature views of representatives of Dzimtene about the municipal elections results. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Neatkariga Rita Avize features a commentary by Sandris Tocs about the success of left-wing political parties in the municipal elections in Riga. The columnist believes that the results of the municipal elections are not surprising considering the ethnic structure of Rigas residents and the results of the 2001s municipal elections. However, Tocs notes that Russian-speakers should join so-called Latvian parties if they do not want to stay in ‘everlasting opposition referring to the inability of Russian parties to collect more than 50% of votes even in such municipalities as Riga and Daugavpils. Sandris Tocs praises the expressed wish of the New Centre [Russian party] to join the coalition in Riga Council and believes that it is a policy really aimed at the promotion of societal integration.

The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry has issued a statement regarding the prohibitions for non-citizens to participate in municipal elections in Latvia. Russian ministry describes the situation as ‘serious shortage of democracy in Latvia’ and calls the Council of Europe as well as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to take more drastic steps to remove these prohibitions.

The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry has issued a statement regarding the prohibitions for non-citizens to participate in municipal elections in Latvia. Russian ministry describes the situation as ‘serious shortage of democracy in Latvia and calls the Council of Europe as well as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to take more drastic steps to remove these prohibitions. Chas

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Ambassador of Great Britain to Latvia Andrew Tesoriere about societal integration in Latvia. The Ambassador points to a necessity to develop a positive image of Latvian citizenship: its advantages in Latvia and the EU should be explained more broadly. When commenting on naturalisation exams, Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere states that the Latvian language test complies with the present international standards. According to the Ambassador, the Latvian language training programme for naturalisation applicants in Latgale is carried out this year with the financial support of the British embassy.

Latvijas Avize reports on the growing number of Latvian citizens, who renounce Latvian citizenship. The newspaper refers to the statements of the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane and reports that the largest group of people who renounce Latvian citizenship are those at the age of 18 – 30, who study or work in Russia or Germany and afterwards want to settle down and get married there. Another big group is women married with foreigners and retired people who move to foreign countries to live with their children or their native countries. In total 954 Russians and 524 Latvians renounced Latvian citizenship since 1999.

Neatkariga Rita Avize features an article about Belorussian Sofija Bizna, who arrived in Latvia 60 years ago. Sofija speaks Latvian fluently, but is not a citizen of Latvia and hence could not participate in municipal elections last Saturday. The woman at the age of 75 has not tried to pass the naturalisation exams, because she says that ‘it is difficult for old people to keep in mind various historical information about Latvia.

The Russian national union

The Russian national union Rodina (The Motherland) has announced about the organisation of the picket for the support for anti-fascism as a protest to the procession in commemoration of Latvian legionnaires, planned by the Klubs 415 (The Club 415) tomorrow. The picket is not authorised by the Riga City Council. Diena, Rigas Balss