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.

• Constitutional Court: minority education reform complies to the Constitution of Latvia and international human rights standards
• Vesti Segodnya discusses the forthcoming ratification of the Framework Convention for the protection of National Minorities
• Sestdiena prints an article about problems faced by a retired major of the Soviet Army who wants to return to Latvia

Yesterday the Constitutional Court of Latvia refused a claim about the cancellation of the minority education reform, ruling that the reform fully complies with the Constitution of Latvia and international standards. The court’s decision stressed that the case can be viewed only in a historical context of mass deportations and intensive immigration as a result of the USSR policy, as it caused a particular ethnic situation in the state. According to the court, the language proportion stipulated by the education reform is not discriminating and the bilingual education does not violate person’s rights to get education and to maintain minority identity and culture. The court agreed with the statement of the Saeima that minority education reform both promotes inclusion of minority representatives in the society, and offers them an opportunity to learn in their native language. At the same time, the Court recognised that it is impossible to establish what impact the reform has on the quality of education after just nine months of its implementation. The Court pointed to a lack of an effective control mechanism of the quality of education. When evaluating possibilities for minority representatives’ participation in decision making process on the education reform, court ruled that the state should collaborate with the minorities. At the same time, the court’s decision says that the fact that opinion of minority representatives was not fully taken into account does not mean that they were not listened to. Complaint about the non-compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international human rights standards was submitted to the court by 20 left-wing MPs.

Yesterday the Constitutional Court of Latvia refused a claim about the cancellation of the minority education reform, ruling that the reform fully complies with the Constitution of Latvia and international standards. The courts decision stressed that the case can be viewed only in a historical context of mass deportations and intensive immigration as a result of the USSR policy, as it caused a particular ethnic situation in the state. According to the court, the language proportion stipulated by the education reform is not discriminating and the bilingual education does not violate persons rights to get education and to maintain minority identity and culture. The court agreed with the statement of the Saeima that minority education reform both promotes inclusion of minority representatives in the society, and offers them an opportunity to learn in their native language. At the same time, the Court recognised that it is impossible to establish what impact the reform has on the quality of education after just nine months of its implementation. The Court pointed to a lack of an effective control mechanism of the quality of education. When evaluating possibilities for minority representatives participation in decision making process on the education reform, court ruled that the state should collaborate with the minorities. At the same time, the courts decision says that the fact that opinion of minority representatives was not fully taken into account does not mean that they were not listened to. Complaint about the non-compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international human rights standards was submitted to the court by 20 left-wing MPs. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya discusses the forthcoming ratification of the Framework Convention for the protection of National Minorities. When commenting on a possible minority definition, the author of the article claims that the state is doing everything possible in order to deprive Russians of minority status after the ratification.

Dienas supplement Sestdiena prints an article about a retired major of the Soviet Army Aleksandrs Frolovs, who is presently living in Russian town of Pskov, not far from the Latvian border. Frolovs and his two grown-up daughters are studying Latvian language and hope to return to Latvia. According to Frolovs, he was born in Latvia, and his mother and brother are citizens of Latvia. Frolovs himself was deprived of the Latvian citizenship when he did not retire from the Soviet Army prior to 28 January 1992, as required by Latvian legislation. According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, Frolovs and his wife have a right to return to Latvia and obtain a temporary residence permit for five years. After five years, they can apply for a permanent residence permit, and then after another five years - for Latvian citizenship. Their daughters can start the same procedure only after naturalisation of their parents.