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.

• Article on the planned state activities for implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
• Discussion on the visit of PACE Monitoring Committee Chair György Frunda to Latvia
• MP Boris Tsilevitch: Latvia should ratify the Protocol No.12 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
• PACE member Boris Tsilevitch on the prospects of post-monitoring and naturalization in Latvia
• MFA Sergey Lavrov on the the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia
• Chas: Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky is going to appeal the decision of the National Security Council of Latvia
• Media comment the alleged bribery in the Naturalization Board
• Latvia is rated as the 17th state in the world regarding the observation of press freedom

Lauku Avize prints an article on the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM). According to the official of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, the Secretariat of planning to organize seminars, to print information leaflets, and to translate of the Conventions text into Russian. The international conference in collaboration with the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ehnic Studies is planned. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be responsible for the preparation of the state report for the Advisory Committee on the FCNM with the involvement of minority representatives.

Newspapers continue to discuss the visit of PACE Monitoring Committee Chair György Frunda to Latvia.

Newspapers continue to discuss the visit of PACE Monitoring Committee Chair György Frunda to Latvia. Telegraf points to the passive responses of the Latvian officials to his statements and to the increased attention of the European officials to non-citizens problem and to the Latvian-Russian relations. Latvijas Vestnesis and Lauku Avize refer to György Frundas suggestion „not to make Russian minority suffer just because other people made this during the Soviet occupation.

After the visiting a seminar on the Protocol No.12 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in Strasburg, the MP from the People’s Harmony Party Boris Tsilevitch has pointed to the need for Latvia to ratify this protocol stipulating the general prohibition of discrimination against by any public authority.

After the visiting a seminar on the Protocol No.12 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in Strasburg, the MP from the Peoples Harmony Party Boris Tsilevitch has pointed to the need for Latvia to ratify this protocol stipulating the general prohibition of discrimination against by any public authority. Vesti Segodnya

Telegraf features an interview with the member of the Parliamentary Assambly of the Council of Europe from Latvia Boris Tsilevitch on the visit of PACE Monitoring Committee Chair György Frunda to Latvia, on the bribery in the Naturalization Board and on the prospects of naturalization. According to Boris Tsilevitch, PACE will not interrupt post-monitoring in Latvia since György Frundas statements show that Latvia does not fulfill its obligations before the Council of Europe. Boris Tsilevitch also assumes that possible suspention of naturalisation can be made in the interests of politicians and invites non-citizens to apply for Latvian citizenship as soon as possible.

Vesti Segodnya quotes the statements of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov expressing the concern on the the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia and Estonia. He has outlined the protection of the Russian diaspora`s rights as one of the priorities of Russia`s foreign policy.

Referring to the journal „Commersant”,

Referring to the journal „Commersant, Chas writes that the Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky is going to appeal the decision of the National Security Council of Latvia to include him in the persona non-grata list. According to Boris Berezovky, his lead Foundation
for Civic Freedoms will continue its work to promote integration of Russians in Latvia.

Lauku Avize continues to comment the cases of the alleged bribery in the Naturalization Board. Vesti Segodnyas columnist wonders on the increased attention paid to this cases by the state and believes that the devision the society into citizens and non-citizens has already made the conditions for curruption and for favourable position of Latvians. Chas also points to the allegedly deprived citizenship rights explaining the payment of Latvian citizenship by some non-citizens.

According to the NGO „Reporters Without Borders”, Latvia is rated as the 17th state in the world in the area of press freedom.

According to the NGO „Reporters Without Borders, Latvia is rated as the 17th state in the world in the area of press freedom. Diena, Chas, Vesti Segodnya