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.

• Supreme Court Senate rejected a complaint asking to review decisions of first instances regarding the Jurijs Petropavlovskis case
• Synagogue restored in Daugavpils
• Presentation of a study on the differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens in Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya features an interview with the President of OKROL
• CPCB asked the Prosecutions Office to initiate a criminal process on the bribery case in the Naturalistion Board in Valmiera

Yesterday, the Supreme Court Senate rejected the application of Jurijs Petropavlovskis where he asked to review decisions taken by first instance courts to stop court proceedings regarding his first complaint challenging the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers not to grant him Latvian citizenship. As reported the Cabinet of Ministers refused him Latvian citizenship because of his activities (as a member of the Headquarters) in organizing protest actions against the implementation of minority education reform. Jurijs Petropavlovskis is planning to appeal the decision with the European Court of Human Rights. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, the first restored synagogue after the WWII was opened in Daugavpils (the city in the eastern part of Latvia). The building has been renovated with the financial support of the children of painter Mark Rothko, the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of Americas Heritage Abroad, and others. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

Today, the Latvian Human Rights Committee and Saeimas faction For Human Rights in United Latvia will present a study on the differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens in Latvia. The authors of the study have summarized about 100 domestic legislative and normative acts and 150 international agreements which they believe discriminate the rights of non-citizens in Latvia. The authors also point on 70 existing differences in such spheres as employment, public activities, property, business, social protection, and others. Vesti Segodnya

The President of the United Congress of the Russian Communities in Latvia (OKROL in its Russian acronym) Aleksandrs Gaponenko in an interview with Vesti Segodnya stated that last year Russians in Latvia have changed their perception about their identity: Russians have regained their national self-consciousness… We began to maintain the main aspects of our spiritual life – Orthodox Christmas and Eastern, Days of Slavic Writing and Culture, 8 March (the International Womens day), 9 May (WWII Victory day). Aleksandrs Goponenko also said that the Russian and Latvian communities still live in two ‘disconnected worlds and mutual ignorance and incomprehension – is one of the reasons for the ethnic conflicts.

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (CPCB) asked the Prosecutions Office to initiate a criminal process on the bribery case in the Naturalisation Board in Valmiera. Latvijas Avize