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.

Press Report

Press Report

Press-Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andrejs Pildegovics said that recent statements by the Russian Embassy on anti-Russian hysteria were groundless. During a press-conference on April 30 Russian Embassy Advisor Mikhail Demurin claimed that an anti-Russian campaign was launched in Latvia on the eve of the Victory Day. Among the signs of such a campaign being started Mr. Demurin mentioned the beating of a war veteran by the Municipal Police and acts of vandalism toward the Monument to the Liberators of Riga. Mr. Demurin told the press that the authorities stayed indifferent to those acts while the Riga City Council declined a suggestion by the Embassy on financing the maintenance of the Monument. The Russian diplomat noted that those facts could impair the improvement of relations between the two countries. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press-Secretary explained that the Ministry had addressed the Riga City Council with a request to provide the maintenance of the Monument in accordance with agreements between Latvia and Russia. A plan for the restoration of the Monument has been already drafted. A statement by the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses that the Latvian side hopes for developing business-like productive co-operation with Russia without putting any political accents on separate issues.

Press-Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andrejs Pildegovics said that recent statements by the Russian Embassy on anti-Russian hysteria were groundless. During a press-conference on April 30 Russian Embassy Advisor Mikhail Demurin claimed that an anti-Russian campaign was launched in Latvia on the eve of the Victory Day. Among the signs of such a campaign being started Mr. Demurin mentioned the beating of a war veteran by the Municipal Police and acts of vandalism toward the Monument to the Liberators of Riga. Mr. Demurin told the press that the authorities stayed indifferent to those acts while the Riga City Council declined a suggestion by the Embassy on financing the maintenance of the Monument. The Russian diplomat noted that those facts could impair the improvement of relations between the two countries. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press-Secretary explained that the Ministry had addressed the Riga City Council with a request to provide the maintenance of the Monument in accordance with agreements between Latvia and Russia. A plan for the restoration of the Monument has been already drafted. A statement by the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses that the Latvian side hopes for developing business-like productive co-operation with Russia without putting any political accents on separate issues. Diena

Last Saturday the Fourth Congress of

Last Saturday the Fourth Congress of "Tevzemei un Brivibai" voted for merging the party with the LNNK. Some speakers criticized current social policy that did not provide advantages to citizens and allowing "colonists to receive same pensions as real Latvians." The new national-conservative party will be established on June 21 at a joint congress of the two parties. Diena

Acting Director of the Human Rights Office Kaija Gertnere in an article for

Acting Director of the Human Rights Office Kaija Gertnere in an article for "DIENA" calls upon Latvian politicians to observe the Satversme of the Republic of Latvia. According to the Latvian Constitution (Satversme) the sovereign power of the state of Latvia belongs to the people of Latvia. K.Gertnere stresses that "the people of Latvia" is a term applied not only to ethnic Latvians but to all inhabitants of Latvia. By acceding to international human rights instruments Latvia recognized the equality of all individuals as for their rights irrespective of their race, color, sex, religious belief, political convictions, social and financial status. The author of the article stresses that the principles of equality and non-discrimination are mandatory for Latvia. K.Gertnere points at the fact that "certain parties" are ignoring the principles set by the Latvian legislation and international human rights instruments by trying "to become the only legislators and arbitrators." Diena

A body of Swedish professor Delenbrandt who disappeared in Liepaja in March. The body discovered in the Liepaja lake was taken to Riga for examination. Police experts did not discover signs of violent death. More details will be available to the press later this week.

Abody of Swedish professor Delenbrandt who disappeared in Liepaja in March. The body discovered in the Liepaja lake was taken to Riga for examination. Police experts did not discover signs of violent death. More details will be available to the press later this week. Diena

The Cabinet of Ministers and the State Language Center drafted a new law on the state language to be considered by the Saeima soon. Later, the draft law was considered and reviewed by the

The Cabinet of Ministers and the State Language Center drafted a new law on the state language to be considered by the Saeima soon. Later, the draft law was considered and reviewed by the Saeima Committee on Education, Science and Culture. The new law sets more strict regulations on the use of the Latvian language and, according to Head of the State Language Center Dzintra Hirsa, excludes the opportunity to misinterpret its provisions. The draft law excludes an optional use of languages other than Latvian while applying to the state institutions. The State Language Center recommended introducing the Latvian language as the only language of instruction in all state-financed schools after 2005. The Saeima Committee on Education, Science and Culture still suggests setting a certain percentage of subjects to be taught in Latvian (not less than 50%). Diena

Today six members of the Russian

Today six members of the Russian Duma are arriving to Riga to meet Saeima Speaker Cepanis, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, members of the Saeima Group for Support of Relations between Latvia and Russia, members of the Saeima Committee on Foreign Affairs and Socialist Party/"Equal Rights" faction deputies. The agenda of the visit also includes a meeting with Human Rights Office representatives. Diena, B&B

Spokesmen for the Russian Embassy to Latvia told the press that Natalya Parfenova's expulsion from Latvia was illegal since she was residing in Latvia before her marriage to a Russian serviceman. Mr. Rylov of the Russian Embassy referred to the Law on Former USSR Citizens (Article 5) that provides all the rights enjoyed by permanent residents to foreign citizens permanently residing in Latvia. N.Parfenova is currently kept in custody in Rezekne after Russian authorities refused to allow her to enter Russia.

Spokesmen for the Russian Embassy to Latvia told the press that Natalya Parfenova's expulsion from Latvia was illegal since she was residing in Latvia before her marriage to a Russian serviceman. Mr. Rylov of the Russian Embassy referred to the Law on Former USSR Citizens (Article 5) that provides all the rights enjoyed by permanent residents to foreign citizens permanently residing in Latvia. N.Parfenova is currently kept in custody in Rezekne after Russian authorities refused to allow her to enter Russia. "SM" points at repeated attempts of the Latvian immigration authorities to expel all kinds of illegal immigrants to Russia without having any sufficient proofs of their Russian citizenship.

Boris Tsilevich in an article for

Boris Tsilevich in an article for "SM" analyzes several possible models of non-citizens' reaction to discriminating laws and complicated naturalization procedures. He does not believe that a considerable number of non-citizens would leave the country. Emigration has considerably decreased since 1992 when it reached its peak (50,000 emigrants). Last year the number of emigrants was less than 10,000. Assimilation, according to Tsilevich, also does not prove to be a solution since only around 10% of Russian parents have chosen to send their children to Latvian schools. Segregation is not seen by Tsilevich as an important tendency prevailing among Russian-speakers. According to the Russian Embassy, 65,000 residents of Latvia have received Russian citizenship. Still, there is no data on the number of Russian citizens who chose to emigrate after receiving Russian citizenship. The "restoration model" that implies cultural isolation without attempting to influence the political life of the country could be practiced only by a small part of the Russian-speaking population, mainly intellectuals. Another option is the forming of a Russian community ("diaspora"). The community would feel strong links with Russia and would see Latvia only as a country of residence. Still another option suggested by Tsilevich is "the Jewish model". In this case Russian speakers would feel very much like Jews under theUSSR and focus mainly on business activities displaying no interest toward political life. The model would lead to the growth of "the Russian capital" but would not improve the situation of the majority of Russian-speakers, prosperous businessmen paying little attention to their problems. The only concept seen by Tsilevich as a solution to the problem is "the European model". The approach is already being practiced by educated pragmatic Russian-speakers usually speaking several languages including Latvian. These people are open to European values and see them as an alternative to "ethnocentrism" currently prevailing in Latvia. Still, Tsilevich believes that the majority of Russian-speakers are trying to isolate themselves in their "parallel world", the main purpose of which is to avoid any contacts with the state as much as possible. Such relations between an individual and the State are similar to those typical of the Soviet epoch. SM