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.

• Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins on naturalisation issues

At yesterday’s meeting of the Citizenship Law Implementation Committee of the Saeima, the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has stated that the Naturalisation Board (NB) has had to dismiss 24 staff members and to postpone examinations several times due to the decreased number of applicants for naturalisation. Therefore, the Minister believed that there is a need to revise the NB’s structure while several its departments and branches must be closed. According to the Minister, the NB could also be responsible for repatriation issues. Gaidis Berzins has also mentioned possible amendments to the Cabinet of Minister’s rules which would stipulate that non-citizens must demonstrate their state language proficiency certificate if they wish to register their children as Latvian citizens.

At yesterdays meeting of the Citizenship Law Implementation Committee of the Saeima, the Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has stated that the Naturalisation Board (NB) has had to dismiss 24 staff members and to postpone examinations several times due to the decreased number of applicants for naturalisation. Therefore, the Minister believed that there is a need to revise the NBs structure while several its departments and branches must be closed. According to the Minister, the NB could also be responsible for repatriation issues. Gaidis Berzins has also mentioned possible amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers rules which would stipulate that non-citizens must demonstrate their state language proficiency certificate if they wish to register their children as Latvian citizens. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize