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

Yesterday the Kraslava District Court suspended the consideration of Vidavsky's case. The Court decreed the case to be subject to criminal proceedings. Mayor of Daugavpils Vidavsky was accused of violating the Law on Elections by concealing his past Communist Party membership. The Court pointed out that civil proceedings cannot be applied to the case since the law did not define the difference between "membership" and "active membership" in the Communist Part before January 13, 1991.

Yesterday the Kraslava District Court suspended the consideration of Vidavsky's case. The Court decreed the case to be subject to criminal proceedings. Mayor of Daugavpils Vidavsky was accused of violating the Law on Elections by concealing his past Communist Party membership. The Court pointed out that civil proceedings cannot be applied to the case since the law did not define the difference between "membership" and "active membership" in the Communist Part before January 13, 1991. Diena

Saeima

deputy Vladlen Dozortsev ("People's Harmony") left the Presidential Consultative Council on National Minorities. Mr. Dozortsev said that President Ulmanis lost interest in the activities of the Council and refused to meet its members. In his interview for deputy Vladlen Dozortsev ("People's Harmony") left the Presidential Consultative Council on National Minorities. Mr. Dozortsev said that President Ulmanis lost interest in the activities of the Council and refused to meet its members. In his interview for "SM""SM" Mr. Dozortsev said that the Council was used only for maintaining Latvia's prestige and pleasing "van der Stoel, van den Broek and Espersen". Mr. Dozortsev believes that the Council had not made any tangible contribution to the improvement of the human rights situation in Latvia. According to Dozortsev, a year ago the President seemed to be interested in resoling the problems of national minorities and abolishing unreasonable employment restrictions for non-citizens. The Consultative Council was established a year ago after the President had been addressed by thirteen intellectuals who drew his attention to the problem of national minorities. At first, his reaction to the letter was quite negative. Later the President agreed to the idea of establishing the Consultative Council on National Minorities. Now, according to Dozortsev, President Ulmanis has focused his efforts on discussing the possibility of introducing universal presidential elections that would allow him to run for the third term in the office. Mr. Dozortsev said that the Consultative Committee had developed a program aimed at improving the minority situation. The program was ignored by Ulmanis who was afraid of the negative reaction from nationalistic parties in the Saeima. The Council developed several amendments to the legislation but did not pass any of the amendments to the Saeima. Mr. Dozortsev believes that the presence of an OSCE representative at the meetings of the Council still may force President to pay more attention to the issue of minorities. Mr. Dozortsev said that the Council was used only for maintaining Latvia's prestige and pleasing "van der Stoel, van den Broek and Espersen". Mr. Dozortsev believes that the Council had not made any tangible contribution to the improvement of the human rights situation in Latvia. According to Dozortsev, a year ago the President seemed to be interested in resoling the problems of national minorities and abolishing unreasonable employment restrictions for non-citizens. The Consultative Council was established a year ago after the President had been addressed by thirteen intellectuals who drew his attention to the problem of national minorities. At first, his reaction to the letter was quite negative. Later the President agreed to the idea of establishing the Consultative Council on National Minorities. Now, according to Dozortsev, President Ulmanis has focused his efforts on discussing the possibility of introducing universal presidential elections that would allow him to run for the third term in the office. Mr. Dozortsev said that the Consultative Committee had developed a program aimed at improving the minority situation. The program was ignored by Ulmanis who was afraid of the negative reaction from nationalistic parties in the Saeima. The Council developed several amendments to the legislation but did not pass any of the amendments to the Saeima. Mr. Dozortsev believes that the presence of an OSCE representative at the meetings of the Council still may force President to pay more attention to the issue of minorities. Diena, SM, B&B;Diena, SM, B&B