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.

• Russian National Bolsheviks have poured tomato juice over the Latvian Ambassador to Russia Andris Teikmanis during his press conference in Moscow
• Vesti Segodnya reports that the European Court of Human Rights has adopted a ruling in favour of a former ‘Red Partisan Vasilijs Kononovs
• Latvias Association for Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction handed to the Advisory Committee of the Council of Europe its comments on implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia

Newspapers report that Russian National Bolsheviks have poured tomato juice over the Latvian Ambassador to Russia Andris Teikmanis during his press conference in Moscow. In such way National Bolsheviks tried to draw attention at discrimination of Russian speakers in Latvia and imprisonment of one of the leader of National Bolsheviks Vladimir Linderman. After the accident the Ambassador continued the press conference where stated that Russia’s decision to cancel visa requirements for non-citizens entering Russia is discriminating towards majority of Russian residents of Latvia who are Latvian citizens. Andris Teikmanis believes that because of such decision non-citizens will lose motivation to naturalise.

Newspapers report that Russian National Bolsheviks have poured tomato juice over the Latvian Ambassador to Russia Andris Teikmanis during his press conference in Moscow. In such way National Bolsheviks tried to draw attention at discrimination of Russian speakers in Latvia and imprisonment of one of the leader of National Bolsheviks Vladimir Linderman. After the accident the Ambassador continued the press conference where stated that Russias decision to cancel visa requirements for non-citizens entering Russia is discriminating towards majority of Russian residents of Latvia who are Latvian citizens. Andris Teikmanis believes that because of such decision non-citizens will lose motivation to naturalise. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena

Vesti Segodnya reports that the European Court of Human Rights has adopted a ruling in favour of a former ‘Red Partisan Vasilijs Kononovs in his case against Latvia. As reported, in 2004, the Supreme Court of Latvia has found guilty Vasilijs Kononovs of committing war crimes in 1944. The court sentenced him to 1 year and 8 months imprisonment, which was equivalent to the time he has already spent in prison during the pre-trial investigation. 84-years-old Vasilijs Kononovs complained that he was sentenced for offences which were not unlawful during the time they were made. Mr. Kononovs argued that the characterisation of his acts by the Latvian courts was based on an erroneous assumption that Latvia was at the time occupied by the USSR and that he was a representative of the occupation forces. He also complained about the length and unfairness of his trial and that his detention pending trial harmed his state of health. The official ruling of the European Court of Human Rights will be announced in July.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Latvias Association for Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction (LASHOR in its Russian acronym) has handed to the Advisory Committee of the Council of Europe its comments on implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia. The comments emphasize implementation of the Convention regarding ethnic minority education in Latvia. According to the comments, possibilities of studying in Russian language has significantly decreased during the last 12 years not only due to demographic reasons but also because ethnic Latvians have more opportunities for establishment of a school than ethnic minorities. Full text of the LASHORs comments is available at http://www.lashor.lv/eng/index.php