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

After meeting with Vilis Kristopans, Minister of Communications, Prime Minister Skele told that he had decided to require the Minister’s resignation. “

After meeting with Vilis Kristopans, Minister of Communications, Prime Minister Skele told that he had decided to require the Ministers resignation. Tevzemei un Brivibai/ LNNK and Democratic Party Saimnieks representatives believe that the Cabinet will resign in the nearest future. Janis Straume, Chair of the TB/LNNK fraction in Saeima, said that he did not believe in a plan to save the government after the resignation of four ministers and zero trust between political parties and the Prime Minister. Valdis Birkavs, Chair of Latvijas Cels said that, first, the party would consult its electorate, and then would take a decision at the partys conference on August 4. Still, he stressed that the situation when basic democratic principles were being ignored and political parties were being set on each other could not continue. Diena

DIENA has published the opinion of Aigars Kimenis, General Secretary of “

DIENA has published the opinion of Aigars Kimenis, General Secretary of Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK, on the Presidents latest visit to Daugavpils. He expresses worries about the very serious and long-term problem with the integration of Russian - speaking citizens into the Latvian society, and Daugavpils is a clear example of that. According to Kimenis, there is an opposite process taking place - the integration of Latvians into the Russian-speaking community, and the President should consider if it is in Latvias interests.

“DIENA” has published an article by Nellija Locmele on the results of the seminar on elimination of the death penalty organized by the Council of Europe and the Lithuanian Human Rights center in July in Vilnius, Lithuania. The research on public opinion in the Baltics shows that the idea of elimination of the death penalty is not popular there - 85 % of respondents in Latvia are against it. In 1995 when Latvia joined the Council of Europe, it undertook the obligation to ratify the Protocol Number 6 eliminating the death penalty during peace-time within a year. The Council of Europe has several times expressed regret that the protocol still has not been ratified. Moreover, since 1996 two death sentences have been executed in Latvia. In February the Saeima passed the Penal Law draft where the death penalty remains as the punishment for first degree murder. Although the specialists’opinion is that the death penalty should not exist in a democratic society, Latvian politicians have not declared their support for elimination of the death penalty. Theoretically, Satversmes Tiesa (Constitutional Court in Latvia) could decide whether the death penalty complies with Satversme, Latvia’s Constitution.

DIENA has published an article by Nellija Locmele on the results of the seminar on elimination of the death penalty organized by the Council of Europe and the Lithuanian Human Rights center in July in Vilnius, Lithuania. The research on public opinion in the Baltics shows that the idea of elimination of the death penalty is not popular there - 85 % of respondents in Latvia are against it. In 1995 when Latvia joined the Council of Europe, it undertook the obligation to ratify the Protocol Number 6 eliminating the death penalty during peace-time within a year. The Council of Europe has several times expressed regret that the protocol still has not been ratified. Moreover, since 1996 two death sentences have been executed in Latvia. In February the Saeima passed the Penal Law draft where the death penalty remains as the punishment for first degree murder. Although the specialistsopinion is that the death penalty should not exist in a democratic society, Latvian politicians have not declared their support for elimination of the death penalty. Theoretically, Satversmes Tiesa (Constitutional Court in Latvia) could decide whether the death penalty complies with Satversme, Latvias Constitution. Diena

“SM” has published responses on readers’ questions about the Russian-Latvian Agreement on Military Pensioners. Mr. Stepanov, Deputy Chief of the Department of Social Welfare, says that the department tries to help people whose cases are unclear to legalize their status in Latvia. He mentions the positive outcome of Mr. Mitjay’s case who was held in custody because of his presumably illegal stay in Latvia. Mr. Bereza, senior assistant to the Chief, says that 14 out of 799 “disputable” military pensioners have been denied the legal status. Cases of the rest have been submitted to the Citizenship and Immigration Department. Mr. Rylov, Head of the Consular Department of the Russian Embassy, in response to a question about non-citizen passports says that the CID has promised to issue upon personal request the ”form Number 1” in which there would be all information from the USSR internal passport. He notes that in some cases old passports have been returned. Either the form or the old passport can be used for the simplified procedure of acquiring Russian citizenship.

SM has published responses on readers questions about the Russian-Latvian Agreement on Military Pensioners. Mr. Stepanov, Deputy Chief of the Department of Social Welfare, says that the department tries to help people whose cases are unclear to legalize their status in Latvia. He mentions the positive outcome of Mr. Mitjays case who was held in custody because of his presumably illegal stay in Latvia. Mr. Bereza, senior assistant to the Chief, says that 14 out of 799 disputable military pensioners have been denied the legal status. Cases of the rest have been submitted to the Citizenship and Immigration Department. Mr. Rylov, Head of the Consular Department of the Russian Embassy, in response to a question about non-citizen passports says that the CID has promised to issue upon personal request the form Number 1 in which there would be all information from the USSR internal passport. He notes that in some cases old passports have been returned. Either the form or the old passport can be used for the simplified procedure of acquiring Russian citizenship. SM

Genady Evdokimov in his article to “SM SEGODNYA” analyzes the success and failure of Russia’s politics in the Baltic States. He stresses the successful co-operation between the countries on some “small” issues, for example, in the humanitarian sphere. Still, there is no progress on major issues, for example, in the area of security. According to the author, Russia fails to find the solution to a NATO issue. Instead of letting the third party - European countries, USA and NATO - solve this problem, Russia itself should have tried to reach an agreement with the Baltic States. Besides the security issue Russia has not succeeded in ensuring that all Russian-speaking people get citizenship immediately. 

Genady Evdokimov in his article to SM SEGODNYA analyzes the success and failure of Russias politics in the Baltic States. He stresses the successful co-operation between the countries on some small issues, for example, in the humanitarian sphere. Still, there is no progress on major issues, for example, in the area of security. According to the author, Russia fails to find the solution to a NATO issue. Instead of letting the third party - European countries, USA and NATO - solve this problem, Russia itself should have tried to reach an agreement with the Baltic States. Besides the security issue Russia has not succeeded in ensuring that all Russian-speaking people get citizenship immediately.SM

Maris Riekstins, State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denies that his wife’s travel firm “Via Riga” has profited by selling tickets to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Riekstins believes that he has not violated the Anti-Corruption Law because the MFA has no regulations with regard to which travel agencies it should choose. Beside “Via Riga” the MFA uses seven other travel agencies.

Maris Riekstins, State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denies that his wifes travel firm Via Riga has profited by selling tickets to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Riekstins believes that he has not violated the Anti-Corruption Law because the MFA has no regulations with regard to which travel agencies it should choose. Beside Via Riga the MFA uses seven other travel agencies. Diena