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.

• Telegraf prints an interview with the researcher of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Anhelita Kamenska about the human rights situation in Latvia
• Edgars Jaunups: Russian speakers should not look back and should recognise occupation
• MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere: if Latvia grants Russian language status of official language than Russian becomes official in the entire EU

Telegraf prints an interview with the researcher of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights (LCHR) Anhelita Kamenska about the human rights situation in Latvia in the context of the forthcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Latvia and more generally. According to the researcher, the information submitted by the Centre to the U.N. UPR highlights several human rights concerns that need to be addressed by Latvia. These, inter alia, include the abolition of death penalty in all circumstances as Latvia is one of the few countries in the EU which retains death penalty in times of war. Another problem concerns places of detention, including the State Language Law requirements permitting Prison Administration to refuse to accept complaints from the prisoners not written in the state language, while a large part of prison population is non-Latvian. Amongst other human rights issues the researcher highlights the concern about the large number of non-citizen children in Latvia, and the need to make the process of registration of children born to non-citizen parents automatic and exclude bureaucratic registration process. The discrimination of non-citizens in calculating their pensions is also mentioned as is the uncompromising position of the government concerning language, citizenship, and the rights of minorities.

Edgars Jaunups, board member of political block “Unity” and the head of “New Era” faction at the Riga City Council, has stated that recognition of occupation is the minimum precondition for a Russian-speaking party wishing to take part in the government. According to Mr.Jaunups, the issue of occupation for ethnic Latvians has similar importance as the issue of Holocaust for Israel. Regarding the decision to deprive citizenship rights to a bulk of Russian speaking residents, many of whom voted for independence, Mr.Jaunups believes that one should not look back into the past, because that decision, “which may be wrong or semi-right or something else” was taken 20 years ago. Instead, the society should look into the future and hopefully in 5 years time all people of Latvia will work together without ethnic divisions.

Edgars Jaunups, board member of political block Unity and the head of New Era faction at the Riga City Council, has stated that recognition of occupation is the minimum precondition for a Russian-speaking party wishing to take part in the government. According to Mr.Jaunups, the issue of occupation for ethnic Latvians has similar importance as the issue of Holocaust for Israel. Regarding the decision to deprive citizenship rights to a bulk of Russian speaking residents, many of whom voted for independence, Mr.Jaunups believes that one should not look back into the past, because that decision, which may be wrong or semi-right or something else was taken 20 years ago. Instead, the society should look into the future and hopefully in 5 years time all people of Latvia will work together without ethnic divisions. Telegraf

The MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere in an interview with

The MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere in an interview with Latvijas Avize states that Russia presses on Latvia regarding Russian language position with an aim to strengthen Russian language in the EU. According to Mrs.Vaidere if Latvia grants Russian language status of official language then Russian becomes official in the entire EU.