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.

 

 

• Vesti Segodnya interviews candidates to the Parliament of Unrepresented

Vesti Segodnya interviews candidates to the Parliament of Unrepresented initiated by the Congress of Non-citizens. According to them, it is important to raise awareness about problem of non-citizenship in Latvia more actively on international level and to find supporters among different organisations and states, as well as among the citizens. It is necessary to abolish all the legal acts and declarations adopted on the basis of the thesis of occupation of Latvia and continuity of Latvian Republic from 1918 to 1991 because it has no foundation in history and international law. The candidates to the Parliament also want to establish a court of unrepresented which will look at the cases concerning ethnic issues, and the ombudsman of unrepresented who would defend the rights of those, whose ethnic rights are violated. In order to safeguard Latvia's sovereignty and ensure its prosperity, the current system of ethnic hierarchy should be abolished. The candidates also want to co-operate closely with local governments and different state institutions especially those which work on education issues. Latvia should grant voting rights to non-citizens in municipal elections, according to 12 recommendations of international organisations. According to the candidates, naturalisation procedure for non-citizens and for immigrants should be different, while the model of Latvian state nation should include ethnic Latvians, Latgalians, Russians and ethnic minorities. The candidates also argue for greater citizen awareness and participation, for the restoration of the real mechanism of direct democracy, as well as for the establishment of a commission of historians, whose aim would be to highlight positive aspects of Latvian history, instead of cultivating the past grievances.