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 Review

Actuality No 1 - still the effect of Tuesday’s picket at Riga City Council and the reaction of government representatives- both Russian and Latvian. Newspapers write about Russian Prime Minister Chernomirdin’s public announcement where he claimed this event to be the worst human rights violation case and condemned Latvian Prime Minister G.Krasts for his words that this picket could have been a provocation of Russia

Actuality No 1 - still the effect of Tuesdays picket at Riga City Council and the reaction of government representatives- both Russian and Latvian. Newspapers write about Russian Prime Minister Chernomirdins public announcement where he claimed this event to be the worst human rights violation case and condemned Latvian Prime Minister G.Krasts for his words that this picket could have been a provocation of Russia (Chas, SM, Diena, etc.). Latvian newspapers Neatkariga and Diena find his words offensive for the whole state, and Latvian government officials consider the whole reaction inadequate. President Ulmaniss press office have published an official announcement Diena on this, saying that such expressions would not help to improve co-operation between those two countries. The participants of this picket had blocked one of the major streets of Riga and there was no doubt that police had to establish order. Another thing was the means used for that, and they should be evaluated.

But local newspapers pay more attention to the amount of this reaction, finding it tendentious. Thus Russian newspaper Chas correspondent S.Zaletayev even titled his article “They hit you on your back not on your ... non-citizen passport”.

But local newspapers pay more attention to the amount of this reaction, finding it tendentious. Thus Russian newspaper Chas correspondent S.Zaletayev even titled his article They hit you on your back not on your ... non-citizen passport.