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

Some 400-500 people participated in a rally organized by the youth group of the Socialist Party of Latvia to protest against the draft Education law. Participants were holding posters demanding protection and the official status of the Russian language. At the end of the meeting they adopted a resolution addressed to the State President, Speaker of the Saeima, and Prime Minister, calling for the observance of the rights of national minorities to education in the native language. The task of the rally to show that young people are not indifferent toward the politics, was achieved.

Some 400-500 people participated in a rally organized by the youth group of the Socialist Party of Latvia to protest against the draft Education law. Participants were holding posters demanding protection and the official status of the Russian language. At the end of the meeting they adopted a resolution addressed to the State President, Speaker of the Saeima, and Prime Minister, calling for the observance of the rights of national minorities to education in the native language. The task of the rally to show that young people are not indifferent toward the politics, was achieved. Diena, Chas

Yesterday representatives of

Yesterday representatives of People's Harmony Party, the Socialist Party of Latvia and the movement of Equality of Rights agreed to found a political union For Human Rights in United Latvia. Representatives agreed that the political union will be headed by three co-chairmen - Sergey Dimanis (Equality of Rights), Oleg Denisov (Socialist Party), and Janis Urbanovics (People's Harmony Party). In its activities the union will promote human rights, rights of national minorities, real social integration, social welfare of people. Diena, Panorama Latvii

B&B publishes an article about famous Russian contemporary painter residing in Latvia Juriy Fateev who has been denied the permanent residence permit by the Jurmala DCMA division. B&B

Yesterday Minister of the Interior Andrejs Krastins did not show up at the meeting of the Saeima Commission on Implementation of the Citizenship Law. It was planned to discuss the issues related with the issuance of passports, since the DCMA still has not received the promised 250,000 Lats for the speeding up the issuance of non-citizen passports. The Commission decided to ask the Prime Minister to ensure the attendance of the further meetings by the Minister of the Interior.

Yesterday Minister of the Interior Andrejs Krastins did not show up at the meeting of the Saeima Commission on Implementation of the Citizenship Law. It was planned to discuss the issues related with the issuance of passports, since the DCMA still has not received the promised 250,000 Lats for the speeding up the issuance of non-citizen passports. The Commission decided to ask the Prime Minister to ensure the attendance of the further meetings by the Minister of the Interior. Diena

Answering to the question of the movement

Answering to the question of the movement For Latvia deputies about the Russian military persons who have not left Latvia, Minister of Defence Talavs Jundzis said that 22,360 military persons had to leave the territory of Latvia. 799 of them had rights to permanent residency in Latvia, and 166 have not legalized their status. According to the Russian side, there are 5 military persons still residing in Latvia who should leave the territory of Latvia. Neatkariga

All Russian newspapers (

All Russian newspapers (Diena, Panorama Latvii, B&B, Chas) publish an open letter signed by several publicly active persons (representatives of national minority groups and educational sphere, journalists) in which they urge those non-citizens who have rights to become citizens, do so in order to take an active part in all decision-making processes in Latvia.