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.

30 July 2014 

• Igors Vatolins: the problems of Latvia’s Russians will be exploited by Putin’s propaganda 

Journalist Igors Vatolins is organising a “The Movement of Europe’s Russians in Latvia” to unite the people of European thinking – those who are “individual, responsible, pluralistic and are not afraid of diversity”. Mr Vatolins believes Latvia should be a political nation, while the ruling party “Unity” was not able to overcome ethnic barriers. While Latvian should remain the only state language, other languages should be allowed as well – such as abolishing the requirement of the state language examination for non-native speakers wishing to work as permanent teaching staff. According to Mr Vatolins, there are at least four "Russian issues" in Latvia: the status of Latvia’s non-citizens, the status of Russian language, schools, historic memory. Initially these were merely human rights issues. Mr Vatolins believes Vladimir Putin, in order to consolidate his power, constantly needs to demonstrate some action to the population of Russia and it is likely that Latvia’s mistakes regarding minority language education will be exploited  by Putin’s propaganda as “oppression”, “Russian schools are being closed”, “Russian language is being squeezed out”. Mr Vatolins is also critical about the attempts to legislate on matters of historic memories. Mr Vatolins believes one should emphasise the achievements and successes of Latvia’s history and present, such as the fact that the Republic of Latvia, established in 1918, was restored, as well as highlight that Latvian language fulfils the function of a “secret language” of all Latvia’s residents when they travel abroad: ethnic minorities, including Russians, in Moscow or Brussels easily switch to Latvian among themselves when they wish to hide their conversation from the outsiders. Latvijas Avize