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.

• Amendments to the Immigration Law will exempt foreigners who have severe hearing and speaking disabilities from the language examination
• Two Riga Mayor candidates – Janis Jurkans and Juris Lujans - discuss some integration issues
• Janis Lagzdins, member of the Riga City Council, about the aims of the Peoples Party
• Political scientist Karlis Dauksts argues that Latvia is not an ethnocratic state
• Historian comments on the interpretation of the Soviet times in Latvia

According to the new amendments to the Immigration Law adopted by Saeima in the second reading, the government has to determine those categories of foreigners who will be issued permanent residence permits and exempted from state language examinations. According to the new amendments only those persons who are not able to take the examination because they have total or partly speech disability or they are deaf will be exempted from the language examination.

According to the new amendments to the Immigration Law adopted by Saeima in the second reading, the government has to determine those categories of foreigners who will be issued permanent residence permits and exempted from state language examinations. According to the new amendments only those persons who are not able to take the examination because they have total or partly speech disability or they are deaf will be exempted from the language examination.

Saeima also supported the proposal of Aleksandrs Kirsteins (the People’s Party), who suggested introduction of an integration declaration:  foreigners, who want to receive residence permits in Latvia, will have to submit an integration declaration. In this declaration a person promises to pass state language examination and respect Latvia’s laws, traditions and culture.

Saeima also supported the proposal of Aleksandrs Kirsteins (the Peoples Party), who suggested introduction of an integration declaration: foreigners, who want to receive residence permits in Latvia, will have to submit an integration declaration. In this declaration a person promises to pass state language examination and respect Latvias laws, traditions and culture. Latvijas Avize

Rigas Balss holds a discussion of two candidates running for the post of Riga City Councils Mayor – Janis Jurkans (the Peoples Harmony Party) and Juris Lujans (the Latvian First Party). Janis Jurkans notes that the Latvian First Party talks about harmony in society only in the Russian version of the partys pre-election programme and reproaches the party for not supporting minority issues, such as non-citizenship and education reform, in the Saeima. Juris Lujans replies that the Latvian First Party believes that non-citizens should not be granted the right to participate in municipal elections, because ‘it is too late and would only aggravate hatred and aggression. However, he believes that requirements for the acquisition of Latvian citizenship should be made easier.

Latvijas Avize talks to member of the Riga City Council Janis Lagzdins (the Peoples Party). He states that the key task of his party in the municipal elections in Riga is to consolidate the right-wing parties and acquire control in the Council. He argues that due to the policies and activities implemented by left-wing parties in Riga for last 4 years it is very difficult to get a place in Latvian kindergartens, thus parents are forced to send their children to Russian ones. Further he states that Latvian language skills of non-Latvians are gradually improving and the number of Ukrainian, Russian and Belorussian children who study in Latvian is increasing. However, he notes that there are about 6,000 Latvian children who attend Russian schools and adds that ‘municipalities should work with their parents and persuade them to send their children to Latvian schools. Janis Lagzdins admits that more and more Latvians support left-wing parties. In the further discussion the newspaper reproaches the Latvian First Party for addressing also the Russian electorate and provides Lujans (Mayors candidate from the Latvian First Party) quote who has said that ‘he [Lujans] would not go only with Muslims, but with Christians, whatever kind, he will be together.

Chas talks to political scientist Karlis Dauksts. He disagrees with the journalists statement that Latvia develops as an ethnocratic state. He states that the Russian language has its secure place in Latvia and it is proved by a number of Russian-language newspapers printed in the country, which, according to Karlis Dauksts, would not be possible in an ethnocratic country. However, he admits that at the beginning of the 90-ies and also now there are attempts to form an ethnocratic country, however, it will be never realised in Latvia.

Chas prints an interview with Dr.hist. Tatyana Feigmane about interpretation of history of Latvia and the USSR in the time period 1940-1990. She argues that Latvia experienced incorporation and Sovetisation and not occupation and Russification. The historian states that under the USSR the Russian culture had suffered even more than any other culture and it was not the Russian but the Soviet culture which ruled in the territory of the USSR. Tatyana Feigmane is convinced that Russians are a traditional national minority in Latvia.