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

Press Report

Even though the ratio of ethnic Latvians in Latvia has been gaining for the past decade, now reaching 57 percent, their numbers continue the 0o dwindle. Latvians are still a minority in 14 of the country's 77 cities and in 45 of the 481 counties. The number of ethnic Russians in Latvia is also on the fall. "This can mainly be explained by a rather large portion of ethnic Russians returning to their ethnic homeland or moving abroad after Latvia regained independence," announced the Latvian statistics office Friday in relation to last year's population census. In the last population census in 1989, Latvia was populated by 52 percent ethnic Latvians and 34 percent ethnic Russians with a population of 2.6 million. This was the lowest ratio of ethnic Latvians recorded in four population censuses since 1935. Of the seven largest Latvian cities, the most ethnic Latvians are found in Ventspils (51.6 percent) and Jelgava (51 percent), while rural areas show a higher rate of Latvians, for example, 91.9 percent in the Talsi district, 91.2 in the Kuldiga district and 89.9 percent in the Ventspils district. The smallest ratio of ethnic Latvians in major cities is found in Daugavpils with 15.9 percent, Rezekne on 42.6 percent and only 41 percent in the capital Riga. Ethnic Latvians are a minority also in Liepaja and Jurmala.

Even though the ratio of ethnic Latvians in Latvia has been gaining for the past decade, now reaching 57 percent, their numbers continue the 0o dwindle. Latvians are still a minority in 14 of the country's 77 cities and in 45 of the 481 counties. The number of ethnic Russians in Latvia is also on the fall. "This can mainly be explained by a rather large portion of ethnic Russians returning to their ethnic homeland or moving abroad after Latvia regained independence," announced the Latvian statistics office Friday in relation to last year's population census. In the last population census in 1989, Latvia was populated by 52 percent ethnic Latvians and 34 percent ethnic Russians with a population of 2.6 million. This was the lowest ratio of ethnic Latvians recorded in four population censuses since 1935. Of the seven largest Latvian cities, the most ethnic Latvians are found in Ventspils (51.6 percent) and Jelgava (51 percent), while rural areas show a higher rate of Latvians, for example, 91.9 percent in the Talsi district, 91.2 in the Kuldiga district and 89.9 percent in the Ventspils district. The smallest ratio of ethnic Latvians in major cities is found in Daugavpils with 15.9 percent, Rezekne on 42.6 percent and only 41 percent in the capital Riga. Ethnic Latvians are a minority also in Liepaja and Jurmala. Diena, Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnja

Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga will be participating in the Salzburg Economic Forum in Austria from July 1 - 3. The forum's main topic this year is EU expansion and future development perspectives.

Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga will be participating in the Salzburg Economic Forum in Austria from July 1 - 3. The forum's main topic this year is EU expansion and future development perspectives. Diena

A part of people who left Russian Party are planning to establish a new organisation for Russians in Latvia – the new political movement will be called “Latvia – Our Home”. At the moment the main principles of the movement are very similar to the programme of FHRUL.

A part of people who left Russian Party are planning to establish a new organisation for Russians in Latvia – the new political movement will be called Latvia – Our Home. At the moment the main principles of the movement are very similar to the programme of FHRUL. Panorama Latvii, Vesti Segodnja

The heads of National Human Rights Office and State Police admitted that the lack of interpreters in police is violation of human rights as legal proceedings takes place only in the state language.

The heads of National Human Rights Office and State Police admitted that the lack of interpreters in police is violation of human rights as legal proceedings takes place only in the state language. Vesti Segodnja

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said in a newspaper interview that to ensure the rights of ethnic minorities, Estonia and Latvia must more observe norms effective in the European Union. "We demand no special conditions for our compatriots, different from those that ethnic minorities enjoy in other European countries," Ivanov told the Russian daily

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said in a newspaper interview that to ensure the rights of ethnic minorities, Estonia and Latvia must more observe norms effective in the European Union. "We demand no special conditions for our compatriots, different from those that ethnic minorities enjoy in other European countries," Ivanov told the Russian daily Pravda. "We are convinced Estonia and Latvia, aspiring to become members of the European Union, have to stick to EU norms." The Russian foreign minister said observation of minority rights would contribute to the Baltic countries' good relations with Russia, as Russia pays a lot of attention to humanitarian issues in those countries. "We cannot regard as normal a situation where one third of a country's residents have no citizenship, where their rights to education in their native language are being restricted, where they are being crowded into the back yard of public and political life," Ivanov said. Vesti Segodnja, BNS

Latvian prosecutor general ordered Constitution Protection Office (CPO), top national security agency, to check out if a book of essays from controversial contest, published by Vieda publishing company, contains inciting to national hatred for the second time. The book contains essays sent in to the publishing company as part of the essay contest, criticised by Russia. CPO deputy chief Uldis Dzenitis told BNS the CPO received order from Prosecutor General Janis Maizitis several days ago and, it is Maizitis' own initiative. He asked to assess if the publication of the book should not be regarded as inciting to national or racial hatred.

Vesti Segodnja

Vesti Segodnja

provides comments on the visit of Riga City Council mayor G.Bojars to Moscow. The real purpose of the visit was not the one announced officially – to present Rigas 800 years anniversary – but to present Social Democrats as the future ruling party, with which Moscow will have to build relationship. provides comments on the visit of Riga City Council mayor G.Bojars to Moscow. The real purpose of the visit was not the one announced officially – to present Riga’s 800 years anniversary – but “to present Social Democrats as the future ruling party, with which Moscow will have to build relationship”.