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.

• Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM conference and future plans
• Russians in Latvia participate in RussianState Duma vote
• Association of Russian-language school teachers established
• Igors Pimenovs calls for changes in minority education advisory council
• PHP Janis Jurkans predicts strong positions for social democrats and nationalists in EU

Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement in their party conference last Saturday reelected Janis Straume as chairperson.  Searching for new ways to avoid falling beneath the 5% barrier for participation in parliament party delegates indicated that a stronger nationalist stance would be forthcoming, making priorities out of state support for the Latvian language and education, for the international recognition of the occupation fact and  strict requirements for naturalization, the improvement of the demographic situation, etc. 

Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement in their party conference last Saturday reelected Janis Straume as chairperson. Searching for new ways to avoid falling beneath the 5% barrier for participation in parliament party delegates indicated that a stronger nationalist stance would be forthcoming, making priorities out of state support for the Latvian language and education, for the international recognition of the occupation fact and strict requirements for naturalization, the improvement of the demographic situation, etc. Diena, Neatkariga rita avize, Latvijas avize, Vesti segodnya, Chas

Ambassor Studennikov of Russia expressed dissatisfaction at the decision by the Latvian government not to allow the conduct of elections for the Russian Duma at other localities than the Embassy itself.  Some 2,500 Russian citizens living in Latvia were quing up outside the Embassy yesterday to participate in the Russian Duma elections.  Informal journalist exit polls indicated that the most frequent votes were for Dmitry Rogozin (Rodina) and Vladimir Zhirinovsky. 

Ambassor Studennikov of Russia expressed dissatisfaction at the decision by the Latvian government not to allow the conduct of elections for the Russian Duma at other localities than the Embassy itself. Some 2,500 Russian citizens living in Latvia were quing up outside the Embassy yesterday to participate in the Russian Duma elections. Informal journalist exit polls indicated that the most frequent votes were for Dmitry Rogozin (Rodina) and Vladimir Zhirinovsky. Vesti segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

On Saturday the new association of Russian-language school teachers held its founding meeting. 

On Saturday the new association of Russian-language school teachers held its founding meeting. Latvijas avize, Chas

Leader of the Latvian Association for the Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction Igor Pimenov makes a call for changing the advisory council working with the Ministry of Education on minority education into a true forum for dialogue instead of only for show by decreasing the number of government representatives and increasing the representatives of minorities. 

Leader of the Latvian Association for the Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction Igor Pimenov makes a call for changing the advisory council working with the Ministry of Education on minority education into a true forum for dialogue instead of only for show by decreasing the number of government representatives and increasing the representatives of minorities. Vesti segodnya, Chas

Head of People’s Harmony Party Janis Jurkans, who recently stepped down from his post as faction leader in parliament, in an interview in

Head of Peoples Harmony Party Janis Jurkans, who recently stepped down from his post as faction leader in parliament, in an interview in Telegraf comments on the future for parties in the European Union. Jurkans believes that the European Union will enhance the chances for social democratic and nationalist parties to gain strong positions.