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.

• Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry and Russia State Council comment on Latvian Russian relations
• Representative of the Association for the Support of Russian-language Schools Igors Pimenovs comments on the planned reform of primary education
• Russian student claims that her teacher offended her because of her ethnicity
• Chairman of Saeima Defence and Internal Affairs Committee Juris Dalbins on the priorities of the new Framework Document on National Security in the area of social integration
• Unapproved picket of national-Bolsheviks

Yesterday the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Russian State Duma issued a statement, which claimed that Latvia experiences a ‘Russophobic hysteria.’ According to Russia this situation has led to a more difficult phase in Latvian Russian relations. Members of the Russian Parliament believe that ‘Latvia’s provocations’ are directly related to the forthcoming municipal elections. They add that ‘Latvian Russian relations continue to get worse and it is because of mass statelessness in Latvia, restrictions on the rights of   Russian-speakers to participate in elections and have education in their language and also because state authorities are trying to idealise Nazism.’  The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga demonstrated a ‘scornful and insulting attitude towards people who defended the world from fascism.’ Here the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry referred to the statements of the Latvian President that it is impossible to change older Russians, who will celebrate 9 May by ‘putting vobla (dried fish) on the table covered by a newspaper, drinking vodka, singing chastushkas (folk songs) and recalling their heroic ‘liberation’ of the Baltic States’. Saeima, however, expressed its support for the attempts of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga to explain the international community the difficult history of Latvia.

Yesterday the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Russian State Duma issued a statement, which claimed that Latvia experiences a ‘Russophobic hysteria. According to Russia this situation has led to a more difficult phase in Latvian Russian relations. Members of the Russian Parliament believe that ‘Latvias provocations are directly related to the forthcoming municipal elections. They add that ‘Latvian Russian relations continue to get worse and it is because of mass statelessness in Latvia, restrictions on the rights of Russian-speakers to participate in elections and have education in their language and also because state authorities are trying to idealise Nazism. The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga demonstrated a ‘scornful and insulting attitude towards people who defended the world from fascism. Here the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry referred to the statements of the Latvian President that it is impossible to change older Russians, who will celebrate 9 May by ‘putting vobla (dried fish) on the table covered by a newspaper, drinking vodka, singing chastushkas (folk songs) and recalling their heroic ‘liberation of the Baltic States. Saeima, however, expressed its support for the attempts of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga to explain the international community the difficult history of Latvia. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Telegraf

Chas prints a critical article by the representative of the Association for the Support of Russian-language Schools and the member of the Advisory Board on Minority Education Issues under the Ministry of Education and Science Igors Pimenovs about the planned reform of primary education. This reform stipulates the cut-down of the minority language lessons in minority schools from 7 – 9 to 4 – 5 lessons a week. The author of the article stresses that the political document stipulating these changes has not been discussed with minorities. According to Igors Pimenovs, several directors of Russian-language and Polish-language schools have already expressed their concern about these changes.

Vesti Segodnya reports on a conflict between a Russian student, who attends a Latvian language school in Riga, and her English language teacher. According to the student, the English language teacher, who is Latvian, has several times offended her by nationalistic comments, such as ‘You, Russians, go to your Russian-language schools and do not damage our Latvian culture with your Russian temperament! The student also stressed that her academic success has got worse because of the conflict with the teacher. The students mother complained about the English language teacher to the school principle, however, no measures were taken. The school principle argued that it is difficult to find a new teacher in the middle of the academic year.

Telegraf features comments of the chairman of the Saeima Defence and Internal Affairs Committee Juris Dalbins on the priorities of the new Framework Document of National Security, which was recently adopted by Saeima. Telegraf asked Juris Dalbins to comment on a new article included in the Framework Document, which stipulates ‘development of loyalty towards national informational space and reduction of segregation in the area of education. Juris Dalbins refuses that this article was included in the Framework Document as a result of the minority education reform and will be used as a tool to control mass media.

Yesterday several representatives of the radical national-Bolshevik organisation participated in the unapproved picket near the President’s Palace. During the picket its participants demanded resignation of the President. They also called for burning of the scandalous book ‘Latvian History. XX Century’ which ‘reflects a shameless falsification of the history.’

Yesterday several representatives of the radical national-Bolshevik organisation participated in the unapproved picket near the Presidents Palace. During the picket its participants demanded resignation of the President. They also called for burning of the scandalous book ‘Latvian History. XX Century which ‘reflects a shameless falsification of the history. Vesti Segodnya, Chas