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.

• Latvijas Avize talks to sociologist Aigars Freimanis about the results of the municipal elections and next Saeima elections
• Members of FHRUL go to a school to protect a student whois againstthe minority education reform
• Vesti Segodnya comments on the Latvian Presidents statements made in her visit to Sweden
• Minister of Culture turns down the attempts of the Russian Embassy to reconstruct the Salaspils Memorial

Latvijas Avize talks to sociologist Aigars Freimanis, director of the company ‘Latvijas Fakti, which conducts various opinion polls in Latvia. Aigars Freimanis states that ethnic voting took place in these municipal elections and is convinced that people will vote on the grounds of ethnicity also in the next Saeima elections. When asked to comment why the Latvian First Party which invested serious funding in its pre-election campaign hardly overcame the 5% barrier, sociologist states that the party does not have its voter ‘the party wanted to get through by trying to get both Latvian and Russian voters – and it has never been a road to success. When asked to comment on the results of the left-wing parties, Aigars Freimanis says that the union ‘Dzimtene attracted a part of FHRULs electorate because FHRUL had clung to the minority education reform for too long and it is not the top priority issue for many Russian-speakers. While Dolgopolovs (The New Centre) and Jurkans (The Peoples Harmony Party) oriented towards more ‘intelligent, liberal and integrated electorate, which includes a majority of new citizens. Regarding the next Saeima elections, he says that ‘it is difficult to say how strong will be the desire to keep the opposition [Latvians against Russians]. However, Russians have extra safety net because naturalisation is an open channel and the number of voters among them is increasing. Latvians have additional concern what will happen with these new-comers.

Vesti Segodnya comments on statements of the Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga about Latvian non-citizens made during her visit to Sweden. The newspaper stresses that the members of the Swedish Parliament were very interested why there is such a number of non-citizens in Latvia. The President responded that the big number of non-citizens is the result of USSRs migration policy and noted that the future of these people depend on them: in their ability to accept Latvia as their own country and Vaira Vike-Freiberga as their president. The newspaper reproaches the President for the lack of understanding.

Chas reports that members of the union FHRUL came to the Riga Secondary School No 33 to protect an 8th grade student from attacks of the school administration. In March student Andrey Kovalsky came to school with a T-shirt ‘Yes to Russian-language schools! The school administration asked the student to take off the T-shirt, when he refused, he was asked to leave the school. Members of FHRUL had discussions with the school administration. Vesti Segodnya

The Minister of Culture Helena Demakova turned down the attempts of the Russian Embassy to Latvia to start reconstruction of the Salaspils Memorial, which in the WWII was a Nazi concentration camp. The Russian Embassy had provided USD 250,000 for the reconstruction of the Memorial. The Latvian Minister of Culture believes that Russia’s intentions are related to the recently published book of the Latvian history and stated that the reconstruction is under strong state control.

The Minister of Culture Helena Demakova turned down the attempts of the Russian Embassy to Latvia to start reconstruction of the Salaspils Memorial, which in the WWII was a Nazi concentration camp. The Russian Embassy had provided USD 250,000 for the reconstruction of the Memorial. The Latvian Minister of Culture believes that Russias intentions are related to the recently published book of the Latvian history and stated that the reconstruction is under strong state control. Diena