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.

• Situation of the Russian language in Latvia
• National Programme on Latvian Language Training accounts for its last year activities

Chas prints an article about the situation of the Russian language in Latvia. The author of the article is concerned that the language of Russians living in Latvia contains more and more individual words and expressions in Latvian. Linguist Tatyana Liguta believes that the only solution is to increase the number of Russian language classes at school. However, she believes that the situation of the Russian language in Latvia is better than in the neighbouring countries Lithuania and Estonia. According to Ms Liguta Russian is not a popular language in Lithuania and Russians themselves send their children to Lithuanian schools, while in comparison to Estonia the environment of the Russian language is stronger and more widespread in Latvia.

Vesti Segodnya reports that yesterday the National Programme on the Latvian Language Training accounted for its last year activities. In the framework of the Programme 7,856 people attended Latvian language courses in 2004. The Programmes total budget was LVL 999,360 (EUR 1,430,927), including LVL 391,685 (EUR 560,832) from the state budget, LVL 486,552 (EUR 696,666) from various European Funds, LVL 111,123 (EUR 159,110) – from the UN and LVL 10,000 (EUR 14,318) was donated by the bank Parex.