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.

• Saeima has adopted the declaration supporting the Estonian decision to remove the Red Army war memorial from the centre of Tallinn
• Chas interviews the head of the Russian Community of Liepaja and a member of the European Russian Alliance Valerijs Kravcovs
• Consultative Council on Ethnic Minority Education discussed LASHORs proposal to introduce a compulsory examination in the native language and literature in minority schools

Yesterday, the Saeima has adopted a draft declaration supporting the Estonian decision to remove the Red Army war memorial from the centre of Tallinn. The declaration also condemns the Russian Federation for its intervention into Estonian internal affairs. The MP from the oppositional left wing party For Human Rights in United Latvia Nikolajs Kabanovs has stated that the adoption of such declaration could worsen Latvian-Russian relations.

Yesterday, the Saeima has adopted a draft declaration supporting the Estonian decision to remove the Red Army war memorial from the centre of Tallinn. The declaration also condemns the Russian Federation for its intervention into Estonian internal affairs. The MP from the oppositional left wing party For Human Rights in United Latvia Nikolajs Kabanovs has stated that the adoption of such declaration could worsen Latvian-Russian relations. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize, NRA

Chas features an interview with the head of the Russian Community of Liepaja (city in the Northern part of Latvia) and a member of the European Russian Alliance Valerijs Kravcovs stating that the members of the European Russian Alliance are concerned about the lack of Latvian non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. According to Valerijs Kravcovs, the Russian Community of Liepaja would support any political party agreeing to grant voting rights to non-citizens.

Yesterday, the Consultative Council on Ethnic Minority Education of the Ministry of Education and Science has discussed a proposal of the Latvian Association for Support of Russian Language Schools (LASHOR in its Russian acronym) to introduce a compulsory examination in the native language and literature in minority schools. The LASHOR’s head Igors Pimenovs has argued that the main objective of the proposal is the preservation of minorities’ native language and culture by means of raising students’ motivation to learn their native language and literature. However, the representative of the Centre of Education and Examination Content has claimed that students willing to pass examination in native language and literature already have such an opportunity and that the number of such students is increasing. The proposal will be further discussed at the Cabinet of Ministers’s session.

Yesterday, the Consultative Council on Ethnic Minority Education of the Ministry of Education and Science has discussed a proposal of the Latvian Association for Support of Russian Language Schools (LASHOR in its Russian acronym) to introduce a compulsory examination in the native language and literature in minority schools. The LASHORs head Igors Pimenovs has argued that the main objective of the proposal is the preservation of minorities native language and culture by means of raising students motivation to learn their native language and literature. However, the representative of the Centre of Education and Examination Content has claimed that students willing to pass examination in native language and literature already have such an opportunity and that the number of such students is increasing. The proposal will be further discussed at the Cabinet of Ministerss session. Chas, Vesti Segodnya