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.

• Vesti Segodnya: 11 of 50 Russian language schools in Riga are on the verge of closure
• Telegraf: ban of 9 May events could turn into catastrophe

Vesti Segodnya prints an article about a new model of funding for schools in Riga. The new model stipulates optimisation of classes with insufficient number of students and prohibition to open 10th grade in schools which have only one complete set of senior classes (grades 10-12). According to the newspaper, the new model will have an adverse impact on minority schools. As a result of such reshuffling 11 out of 50 Russian language schools in Riga are on the verge of closure. Three Russian language secondary schools might become elementary schools because those have only one complete set of senior classes. In the meantime, half of Russian language schools might lose 10th grades because of insufficient number of students. According to the article, majority of schools of other ethnic minorities, such as Ukrainian, Polish, Estonian, Jewish, Belorussian, will not be able to comply with the new numerical requirements and thus will have to close unless their kin-states provide support.

Member of the Riga City Council’s Committee for Security and Public Order Andrejs Vilks in an interview with

Member of the Riga City Councils Committee for Security and Public Order Andrejs Vilks in an interview with Telegraf states that if there will be information about possible provocations on 9 May (Victory Day) applications for events planned to be held on this day may be refused. At the same time, Mr. Vilks supposes that ban of events may cause converse effect and increase possible provocations. The MP Nils Usakovs also considers that thousands of people will come to the Monument to Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders on 9 May in any case and a ban on official events could lead to a catastrophe for the city.