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.

• President of Latvia Andris Berzins and Ex-head of the Constitutional Court Aivars Endzins: it is not right to abolish the referendum
• MP Ina Druviete: equal usage of Latvian and Russian language in Latvia is not admissible
• Vesti Segodnya prints an article about why Russian speaking residents of Latvia were not able to learn Latvian language for 20 years

The President of Latvia Andris Berzins stated that it is too late to abolish the national referendum on the Constitutional amendments granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. Ex-head of the Constitutional Court Aivars Endzins also stated that the claim to the Constitutional Court has political character and the Court does not have the mandate to work on political problems. Mr Endzins believes that the core of the Constitution of Latvia are the Articles 1 and 2 which says that Latvia is democratic republic and the state’s sovereign power belong to its nation and the Article 77 saying that amendments to the Articles 1,2,3,4,6 and 77 should be approved at the national referendum. Article 4, which determines that Latvian language is the state language was added only in 1998. The Constitutional Court should take its decision whether to accept a claim submitted by 30 MPs asking to evaluate whether the national referendum on such issues corresponds to the Constitution.

The President of Latvia Andris Berzins stated that it is too late to abolish the national referendum on the Constitutional amendments granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. Ex-head of the Constitutional Court Aivars Endzins also stated that the claim to the Constitutional Court has political character and the Court does not have the mandate to work on political problems. Mr Endzins believes that the core of the Constitution of Latvia are the Articles 1 and 2 which says that Latvia is democratic republic and the states sovereign power belong to its nation and the Article 77 saying that amendments to the Articles 1,2,3,4,6 and 77 should be approved at the national referendum. Article 4, which determines that Latvian language is the state language was added only in 1998. The Constitutional Court should take its decision whether to accept a claim submitted by 30 MPs asking to evaluate whether the national referendum on such issues corresponds to the Constitution. Vesti Segodnya

Head of the Saeima’s Education, Science and Culture Committee, MP Ina Druviete (the Unity) believes that equal usage of Latvian and Russian language in Latvia is not admissible. Mrs Druviete believes that such situation would sufficiently weaken positions of Latvian language.

Head of the Saeimas Education, Science and Culture Committee, MP Ina Druviete (the Unity) believes that equal usage of Latvian and Russian language in Latvia is not admissible. Mrs Druviete believes that such situation would sufficiently weaken positions of Latvian language. Chas

Vesti Segodnya prints an article about why some Russian speaking residents of Latvia were not able to learn Latvian language during 20 years. While the state set language proficiency in employment and in contacts with state bodies, the state normally does not finance the state language training. Free-of-charge language courses (funded by the EU) are available only to temporary residents and refugees. Latvian citizens and non-citizens could apply for language training (also funded by the EU) only after they were dismissed from jobs and awaited long queues at the State Employment Agency. In addition, many persons who attended these courses state that those are not effective due to unprofessional teachers and luck of proper methodology. The newspaper notes that since 2011 Riga City Council provides free-of-charge Latvian language courses for residents but those are not able to satisfy all the demand. According to the article, Latvian language courses provided by private companies for cost usually are too expensive or concentrate only on preparation to examination for state language certificate or naturalisation. Also there is lack of curriculum to study Latvian without assistance.