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.

• Russian language newspapers call to vote for the second state language, while Latvian language newspapers call to vote against it
• Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Anhelita Kamenska: referendum radicalised the society
• Ministry of Education and Science presented its action plan for consolidation of society
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about attitude of ethnically mixed marriages towards the referendum

Newspapers continue to print opinions of various experts, public persons and politicians about the up-coming referendum of the Constitutional amendments on granting Russian language status of a state language in Latvia. The three biggest Latvian language newspapers –

Newspapers continue to print opinions of various experts, public persons and politicians about the up-coming referendum of the Constitutional amendments on granting Russian language status of a state language in Latvia. The three biggest Latvian language newspapers – Diena, Latvijas Avize and Neatkariga issued with headline on the front page calling to vote against the amendments, while, Russian language newspapers – Chas and Vesti Segodnya – are calling from the front page to vote for the amendments. Another national Russian language newspaper, Telegraf, refrained from openly taking sides in the referendum.

Chas prints an interview with the director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Anhelita Kamenska. Ms Kamenska believes that the up-coming referendum on the status of Russian language has radicalised the society, while voicing moderate views on the current language situation is unpopular. She believes that assigning Russian, spoken by a significant part of the population, the status of a foreign language was short-sighted. According to Ms Kamenska, a range of issues remain that will need to be addressed in the future, including the accessibility of public information in Russian, proportionality of state language requirements for different posts and professions, and attempts to change Labour Law to prohibit disproportionate foreign language requirements for employees. Ms Kamenska also criticizes the ex-Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte stating that her activities in the process of elaboration of the integration program had a damaging effect on ethnic relations.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Education and Science presented its action plan for consolidation of society. The main accents of the plan are introduction of multicultural principles in education process on all levels, promoting knowledge about civil society and interaction in studies and sports. According to a representative of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Sigita Zankovska-Odina, the action plan has many valuable initiatives, however, it looks like it was elaborated in a rush and published couple of days before the referendum on the status of Russian language with a populist aim. 

Yesterday, the Ministry of Education and Science presented its action plan for consolidation of society. The main accents of the plan are introduction of multicultural principles in education process on all levels, promoting knowledge about civil society and interaction in studies and sports. According to a representative of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Sigita Zankovska-Odina, the action plan has many valuable initiatives, however, it looks like it was elaborated in a rush and published couple of days before the referendum on the status of Russian language with a populist aim. Diena, Neatkariga, Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an article about attitude of ethnically mixed marriages towards the referendum on the status of Russian language. The majority of interviewed families have the same attitude on how to vote in the referendum. However, some couples acknowledged that there are disagreements regarding the issue. According to the Central Statistical Bureau, there were 1,418 mixed marriages in Latvia in 2010.