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.

• LTV7 aired a new show in Russian language
• Director of the Latvian Institute Karina Petersone: Latvia needs its own channel in Russian language
• Security Police wants to close Linerman’s party “For Native Language”

Vesti Segodnya reports that the state funded TV channel LTV7 started to broadcast a new show in Russian language. This is the first live TV show in Russian language on a state channel. Until this, LTV7 aired only live news broadcasts in Russian. The National Electronic Media Council allocated additional funding for program in Russian language in order to attract Russian speaking residents and to become more competitive to commercial TV channels.

Director of the state agency Latvian Institute Karina Petersone believes Latvia should produce its own state TV channel in Russian language. Mrs Petersone believes such channel would provide not-biased information about Latvia to Russian speakers. According to Mrs Petersone, the Latvian Institute tries to persuade the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saeima about such idea. Neatkariga

The Security Police (SP) informed the Registry of Enterprises about violations establishing the political party “For Native Language” whose leader is Vladimirs Lindermans. The SP investigated that the party cheated with the number of members who took part in the establishing congress. The SP asked the Registry to review its decision on the party’s registration taken in 2010. The head of the Registry Ringolds Balodis in an interview with Diena explained that the head notary cannot cancel the decision of the notary who approved the registration. Therefore, such decision can be appealed only in the court. Vladimirs Lindermans, in his turn, stated the case is fabricated trying to revenge him for the initiation of referendum on the status of Russian language in Latvia. Diena, Chas, Vesti Segodnya