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.

• The Ombudsman recognised discrimination in an insulting phrase addressed to a black-skinned participant of a local TV talent show
• Society Integration Foundation informed the MPs about its work
• Public Relations Advisor to the Minister of Education Reinis Tukiss resigned from the post because Minister Vjaceslavs Dombrovskis speaks Russian with Russian colleagues
• Latvian Muslims deny risks of Islamic radicalisation in Latvia

The Ombudsman recognised discrimination in an insulting phrase addressed to a black-skinned participant of a local TV talent show Lingita Bopulu. During the live broadcast on a TV channel “Kanals 2” the following comment was published: “It is time for Lingita to go to Africa to pick bananas.” According to the Ombudsman, such statement says that Lingita is not welcomed in Latvia due to her origin which violates the legal norms on prohibition of discrimination included also the in the Law on Electronic Mass Media. The Ombudsman stated that the prohibition of discrimination concerns also hateful discriminating statements.

In their turn, representatives of the TV channel responding to the Ombudsman stated the comment is not hateful and its interpretation could be very broad. At the same time, the TV channel promised to evaluate the comments more carefully before publishing and to avoid publishing of discriminative statements. Vesti Segodnya

The Society Integration Foundation informed the MPs about its work and children exchange program between Latvian and Russian speaking families aimed at integration. 50 Latvian speaking and 50 Russian speaking families took part in the exchange, thus about 600 people including family members got to know each other. The families hosted children for 6-12 days and during this period children took part in school activities with special tasks, participated in sports, attended cultural events, played with fellows. Commenting such practice, the MPs from the nationalists union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM criticised the fact that ethnic Latvian children are hosted by the Russian families. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports that Public Relations Advisor to the Minister of Education and Science Reinis Tukiss resigned from the post because the Minister Vjaceslavs Dombrovskis spoke Russian to the head of the Minister’s Office Anna Kononova. Commenting the situation, the Minister did not deny that his native language is Russian and acknowledged that he speaks Russian to other native speakers of Russian, including his colleagues. The Minister stressed that the official communication language in the Ministry is Latvian. Also the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry Inga Vanaga stated that communication with the Minister Dombrovskis and Mrs Kononova is in Latvian only and the Ministry’s sessions are always in Latvian language. Latvijas Avize also notes, that according to unofficial information Reinis Tukiss resigned due to inability to collaborate with the Minister due to different working style.

The Riga Mosque’s Imam Zahers in an interview with Latvijas Avize denies that there are radical Muslims in Latvia. Commenting the visit of Islamic organisation “Tablight Jamaat” to Latvia, the Imam says that members of this organisation are normal people who live in Europe and are its citizens and they believe that it is their mission to visit Muslims in different countries. The Imam also denies the assertion of the Security Police that this organisation might create risk of radicalisation of Latvian society as in some countries “Tablight Jamaat” is considered as radical and terrorist organisation. According to the Imam, there are about 10,000 Muslims in Latvia and they live in accordance with Latvian legal acts and at the same time preserve their Islamic identity.