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.

• Saeima’s Society Consolidation Committee met with representatives of Ukrainian NGOs in Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya interviews head of the Union of Latvia’s Ukrainian Communities Ludmila Belinceva
• Latvijas Avize prints articles about the history of the Russian Orthodox Church in Latvia

Latvijas Avize reports about a meeting of the Saeima’s Society Consolidation Committee with representatives of  Ukrainian NGOs in Latvia. There are many Ukrainian organisations in Latvia and no common one which would represent all Ukrainians. According to the head of one of the biggest NGOs - Union of Latvia’s Ukrainian Communities Ludmila Belinceva, Ukrainian organisations in Latvia represent very different opinions as there are also different opinions among Ukrainian residents. Mrs Belinceva said that Ukrainian society is much more split than Latvian and Latvia would help Ukraine by sharing its successful experience in consolidation of the society. Representatives of the Latvia’s Congress of Ukrainians, in their turn, called Latvian authorities to draw closer attention at granting  Russian citizenship to Latvian residents, information provided by Russia’s federal TV channels broadcasted in Latvia, and some Latvian politicians, like MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka (Latvia’s Russian Union) who, to their opinion, split the society.

 

Vesti Segodnya interviews the head of the Union of Latvia’s Ukrainian Communities Ludmila Belinceva. Mrs Belinceva comments recent statement by the head of the other Ukrainian organisation - Latvia’s Congress of Ukrainians Mikola Pavljuk made in the Saeima saying that disloyal Latvian non-citizens should be sent out of Latvia. Mrs Belinceva says that Ukrainians living in Latvia do not share Pavljuk’s statements. Mrs Belinceva believes that by such statement he surpassed even the most radical local nationalists and offended not only all Ukrainians but also all Latvian residents.

 

Latvijas Avize prints articles about the history of the Russian Orthodox Church in Latvia and the planned visit of the Patriarch of All Russian Orthodox Church Kirill to Latvia in May. There are about 350,000 Orthodox believers in Latvia and it is the third major confession in the country after Lutherans and Catholics.