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.

• MP Raivis Dzintars published a statement in which he calls to understand Russian residents
• Russian Union of Latvia plans to conduct another picket for education in native language
• Representative of the State Language Centre Antons Kurstitis criticizes the fact that deputies learn Latvian language using state budget funds
• Old-Orthodox Pomorian Church criticizes the draft Introduction to the Constitution

Vesti Segodnya reports that the MP Raivis Dzintars (nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM) published a statement in which he calls to understand Russian residents and to accept that they are different. He called to respect Russians and try to persuade them using different arguments. R. Dzintars also believes that the foundation of the society consolidation is growth of the living standards.

The Russian Union of Latvia plans to conduct another picket for education in native language and against political censorship and ban over broadcasts of one of the Russian TV channels in Latvia. The picket will be held on 15 May near the Saeima. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports that the State Language Centre found that some deputies of Daugavpils City Council have insufficient state language proficiency. The deputies were given six months to improve their language proficiency and the local government granted EUR 6,900 for this purpose. Representative of the State Language Centre Antons Kurstitis believes that such situation when residents pay for state language courses for deputies is not normal.

Central council of the Old-Orthodox Pomorian Church in Latvia came with a statement criticizing the draft Introduction to the Constitution of Latvia. The Council believes that the draft Introduction replaces reasonable and comprehensive notion of “Latvian nation” envisioned by the “forefathers” of the Constitution with notion of “ethnic Latvian nation” which contradicts the basic text of the Constitution and does not promote consolidation of the society. Vesti Segodnya