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.

• Newspapers report about the Annual Report 2013 of the Security Police
• Establisher of the Movement of European Russians in Latvia Igors Vatolins: Russia needs to hear from Russian residents in Latvia than they do not want to be rescued
• Neatkariga reports on the Saeima’s Society Consolidation Committee discussion on how to improve Latvian language proficiency of ethnic non-Latvians
• 171 persons applied for asylum in Latvia in 2013

Newspapers report about the Annual Report 2013 of the Security Police (SP). The report emphasizes interest of Russia’s security services in Latvia. According to the SP, Russia’s security services use so-called organisations of Russian compatriots and representatives of Russian diaspora in Latvia in order to discredit Latvian state. The report mentions specific organisations and persons such as the Congress of Non-Citizens and its activists Aleksandrs Gaponenko, Elizabete Krivcova, Jelena Bacinska, the Latvian council of non-governmental organisations headed by Viktors Guscins, organisation For Native Langauge and its leader Vladimirs Lindermans, the Russian Dawn and its leaders Illarions Girs and Jevgenijs Osipovs, activists of anti-fascist organisation World without Nazism Josifs Korens and Valerijs Engels, and others. The SP considers that these and other persons have a task to discredit Latvia and to strengthen Russia’s influence in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Neatkariga prints an interview with well-known journalist, establisher of the Movement of European Russians in Latvia Igors Vatolins. Mr Vatolins says that the Movement was established in order to show Russia and its President Vladimir Putin that Russians in Latvia do not need to be rescued and that they will solve their problems on their own. Mr Vatolins believes that it is especially important that such opinion comes from Russian speaking residents so as to prevent them being used as a resource for Russia’s policy and possible actions in Latvia. Mr Vatolins believes that further actions by Russia’s President are unpredictable and no one knows if the Baltic States will become the next step after Crimea. According to him, there is a variety of opinions among Russian speakers in Latvia and current tendencies show that radicals have very small support but they are visible because they loudly express their opinion. Mr Vatolins also advices the politicians not to raise the issue on transition of education in ethnic minority schools almost completely into Latvian language because it is very sensitive issue which may raise tensions.

Neatkariga reports on the Saeima’s Society Consolidation Committee discussion on how to improve Latvian language proficiency of ethnic non-Latvians. It was stressed that an important factor is a teachers’ personality of in ethnic monitory school and teachers’ ability to motivate students to learn Latvian language and respect the state. The Minister of Education Ina Druviete believes that introduction of state language learning in kindergartens would help to improve language proficiency and usage. The Minister believes that after age of five children should study Latvian every day. The Minister also proposes to evaluate merge of education establishments because it is wrong that ethnic Latvian and non-Latvian children study separately.

171 persons applied for asylum in Latvia in 2013. 133 of asylum seekers were Georgians. 190 persons applied for asylum in 2012, and 351 in 2011. Vesti Segodnya