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.

• Latvijas Avize reports about a discussion conducted in Latgale about mass media situation in this region

Latvijas Avize reports about a discussion conducted in Latgale (region in the Eastern part ofLatvia) about mass media situation in this region and plans to establish a Russian language national TV channel inLatvia. The discussion was organised by the Ministries of Culture and Transport. The Minister of Culture, the Minister of Transport, representatives ofDaugavpils and Kraslava local governments and local media took part in the discussion. The head of the National Council on Electronic Mass Media Ainars Dimants and the head of the Latvian Television Ivars Belte tried to convince the participants about the necessity to establish such channel. The Advisor of the Minister of Transport Egils Helmanis, in his turn, was sceptical about such idea arguing that it would be a waste of money. He believes that such channel also would strengthen not Latvian but Russian language in Latgale. Representatives of media and local governments criticized the Latvian Television (LTV) for being too much negative in contrast toRussia’s media, mentioning this fact as one of the examples why people choose to watch Russia’s channels.