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.

• Governing coalition does not support introduction of refugee quotas
• State Language Centre evaluates whether the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs violated the State Language Law by making his speech on 9 May in Russian language
• Public opinion survey: 60,2% of Russian speaking residents of Latvia positively evaluate the Russia’s President Vladimir Putin

After the meeting of the coalition’s partners, the Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma stated that the coalition supports solidarity with the other members of the European Union in solving problem with influx of refuges such as strengthening border monitoring, provision of medical aid, and other issues. However, the coalition does not support introduction of so-called “refugee quotas.” The Minister of Interior Rihards Kozlovskis will have to prepare arguments why Latviais not ready to agree for quotas. Diena

The State Language Centre (SLC) evaluates whether the speech made by the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs addressing people who came to celebrate the 9 May (or unofficial celebration of the end of WWII or Victory Day) in Riga corresponds with the State Language Law as it was made in Russian language only. The SLC checks whether Mr Usakovs made his speech as a state official or a private person and who was the organiser of the event – state or municipal institution or an NGO. Vesti Segodnya, Diena

According to a public opinion poll ordered by the MEP from Latvia Sandra Kalniete, 60,2% of Russian speaking residents of Latviapositively evaluate the Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. It is 6,2% less than in August 2014. Only 20,1% of Russian speakers negatively evaluate the Russia’s President. The biggest number of those who have positive attitude towards Putin are 55 to 74 years old. The support among Russian speaking youth is also high (61,8%). Among Latvian language speakers, there are only 12,1% positively evaluating V. Putin and 73,6 have negative attitude. Sandra Kalniete explains high support to the Russia’s President by influence of Russia’s propaganda. She also supports creation of a national Russian language channel in Latviawhich would counter Russia’s propaganda but believes that it should co-funded by the EU. Commenting the results of the poll, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Andrejs Pantelejevs mentioned its limits and stated that no fundamental conclusions can be made on the basis of such poll. He said Latviashall talk to the Russian speakers and reminded about another, wider survey conducted last year, which also shown that very few Russian speakers would like Latviato leave the EU. Latvijas Avize