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.

• President-elect of Latvia Raimonds Vejonis will give interviews to media in Russian if necessary
• Latvijas Avize reports about a case when a doctor refused to speak with a Russian speaking patient in Russian language

The President-elect of Latvia Raimonds Vejonis in an interview with Diena said that as a President he will speak to the representatives of printed media in Latvian language. But in TV or radio interviews and especially in live broadcasts he can also speak in Russian language if necessary.

Latvijas Avize reports about a case when a doctor refused to speak with a Russian speaking patient in Russian language. According to the newspaper, the patient wrote a compliant to the National Health Service about the doctor who reproached the patient for poor Latvian language proficiency and refused to speak in Russian – the patient’s native language. The National Health Service replied to the complainant that there is no legal requirement for the doctors to speak to patients in foreign languages. The doctor in an interview with the newspaper also confirmed that she speaks to the patients, especially young people in Latvian language only. The doctor said that there have been 25 years for non-Latvian residents to learn the state language. The doctor also said that it is not easy for her to explain everything in details to patients in Russian, therefore, she suggested the patient to search for another doctor who would speak in the patient’s native language or to come with an interpreter. According to Latvijas Avize, the story was distributed by Russia’s mass media highlighting that Latvian doctor refused the provision of medical aid to a Russian speaking patient.