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.

• Vesti Segodnya reports about events devoted to the commemoration day of the Holocaust victims
• National Union proposes to stipulate that children with temporary residence permit and refugee status should study in Latvian language
• SKDS survey: the President Andris Berzins is supported equally but Latvian and Russian speakers
• Young people in Latvia are invited to attend Russia’s educative military-sports camp again

Vesti Segodnya reports about events devoted to the commemoration day of the Holocaust victims held on 4 July inRiga. The foundation “Shamir” organised the traditional procession „March of Alive” on the streets of the former Riga Ghetto. The procession gathered members of the Jewish community, representatives of different embassies, the Speaker of the Saeima Inara Murniece, the MPs and other state officials. International symposium “Memory of the Holocaust inLatvia” was held in the House of the Jewish Community. Participants of the symposium discussed the history of the Holocaust inLatvia as well as Roma genocide.

The National Union (NU) proposes the draft amendments to the Education Law stipulating that children with temporary residence permit and refugee status should study in Latvian schools in Latvian language. According to the leader of NU Raivis Dzintars, the aim of the proposal is to ensure that new immigrants study in Latvian language as it is not possible to solve the problem with divided education system yet. The governing coalition partners – the Unity and the Union of Greens and Farmers do not support such idea, except separate party members. As reported, in the past, the NU proposed to transfer education in all national minority schools into Latvian language only. However, such proposal also did not gain support of the coalition partners.

According to a survey conducted by the research centre SKDS, the Presidents Andris Berzins is the most popular high state official comparing to the Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma and the Speaker of the Saeima Inara Murniece. The President is positively evaluated by 48,5%, the Prime Minister by 38,9%, but the Saeima’s Speaker by 27,4% of residents. According to the director of the SKDS Arnis Kaktins, the President Berzins was able to stand over the ethnic divide of the society. Therefore, he is positively evaluated by Latvian and Russian speakers. Mrs Murniece and Mrs Straujuma, in their turn, have less support among Russian language families. Diena

Neatkariga reports that young people inLatvia are invited to attendRussia’s educative military-sports camp “Union 2015. Successors of the Victory” again. Last year, the Security Police drew attention on participation of youth inRussia’s military camps and warned that the content and ideology of such camps might contradict Latvian national security interests. According to the newspaper, despite that agenda of the camp “Union” emphasizes friendship of nations, youth education and healthy life style, the organizers integrated historical, political, ideological and military issues in the camp’s content with an aim to preserve ties between the former USSR republics.