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.

Integration and Minority Information Service

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Many soldiers do not have sufficient Latvian language skills
• Interview with Latvian language teacher who teaches adults

According to the data provided by sociologist of the National Programme for Latvian Language Training Sintija Smite 25-30% of draftees do not have sufficient Latvian language skills to serve in the Latvian army. Even after language courses the majority of them understand orders only after the third time. 40% of soldiers in the Latvian army are ethnic Russians.

According to the data provided by sociologist of the National Programme for Latvian Language Training Sintija Smite 25-30% of draftees do not have sufficient Latvian language skills to serve in the Latvian army. Even after language courses the majority of them understand orders only after the third time. 40% of soldiers in the Latvian army are ethnic Russians. Diena

Vechernaya Riga

talks to Latvian language teacher of adults Gita Umanovskaya. She states that in the late 80-ies people studied Latvian because they really wanted to learn the language and were ready to pay for the courses themselves, while the period after the adoption of the State Language Law, when people came to study the state language not because they wanted to, but our of fear, was the most unpleasant in her carrier. Gita Umanovskaya believes that it was necessary to adopt the State Language Law as now Latvians themselves speak more correct Latvian and there are many non-Latvians who learned the state language. talks to Latvian language teacher of adults Gita Umanovskaya. She states that in the late 80-ies people studied Latvian because they really wanted to learn the language and were ready to pay for the courses themselves, while the period after the adoption of the State Language Law, when people came to study the state language not because they wanted to, but our of fear, was the most unpleasant in her carrier. Gita Umanovskaya believes that it was necessary to adopt the State Language Law as now Latvians themselves speak more correct Latvian and there are many non-Latvians who learned the state language.