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.

• Society Integration Foundation Society Solidarity award
• Meeting of the head of the Naturalization Board with MPs
• Increased rates of naturalization applications
• Conference about the integration of minority youth
• Proposal on voting rights for non-citizens at the elections for the European Parliament rejected
• Upcoming establishment of a Russian schools teachers society
• New leader of Peoples Harmony Partys parliamentary faction
• Interview with representative of the emerging party For a Two-Community Latvia
• The number of migrants from Latvia to Russia is decreasing

This year’s Society Integration Foundation Society Solidarity Award was awarded to to the Jelgava Sport and rehabilitation club for disabled persons “Ceriba” (“Hope”) and to the ex-adviser to the President on nationality issues Olgerts Tipans.  The award was established last year as a recognition of significant contribution in the area of social and ethnic integration. 

This years Society Integration Foundation Society Solidarity Award was awarded to to the Jelgava Sport and rehabilitation club for disabled persons Ceriba (Hope) and to the ex-adviser to the President on nationality issues Olgerts Tipans. The award was established last year as a recognition of significant contribution in the area of social and ethnic integration. Diena, Chas

Telegraf writes about the meeting yesterday of Eizenija Aldermane, the head of Naturalization Board, with members of parliament. Eizenija Aldermane reported that Latvian language proficiency among minority children is improving, but their attitude to the state is standoffish. The head of Naturalization Board believes that the main causes of this phenomenon are the large share of non-citizens among the Russian language school teachers and the lack of patriotic education.

In October and November this year the Naturalization Board has received approximately twice as many naturalization applications as during the same period last year. In October there were 1371 applications, but in November about 1300.

In October and November this year the Naturalization Board has received approximately twice as many naturalization applications as during the same period last year. In October there were 1371 applications, but in November about 1300. Latvijas Avize

A conference about the integration of minority youth was organized yesterday by the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. The Head of Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane stated at the conference that young people know the Latvian language but do not feel a sense of belonging to the state. The survey of the Baltic Social Sciences Institute shows that young people of minorities are estranged from the state, but not apolitical, i.e., they increasingly establish the new NGOs in order to protest against the education reform. The Special Task Minister fore Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks pointed to the polls, displaying that 47% Russian speaking young people has measured their Latvian language proficiency as  “below average,” but 4% declared that they do not know Latvian at all. The minister concluded that this shows that the education reform is necessary. 

A conference about the integration of minority youth was organized yesterday by the Secretariat of the Special Task Minister for Societal Integration. The Head of Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane stated at the conference that young people know the Latvian language but do not feel a sense of belonging to the state. The survey of the Baltic Social Sciences Institute shows that young people of minorities are estranged from the state, but not apolitical, i.e., they increasingly establish the new NGOs in order to protest against the education reform. The Special Task Minister fore Societal Integration Nils Muiznieks pointed to the polls, displaying that 47% Russian speaking young people has measured their Latvian language proficiency as below average, but 4% declared that they do not know Latvian at all. The minister concluded that this shows that the education reform is necessary. Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee rejected the proposals of MP Vladimir Buzajev (For Human Rights in a United Latvia) to grant voting rights for non-citizens of Latvia at the European Parliament elections and to deny the right to vote for those citizens of the European Union, who do not have such a right in their country of origin.

Yesterday the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee rejected the proposals of MP Vladimir Buzajev (For Human Rights in a United Latvia) to grant voting rights for non-citizens of Latvia at the European Parliament elections and to deny the right to vote for those citizens of the European Union, who do not have such a right in their country of origin. Latvijas Avize

A Russian school teachers’ society is in the process of being established. The main tasks of the new organization will be improvement of the education process and monitoring of the education reform in the Russian-language schools as well as the elaboration of proposals on these issues.

A Russian school teachers society is in the process of being established. The main tasks of the new organization will be improvement of the education process and monitoring of the education reform in the Russian-language schools as well as the elaboration of proposals on these issues. Chas features an interview with a one of the founders of the organization -- head master of private secondary school Maxima Olga Isakova. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Janis Urbanovics has become the new leader of the People’s Harmony Party’s parliamentary faction after the resignation of previous leader Janis Jurkans.

Janis Urbanovics has become the new leader of the Peoples Harmony Partys parliamentary faction after the resignation of previous leader Janis Jurkans. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with Jakov Briskin, representative of emerging party For a Two-Community Latvia (Par divkopienu Latviju). Jakov Briskin believes that in reality there are two communities in Latvia and that the dominating political regimes notion of integration subsumes assimilation. Briskin believes that its necessary to acknowledge the existence of two communities in Latvia on the international level, thus obtaining support in the struggle for equality.

The decreasing number of Latvian residents have been migrating to Russia over the last years. According to the head of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Department’s Repatriation Division Juris Dombrovskis, during the last 11 months 675 residents have migrated to Russia. Approximately 1,000 people left Latvia for Russia the year before.

The decreasing number of Latvian residents have been migrating to Russia over the last years. According to the head of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Departments Repatriation Division Juris Dombrovskis, during the last 11 months 675 residents have migrated to Russia. Approximately 1,000 people left Latvia for Russia the year before. Telegraf