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.

• Diena discusses possible political choices of recently naturalised citizens in the forthcoming municipal elections
• Interview with the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete
• Minority students discuss the implementation of the education reform
• State Security Police examine the Independent Transport Labour Union of Latvia and the Latvian Labour Union of Nurses
• Celebrations of the Tatjana Day, the holiday of the Russian culture and education, took place in Latvia last weekend

The daily

The daily Diena discusses possible political choices of the recently naturalised citizens in the forthcoming municipal elections. The daily talks to a number of experts and majority of them argue that it is impossible to give any accurate forecasts in the issue. Ethnologist Ilmars Mezs refers to the results of the European Parliament elections and concludes that a big part of naturalised citizens support Russian parties. The sociologist Aigars Freimanis states that also according to opinion polls non-Latvians mainly support Russian parties. The Director of the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences, Professor Brigita Zepa argues that the implementation of the education reform will bring more votes for Russian parties, especially in Riga. Since last municipal elections in 2001, more than 40,000 persons have naturalised in Latvia. Diena

Telegraf prints an interview with the Minister of Education and Science Ina Druviete about the implementation of the minority education reform. Ina Druviete argues that the implementation of the reform is successful, because in her meeting with students and teachers nobody has stated that there are any obstacles to the implementation of the minority education reform. The Minister also notes that control over minority schools has not been intensified due to the implementation of the reform.

Yesterday about 330 minority students participated in the meeting of minority students. During the meeting the implementation of the education reform was discussed. Student Boris Fedorenko stated that the implementation of the education reform divided Latvia’s society into Russians and Latvians. Students of the University of Latvia Kira Savcenko and Anja Iskenderova argued that the goal of the reform was to decrease the level of minority students’ competitiveness, so they would be denied the access to higher education. Jurij Zaicev, student from Daugavpils, noted that there were two typical scenarios: 1) several minority school directors implement the reform and teachers, despite their bad Latvian language knowledge, teach their subjects in not-understandable language, while students study these subjects without any comprehension. The second scenario is that several directors pretend that the reform has been launched, but in practice all subjects are taught in minority language.

Yesterday about 330 minority students participated in the meeting of minority students. During the meeting the implementation of the education reform was discussed. Student Boris Fedorenko stated that the implementation of the education reform divided Latvias society into Russians and Latvians. Students of the University of Latvia Kira Savcenko and Anja Iskenderova argued that the goal of the reform was to decrease the level of minority students competitiveness, so they would be denied the access to higher education. Jurij Zaicev, student from Daugavpils, noted that there were two typical scenarios: 1) several minority school directors implement the reform and teachers, despite their bad Latvian language knowledge, teach their subjects in not-understandable language, while students study these subjects without any comprehension. The second scenario is that several directors pretend that the reform has been launched, but in practice all subjects are taught in minority language. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The State Security Police launched examination of the Latvian Independent Transport Union (LITU) and the Latvian Union of Nurses (LUN) as there have been accusations that these unions are led by people who are working against the interests of the state. The Head of the Latvian Independent Transport Union Olegs Pronins was called to the Security Police on the basis of application which accused the LITU in ‘organising illegal drivers’ strikes.’ Olegs Pronins says that he asked for an interpreter during his conversation with a police officer, however, the police officer did not listen to the Pronins’ request and continued interrogation in Latvian. He believes that the Security Police have crossed the borders of Police’s competence. While the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis points that there is a link between the Latvian Union of Nurses leader Aigars Lavrinovics and the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia that was involved in organising protest actions against the education reform. Therefore ‘this is not the strike of nurses. It is a political question.

The State Security Police launched examination of the Latvian Independent Transport Union (LITU) and the Latvian Union of Nurses (LUN) as there have been accusations that these unions are led by people who are working against the interests of the state. The Head of the Latvian Independent Transport Union Olegs Pronins was called to the Security Police on the basis of application which accused the LITU in ‘organising illegal drivers strikes. Olegs Pronins says that he asked for an interpreter during his conversation with a police officer, however, the police officer did not listen to the Pronins request and continued interrogation in Latvian. He believes that the Security Police have crossed the borders of Polices competence. While the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis points that there is a link between the Latvian Union of Nurses leader Aigars Lavrinovics and the union For Human Rights in the United Latvia that was involved in organising protest actions against the education reform. Therefore ‘this is not the strike of nurses. It is a political question. Rigas Balss

Russian language newspapers reports on celebrations of the Tatjana Day, the holiday of Russian culture and education, in Latvia.

Russian language newspapers reports on celebrations of the Tatjana Day, the holiday of Russian culture and education, in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf