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.

• Newspapers continue to discuss proposals to suspend the naturalisation process and to ‘audit those who already naturalised
• Executive Director of the Riga City Council refuses to authorise a protest action planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools
• Telegraf reproaches the Ministry of Education and Science for attempts to stifle the dialogue with minorities representatives
• Diena discusses implementation of the minority education reform in Jekabpils Secondary School Nr.2

Newspapers continue to discuss proposals to suspend the naturalisation process and to ‘audit’ already naturalised persons.

Newspapers continue to discuss proposals to suspend the naturalisation process and to ‘audit already naturalised persons. Latvijas Avize prints an opinion of the MP Karlis Sadurskis (New Era), who allows for changes in the naturalisation procedure in case political agreement is attained. The MP believes that the fact that naturalisation applicants is allowed to retake particular parts of naturalisation exams indicates a problem within the process itself. Sadurskis also believes that a definite period of time should be established, during which a person can be deprived of the right to Latvian citizenship if she/he demonstrates disloyalty to the state or incites the national hatred, and if these facts are legally established. The chairman of the Peoples Party Atis Slakteris states that his party has not discussed the issue of naturalisation yet, and therefore proposals recently made by Aleksandrs Kirsteins were his private initiative. Slakteris adds that the naturalisation procedure could be changed only in case violations of law during the process were established. Latvijas Avize, Telegraf

The Executive Director of the Riga City Council Eriks Skapars refused to authorise a protest action, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools on 4 May, the anniversary day of the Proclamation of Latvia’s Independence. The Headquarters planned to protest against the non-ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the National Minorities. According to the Russian-language newspaper

The Executive Director of the Riga City Council Eriks Skapars refused to authorise a protest action, planned by the Headquarters for the Defence of Russian-language Schools on 4 May, the anniversary day of the Proclamation of Latvias Independence. The Headquarters planned to protest against the non-ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the National Minorities. According to the Russian-language newspaper Vesti Segodnya, the protest action will take place despite the Skapars refusal to authorise it. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Telegraf reproaches the Ministry of Education and Science for the attempts to stifle the dialogue with minorities representatives on minority education issues. The newspaper points to the several working groups on different minority education issues, which exist only formally. The goal of one of these working groups was to develop a draft Law on Minority Schools.

Diena discusses implementation of the minority education reform in Jekabpils Secondary School Nr.2. According to the newspaper, a teacher of mathematics and a teacher of physics have different opinions on the reforms impact on quality of education. The teacher of mathematics states that quality of education is deteriorating, as an average mark of the students in mathematics has decreased, while the teacher of physics is convinced that there is no difference between learning in Russian or in Latvian languages. Director of the school, Aleksandrs Deinis, after comparing average marks of students of the grade 10 for the last three years, made a conclusion that implementation of the education reform has not influenced students attainment, and that explanation of the marks decrease in the maths class should be looked for elsewhere. The director also points out that implementation of the minority education reform is not supported by approximately one half of the parents and one third of the students.