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.

• Situation of the Latvian language
• Record number of naturalised people in Latvia
• Critical comments on the statements by the Integration Minister

The official newspaper

The official newspaper Latvijas Vestnesis prints a comprehensive article about the situation concerning the Latvian language by Dr.philol. Dzintra Hirsha, former head of the State Language Centre. Dzintra Hisrsha argues despite the adopted legal norms the situation concerning use of Latvian is not stable and status of the state language is not secure. She states that after 14 years of independence the importance of the Russian language in Latvia is still very high. She believes that Russian politicians and media misinforms their audiences about the language policy in Latvia, thus escalating confrontation between Latvians and Russians.

Diena reports on the huge number of naturalised persons. Within first nine months of 2005, 16,4000 people have acquired Latvian citizenship through naturalisation – the record high number since naturalisation was launched. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

Chas prints critical comments on the statements made by the Integration Minister Ainars Latkovskis in his recent interview with Vesti Segodnya (6 October).