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.

• Chas features an interview with the Russian Ambassador to Latvia
• FHRULs Education and Culture Council held conference on the results of the implementation of the minority education reform
• LASHOR: government has stopped the dialogue with NGOs on issues concerning minority education
• National minority school cheated with a number of enrolled students to receive state funding

The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Victor Kalyuzhniy in an interview with

The Russian Ambassador to Latvia Victor Kalyuzhniy in an interview with Chas stated that intergovernmental relations between the two countries are affected by expressions of Russophobia: Latvia blames Russians and Russia for all its tragedies… and it leads to division of society along ethnic lines. It is inadmissible to call Russians occupants… because not only Latvians, but also Russians, Ukrainians, Belorussians, who decided to stay in Latvia after its liberation from Fascists and to help to restore this country, lived in this country for over than 50 years. Latvia has become their homeland and for those who were born here it is a motherland. Victor Kalyuzhniy reproached the Ministry of Justice for its decision to register the national radical party All for Latvia! Chas

On Monday, teachers from numerous Russian-language schools took part in a conference held by the FHRUL’s Education and Culture Council. The main focus of the conference was process and results of the minority education reform. The MP Jakovs Pliners (FHRUL) stated that the implementation of the minority education reform has resulted in deterioration of knowledge of subjects taught bilingually or in Latvian. He also argued that the level of distrust towards the state has grown among young people of Russian origin which has strengthened the tendency to leave the country. He concluded that the implementation of the minority education reform poses threat of marginalisation. Another participant argued, “The only positive aspect of the reform is improvement of Latvian language proficiency… However, academic achievement level in other subjects is falling.”

On Monday, teachers from numerous Russian-language schools took part in a conference held by the FHRULs Education and Culture Council. The main focus of the conference was process and results of the minority education reform. The MP Jakovs Pliners (FHRUL) stated that the implementation of the minority education reform has resulted in deterioration of knowledge of subjects taught bilingually or in Latvian. He also argued that the level of distrust towards the state has grown among young people of Russian origin which has strengthened the tendency to leave the country. He concluded that the implementation of the minority education reform poses threat of marginalisation. Another participant argued, The only positive aspect of the reform is improvement of Latvian language proficiency… However, academic achievement level in other subjects is falling. Chas

The Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR in it Russian acronym) issued a memorandum stating that the government has stopped the dialogue with NGOs on minority education issues.

The Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools (LASHOR in it Russian acronym) issued a memorandum stating that the government has stopped the dialogue with NGOs on minority education issues. Vesti Segodnya

A representative of the Department of Education, Youth and Sports Affairs of the Riga City Council stated that the department discovered that a principle of a national minority school in Riga provided a higher number of pupils enrolled in the first grade in order to receive special state funding for salaries of teachers who teach first graders. The Department does not reveal the name of the school till it takes the decision on penalty. It is known that it is a school which provides studies in Russian and has experienced difficulties to collect the required number of first graders for a long time.

A representative of the Department of Education, Youth and Sports Affairs of the Riga City Council stated that the department discovered that a principle of a national minority school in Riga provided a higher number of pupils enrolled in the first grade in order to receive special state funding for salaries of teachers who teach first graders. The Department does not reveal the name of the school till it takes the decision on penalty. It is known that it is a school which provides studies in Russian and has experienced difficulties to collect the required number of first graders for a long time. Telegraf, Diena