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.

• Russias State Dumas deputies from the Committee of CIS Affairs and Relations asks to cancel visa requirements for Latvian and Estonian non-citizens
• State language inspectors punished two teachers from Russian language schools for insufficient Latvian language proficiency
• Lawyer Andris Grutups: Latvia is the state of ethnic Latvians and integration policy should be replaced with Latvianisation policy

Russia’s State Duma’s deputies from the Committee on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots have asked the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs to come with an initiative to the President of Russia proposing to cancel visa requirements for Latvian and Estonian non-citizens. The deputies believe that visa requirements could be cancelled at least for summer time.

Russias State Dumas deputies from the Committee on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots have asked the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs to come with an initiative to the President of Russia proposing to cancel visa requirements for Latvian and Estonian non-citizens. The deputies believe that visa requirements could be cancelled at least for summer time. Vesti Segodnya

State language inspectors have punished a Mathematics teacher and an English language teacher from Russian language schools for insufficient Latvian language proficiency. According to rules of the Cabinet of Ministers all teachers should have highest state language proficiency category.

State language inspectors have punished a Mathematics teacher and an English language teacher from Russian language schools for insufficient Latvian language proficiency. According to rules of the Cabinet of Ministers all teachers should have highest state language proficiency category.

In an interview to

In an interview to Latvijas Avize, well-known Latvian lawyer Andris Grutups has stated that Latvia is the state of ethnic Latvians and integration policy should be replaced with Latvianisation policy. According to Mr. Grutups, the majority of ethnic Russians are against Latvia, many of whom have united into a fifth column. In his view, celebrating in Paris, London or Moscow the Victory in Europe Day is understandable, however, those celebrating this day in Riga are in fact celebrating the day of occupation of Latvia. He alleges that Russian-language newspapers in Latvia are calling for a fight against an illegal entity called Latvia. Andris Grutups also believes that individuals, whose parents or grandparents worked in KGB or came to Latvia with weapons, should not have a place in the state administration. In the meantime, well qualified ethnic Russians could occupy leading positions only if they are 10% more patriotic than ethnic Latvians themselves.