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.

• Governing coalition calls citizens to take part in the expected referendum and to vote against granting Russian language status of state language in Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya: Russian speaking residents not proficient in state language have almost no chance to find a job
• Head of the Saeimas Society Consolidation Committee Ilmars Latkovskis: it is important to find common values for ethnic Latvian and ethnic Russian residents
• Neatkariga: initiative to grant Russian language status of state language in Latvia got supported also by some ethnic Latvians residing abroad and married to Russian speaking spouses

The governing coalition’s parties – the Unity, the Zatler’s Reforms Party, and the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM – calls Latvian citizens to vote against granting status of state language to Russian language at the expected national referendum. The coalition believes that Latvian language is the foundation of independent Latvia.

The governing coalitions parties – the Unity, the Zatlers Reforms Party, and the nationalists union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM – calls Latvian citizens to vote against granting status of state language to Russian language at the expected national referendum. The coalition believes that Latvian language is the foundation of independent Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

According to

According to Vesti Segodnya, Russian speaking residents who have insufficient state language proficiency have almost no chance to find a job in the circumstances of large unemployment in Latvia. Newspaper notes that even low-skilled vacancies require for particular level of state language proficiency. Author of the article believes that such requirements hinder economic development of the country and promotes emigration of economically active residents.

According to the head of the Saeima’s Society Consolidation Committee (ex-Committee on Citizenship Law Implementation Committee) Ilmars Latkovskis, it is important to find common values for ethnic Latvian and ethnic Russian residents in order to promote consolidation of the society.  Ilmars Latkovskis believes that very important issue is to establish the dialogue among ethnic Latvian majority and ethnic minorities and the Committee will try to achieve it.

According to the head of the Saeimas Society Consolidation Committee (ex-Committee on Citizenship Law Implementation Committee) Ilmars Latkovskis, it is important to find common values for ethnic Latvian and ethnic Russian residents in order to promote consolidation of the society. Ilmars Latkovskis believes that very important issue is to establish the dialogue among ethnic Latvian majority and ethnic minorities and the Committee will try to achieve it. Diena, Latvijas Avize

Neatkariga reports that the initiative to grant Russian language status of state language in Latvia got supported also by some ethnic Latvians residing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. One of the ethnic Latvians who supported the initiative explains his action by the fact that he is married to Ukrainian woman and is planning to move with the family back to Latvia. And for his wife it would be much easier if Russian language is acknowledged as state language.