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.

• Telegraf writes about the situation of asylum-seekers in Latvia
• The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs will participate in the referendum in order to demonstrate problems of ethnic policies in Latvia
• Chas draws comparisons between the current policies and 1932-1933

During 1998-2011, 702 persons asked for asylum in Latvia, including 335 in 2011. Currently, 39 persons have refugee status and 67 persons have alternative status in Latvia. According to the Latvian Centre for Human Rights, the number of unaccompanied minors among forced migrants is also growing. NGO Safe House tries to assist refugees in resolving social issues, such as access to healthcare, housing and employment. The refugees and asylum-seekers do not understand how the healthcare system works in Latvia and there are instances when the healthcare workers are cheating – demanding money for medical services and operations which are paid for by the state, asking to sign documents in Latvian without providing translation. After the state support is over, refugees have to find employment to support themselves. There is no coherent integration programme, opportunities to learn Latvian are few, and lack of language proficiency limits access to employment. The Safe House and Employers' Confederation unsuccessfully tried to soften language requirements in employment. The Safe House is also contacting employers to find employment for refugees. Telegraf

The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs (Concord Centre) declared that he will participate in the referendum on 18 February and vote in favour of constitutional amendments granting Russian the status of the second official language. Mr.Usakovs claims that this vote is the only tool available for many people who want to demonstrate to the authorities their discontent with the current ethnic policies in Latvia. He believes the referendum will not endanger the status of Latvian language and declared that he does not support Russian as the second state language. Mr.Usakovs believes Russian should not be treated as a foreign language and should be officially recognised as national minority language. Chas, Vesti-Segodnya

Chas draws comparisons between the current policies and 1932-1933. In 1932 the Minister of Education drew plans to liquidate Russian and German teachers institutes and minority secondary schools (gymnasiums) and on 3 February 1933 the Minister proposed to the Saeima a draft law on liquidation of minority gymnasiums, arguing that this would save state funds and bring Latvian and minority students closer to each other. The bill was rejected by the majority in the Saeima (25 MPs voted in favour, 66 against) and the government subsequently resigned. Chas notes that these proposals were actively opposed by minority organisations, press and MPs (Russian, German, Polish, Jewish). Chas also notes that unlike now, Latvian social democrats were one of the two biggest political parties during the first independence, and the social democrats opposed liquidation of minority education.