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.

• Vesti Segodnya reports about Vladimirs Buzajevs’ research “Legal Situation of Russian Speaking Minority in Latvia”
• MP Valerijs Agesins repeatedly received threatening e-mail from extremist organisation “Tautas Tribunals”
• Latgalian activist highlights the problems and advocates autonomy for Latgale

Vesti Segodnya reports about a research “Legal Situation of Russian Speaking Minority in Latvia” conducted by the ex-MP Vladimirs Buzajevs. According Mr Buzajevs, the research proves that the situation of Russian speakers during the past 22 years has substantially worsened.  Mr Buzajevs analysed data concerning demography, language, education, culture, citizenship and social-economical area. Thus, Mr Buzajevs believes there is a policy of "squeezing out" the representatives of national minorities, because the total population losses among national minorities are five times bigger than the population losses among ethnic Latvians. According to Mr Buzajevs, ethnic minorities comparing with ethnic Latvian more often face unemployment (especially long-term) and have lower salaries (on average 8%). Also, according to Mr Buzajevs, legal discrimination reduced the pensions of 1/3 of ethnic minority pensioners, resulting in the total loss of 140 mln Lats (200 mln Euros).

The MP Valerijs Agesins repeatedly received an insulting and threatening e-mail from the extremist organisation “Tautas Tribunals” (People’s Tribunal – in English). Like the previous e-mail this one also contains Russophobic epithets and threats to life addressed personally to Mr Agesins. As reported, couple of weeks ago all the MPs received e-mail from “Tautas Tribunals” with insulting statements to a number of politicians, many Russophobic and anti-Semitic epithets and, in particularly, abusive to Mr Agesins. In both cases, the MP turned to the Security Police asking to initiate a criminal proceeding on incitement to ethnic hatred and threats to life of a state official. Vesti Segodnya

In an interview with Vesti-Segodnya, Latgalian activist highlighted some problems facing Latgale (region in eastern Latvia) – unemployment, disruption of economic ties across the border, depopulation, unfair distribution of investment, denial of Latgalian language in schools and administration. He advocates for autonomy of the region.