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.

• Saeima repeatedly did not include into the plenary session’s agenda the proposal on transition of all municipal kindergartens into Latvian language only
• “Pasazieru vilciens” asked the Ministry of Justice to initiate a discussion about usage of information in foreign languages in the area of passengers transportation
• Court cancelled the decision of the Jurmala City Council whichbanned setting polling stations for the elections to the Parliament of Unrepresented in the city

Yesterday, the majority of the Saeima repeatedly refused to include on agenda of the plenary session a proposal of the nationalist’s union to transfer education in all municipal kindergartens into Latvian language only. 41 MPs (mostly from the Unity and the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM) supported the proposal and 43 MPs (mostly the Concord Centre and the Reforms Party) voted against it. Vesti Segodnya notes that before the beginning of the plenary, young activists of the nationalists’ union handed out leaflets saying voting for this draft law shows whether you support Latvian language as the only state language in Latvia and that situation when part of Latvian children study in alien language weakens the state language and creates serious threat. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

The railway passengers transportation company “Pasazieru vilciens” asked the Ministry of Justice to initiate a discussion about usage of information in foreign languages in the area of passengers transportation.  Such action was caused by the fact that the State Language Centre (SLC) did not allow the company to write translated words in English on the displays at the regional train stations of the popular tourist destinations. The transportation company wanted to translate such words as “departure”, “route”, “platform”, “number”, “arrival” and write those with small letters in English under Latvian titles. Head of control department of the SLC Antons Kursitis stated that such actions are forbidden by the legal acts and exceptions may cause requests for other changes in rules about language usage in provision of information and, thus, endanger the state language. Mr Kursitis also believes that usage of English is a cover for more frequent introduction of usage of Russian language. Neatkariga

The court cancelled the decision of the Jurmala City Council forbidding setting 6 of 7 polling stations for the elections to the Parliament of Unrepresented in Jurmala. Thus all the polling stations will be located where it was initially planned.  As reported, the City Council explained its decision by the fact that the polling stations of the Congress are situated close to the polling stations for the municipal elections and there is a possibility that the organisers of the elections to the Parliament of Unrepresented will agitate and disrupt the order by other means. Vesti Segodnya