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.

• Coalition of minority organisations loyal to the state is planning to apply for state funding managed by five intermediaries
• Representative of the State Language Centre drafts amendments to the Administrative Violations Code to fine municipalities for provision of information in other languages
• The Office for Citizenship and Migration Affairs presented the results of a survey of the reasons why the non-citizens are not applying for naturalisation

 

The Ministry of Culture selected five "intermediaries" who will manage 140,000 EUR allocated by the state to support non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Funding available for single project ranges from 1,500 to 3,000 EUR in different regions. 7,000 EUR in every region (35,000 EUR in total) will be available to minority NGOs for identity and cultural heritage preservation, support of folk culture groups, intercultural dialogue etc. The "Coalition of minority NGOs for political participation", which united 11 minority organisations loyal to the state, is planning to apply for the funding. The representative of the Center for Education Initiatives highlights that the Coalition is different from other minority NGOs, which for political purposes make noise about minority rights. Latvija Avize

 The Chair of the Language Control Department of the State Language Centre Antons Kursitis drafts amendments to the Administrative Violations Code in order to envision fines for those representatives of municipalities, who provide information also in foreign languages. Some municipalities with large share of Russian-speaking minority citizens distribute municipal newsletters in two languages – Latvian and Russian. Mr. Kursitis highlights that these amendments would stop provision of information in Russian and emphasises that the more concessions you make to an aggressive minority, the more aggressive it becomes. Latvija Avize

 The Office for Citizenship and Migration Affairs presented the results of a survey of the reasons why the non-citizens of Latvia are not applying for naturalisation. According to the survey, 22% believe they would not be able to pass the exams, 19% believe they deserve citizenship automatically (by registration), 17% are awaiting for the naturalisation exams to be eased, 14% are satisfied with the status of non-citizen, 13% mention the right to visa-free travel to Russia. As of January 2014, there were 282,876 persons in Latvia with the status of non-citizen. The biggest group of the noncitizens are 71 years old or older (23%). Vesti Segodnya