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 interviews head of the Latvian Roma Community Normunds Rudevics about plans to open a Roma village in Latvia
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with a political scientist Juris Rozenvalds
• Vesti Segodnya reports about a conference of Russian compatriots “Russian World in Latvia and Challenges of XXI Century”
• Political scientists Edvins Snore: the biggest Latvia’s problem is too big proportion of Russian speaking residents
• Author of a book “Russification” Antons Rancans: Russians have robbers’ gene in mentality and mostly, they were created not for work, but for robbery
• The most popular parties in August: the Concord, the Unity and the Union of Greens and Farmers

Vesti Segodnya interviews the head of the Latvian Roma Community Normunds Rudevics who plans to open a Roma village in Latvia. Mr Rudevics plans to receive funding from the European Union grants in amount of 35-40 millions euros for establishment of a village where Roma people would live and work. In such a village residents would follow ancient Roma traditions and laws. Mr Rudevics says that Latvian municipalities would also help in establishing such village by providing land and ensuring infrastructure.  He also says that such village will be open not only for ethnic Roma but for all people who are ready to live in accordance with Roma traditions.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with a political scientist Juris Rozenvalds. According to Mr Rozenvalds, events in Ukraine actualize ethnic issues in Latvia, but the root of the problem is in Latvian society. Mr Rozenvalds believes that the problem of ethnic relations in Latvia should be solved by finding rational solution or through centrist political force. He believes that a relation between Russians and Latvians is a matter of further economic development and competitiveness of the state. Pushing political representatives of Russian speaking voters into eternal opposition decreases political competition and, as an outcome, some political parties feel irreplaceable increasing tensions in the government and decreasing its ability to implement sustainable policy, says Mr Rozenvalds. He also says that recent public opinion survey shows that the majority of Latvian and Russian speaking residents are minded to look for compromise. But, the political elite uses more radical moods.  

Vesti Segodnya reports about a conference of Russian compatriots “Russian World in Latvia and Challenges of XXI Century” held in Riga. The conference was opened by the Russia’s Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov telling about situation in Ukraine and Russophobic mood towards Russia. The MEP from Latvia Tatjana Zdanoka stressed discrimination of Russian residents in Latvia. Head of Latvia Anti-fascist Committee Josefs Korens came with a speech about development of Nazism in Latvian internal policy.

Political scientist and a candidate for the Parliament’s elections from the nationalists’ union list Edvins Snore in an interview with a weekly magazine “Sestdiena” stated that the biggest Latvia’s problem is too big proportion of Russian speaking residents. E.Snore said that Latvian state should promote repatriation of Russian speakers, otherwise Russia can use that in arranging same events as in Ukraine. 

Neatkariga interviews author of a new book “Russification” (“Krievošana” – in Latvian) Antons Rancans. Accoridng to him, the book shows that there is robbers’ gene in mentality of Russians and the rest of it is “idle talk.” A. Rancans believes that past events show that Russians were robbing and now they continue to do it and says that mostly, “they are were created not for work but for robbery.” He also blames Russians in Russification of residents of Latgale region. Neatkariga (22.08), Vesti Segodnya

According to the latest public opinion survey conducted by “Latvijas fakti”, the most popular party in Latvia is the Concord – 21,1% of residents would vote for it at the upcoming Saeima’s elections (in July its was supported by 18,1%.) The Unity is supported by 17,3% (16,4% in July), the Union of Greens and Farmers us supported by 8,2% (9,9% in July), and the nationalists’ union All for Latvia/FF-LNIM by 5,8% (6,1% in July.) Other parties are supported by less than 5% of residents. Latvijas Avize