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.

• Newspapers report about a visit of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors to Latvia
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs will use example of bilingual education in Latvia as a “positive propaganda”
• Latvijas Avize prints an article by philologist Dzintra Hirsa and publicist Ingrida Strode about language policy
• Historian Andrievs Ezergailis asserts that Herberts Cukurs is not guilty for mass murders of Jews but actually he saved some Jews from death

Newspapers report about a visit of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors to Latvia. After the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics, the High Commissioner stated her interest to observe the progress made in integration area in Latvia. Mrs Thor stressed that society integration should be promoted by positive methods, for instance language courses and appreciated that ethnic minority young people in Latvia can naturalise through simplified procedure. Yesterday, the High Commissioner met with representatives of different ministries, parliamentary members and the Ombudsman Juris Jansons. After the meeting, the Ombudsman stated that questions asked by the High Commissioner were based on rhetoric of the Congress of Non-citizens. The Ombudsman also said that if the OSCE sees violations and does not trust what the Ombudsman says and listens more to radical organisation, it should ensure monitoring mission for half a year in Latvia in order to evaluate situation of ethnic minorities and how their rights and interests are protected. Today, the High Commissioner visits ethnic minority schools and ethnic cultural NGOs in Daugavpils (city in the Eastern part of Latvia.) Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed an agreement with centre for public policy “Providus” about consultations regarding bilingual education models in Latvia, Estonia and Croatia. “Providus” will also evaluate compliance of the education models with the principles of ethnic minority protection and guidelines on diversity and integration of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. According to a representative of the Ministry, summary on ethnic minority education in different countries is necessary in order to present Latvian good practice comparing to other states and to use it as a “positive propaganda” rebutting incorrect information about Latvia.

Latvijas Avize prints an article by philologist Dzintra Hirsa and publicist Ingrida Strode about language policy. Authors criticize the fact that starting from this school year, 1 grade students began to learn foreign language. Authors believe that such practice will not improve positions of the state language but will strengthen influence of foreign languages – Russian and English. They also believe that children in ethnic minority schools learn Latvian not as state language but as foreign language; therefore, some children have problem mastering subjects in Latvian language. According to the authors, language reform in minority schools transferring almost all education content into Latvian language had to be realised in 2004 instead of compromise with reform protestors about proportion 60/40. But the planned language reform in minority schools scheduled for 2018 should be implemented in 2016. Authors also believe that teachers which are not loyal towards Latvia should not work in schools.

Neatkariga prints an article by a historian Andrievs Ezergailis about Herberts Cukurs - member of the "Arajs Kommando", which was responsible for the mass murders in Latvia during the Nazi occupation and Latvian aviation pioneer during the 1930s. A.Ezergailis asserts that according to the historical sources he explored, Cukurs cannot be blamed for mass murders of Jews. He says that those Jews who survived in Nazi death camps and witnessed against Cukurs choose him as scapegoat imposing on him all sins of Latvians. A.Ezergailis also asserts that instead of killing Jews, Cukurs rescued some Jews from death even though people whom he allegedly rescued did not mentioned Cukurs as their savour in following testimonies.