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.

• Government adopted guidelines for state language policy 2015-2020
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with a journalist and initiator of the movement of European Russians in Latvia Igors Vatolins

• Vesti Segodnya reports about a discussion on the current mood of Russian residents in Latvia

Yesterday, the government has adopted guidelines for state language policy 2015-2020 elaborated by the Education and Science Ministry. According to the Education Minister Ina Druviete, despite that situation with positions of Latvian language has improved it is still difficult for Latvian language to compete with other languages. Therefore, Latvia should care about language’s protection. The guidelines include commitment to increase usage of Latvian language by ethnic non-Latvians in communication with state institutions. As a positive aspect, the guidelines mention the fact that number of persons receiving the state language proficiency certificate increased during past 15 years. Regarding the education system, guidelines say that competitiveness level of Latvian language proficiency can be ensured by the existing ethnic minority education system. At the same time, some aspects of the education system – for instance curriculum for bilingual education - should be improved. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with a journalist and initiator of the movement of European Russians in Latvia Igors Vatolins. Commenting results of the recent parliamentary elections, Mr Vatolins says that a big role which affected the choice of voters in the elections belongs to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and his policy as it has facilitated consolidation of ethnic Latvian electorate to vote for so-called “ethnic Latvian parties” - the Unity, the Greens and Farmers, and the National Union. Mr Vatolins also believes that ethnic Russian electorate became more passive and many ignored the elections. As one of the problems, he mentions that there is still a lack of political nation in Latvia and part of residents feel alienated. Mr Vatolins believes that a challenge for Latvia’s democracy is to overcome ethnic voting. He also says that Russian language in Latvia should be granted special status such as status of regional or ethnic minority language. Thus, the state would acknowledge that Russian language along with Latvian language represents the wealth of Latvia, and this could also benefit the country.

Vesti Segodnya reports about a discussion on the current mood of Russian residents in Latvia organised by Information business centre of Sankt-Petersburg in Riga. Participants of the discussion - Russian community activists, shared their opinion why the activity of Russian residents in Latvia is low and how to preserve identity of Russians in Latvia. Some participants agreed that one of the reasons of low activity is the formation of middle class of Russian speakers who are stable voters of the Concord Centre and who are almost impossible to engage in the public activities. The participants also discussed that today people are more concerned about their daily problems and that Russian NGOs are too fragmented.