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.

• State Language Centre received numerous aggressive complaints and letters from residents
• Latvijas Avize interviews media experts on whether there is a necessity to establish a state funded Russian language TV channel in Latvia

According to a representative of the State Language Centre (SLC), after its call to speak at work places in Latvian language only, the Centre has received numerous aggressive complaints and letters from residents. Some of the complainants said that after such call they will speak principally in Russian only. Representative of the SLC believes that the major role in creation of such negative reaction had Russian language mass media who distorted the information reporting that the SLC called to speak Latvian only also in private communication. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize interviews media experts on whether there is a necessity to establish a state funded Russian language TV channel in Latvia. Lecturer of the Communication Studies Department of the University of Latvia and former head of the Latvian Television (LTV) Rolands Tjarve does not support a proposal to establish a new Russian language channel. He argues that such channel would harm Latvian language environment and would not stimulate Russian speakers to learn Latvian. He also believes that Russian language channel will not be able to compete withRussia’s channels becauseLatvia cannot afford to invest appropriate funding for production of competitive TV content. Therefore, Mr Tjarve proposes to develop the existing Russian language programmes at LTV7 and to invest in the production of original programmes in Latvian language and improve their quality. Political scientist Ilga Kreituse also criticizes plans to establish Russian language TV channel as it contradicts the vision thatLatvia should become more ethnic Latvian and more people would learn Latvian language. She believes that it would be more effective to establish the EU-wide Russian language channel funded by the EU funds. The media expert Sergejs Kruks, in his turn, supports establishment of such channel inLatvia as it would help to engage Russian speaking residents in the public processes. Mr Kruks believes that so far the engagement was low and it is important that Russian speakers could speak about issues important to them personally instead of ethnic Latvians speaking for them.