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.

• Study about the portrait of the third country nationals residing in Latvia
• Latvijas Avize reports about the 8^th conference of Russia’s compatriots held in Riga

Newspapers report on a study about the portrait of the third country nationals residing in Latviaconducted by Society Integration Foundation and presented yesterday. According to the study, a “typical” immigrant to Latviais a women (68,6% of the immigrants), university graduate (77,1%), citizen of Russia(45,7%), native Russian speaker (65,6%), resident of Riga(66,5%). The largest groups of third country nationals are the citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia and Uzbekistan. The main reasons of migration to Latviainclude: family reunification (51,6%), purchase of real estate (22,2%), studies (12,1%) and work (7,8%). Most of third country nationals came to Latviabecause they were dissatisfied with their countries of origin (such as dissatisfaction with political situation in Russia) and they are positive about Latvia. However, 58,5% of immigrants are unemployed and the main obstacle to employment is insufficient Latvian language proficiency. According to one of the authors of the study Brigita Zepa, one of the reasons why it is hard for immigrants (mostly Russian speakers) to learn Latvian language is the fact that local Latvian residents speak to them in Russian instead of Latvian, even if initially immigrants are trying to speak in Latvian. Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports about the 8^th conference of Russia’s compatriots held in Riga. The conference was mainly devoted to the 70^th anniversary of end of the WWII and it gathered about 300 participants. According to the newspaper, theRussia’s Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov and other speakers stressed the pressure onRussia and Russian people by theU.S.A. and the EU. Regarding situation inLatvia, the participants blamed the mass media for Russophobia and alleged the security services are conducting repressions against pro-Russian activists.  Activist of the movement ofRussia’s compatriots Viktors Guscins in his speech stated that a thesis aboutLatvia’s occupation and Latvian state continuity is false arguing that, for instance,Latvia did not have a government in exile during theUSSR era. At the same time, he stressed that Russian speaking residents ofLatvia will not turn againstLatvia’s independence.