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.

Integration and Minority Information Service

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

Director of TV channel TV 5 Gunta Lidaka provides in-depth information about the new political talk show “”The Russian Issue.” Representatives of all political parties are invited to take part in the show. At the beginning FF/LNNK refused to participate in the show, as they believe that FF/LNNK does not have any supporters among Russian TV viewers. However, finally one of the leaders of FF/LNNK, Juris Dobelis, agreed to participate in the show. The key goal of the show is to provide an overall picture of political forces in Latvia before the 8th Saeima elections. Gunta Lidaka believes that both the Latvian government and the Russian embassy to Latvia should in fact be interested in producing and financing of the show. The show is funded by Russian businessman Boriss Berezovskis’ foundation.

Director of TV channel TV 5 Gunta Lidaka provides in-depth information about the new political talk show The Russian Issue. Representatives of all political parties are invited to take part in the show. At the beginning FF/LNNK refused to participate in the show, as they believe that FF/LNNK does not have any supporters among Russian TV viewers. However, finally one of the leaders of FF/LNNK, Juris Dobelis, agreed to participate in the show. The key goal of the show is to provide an overall picture of political forces in Latvia before the 8th Saeima elections. Gunta Lidaka believes that both the Latvian government and the Russian embassy to Latvia should in fact be interested in producing and financing of the show. The show is funded by Russian businessman Boriss Berezovskis foundation. Chas

Vesti Segodnja

writes about a phone survey conducted by the television company TV5 during a TV discussion between two politicians –- FF/LNNK Juris Dobelis and FHRUL Boris Tsilevich – about whether the Russian language should be granted official status in Latvia. The newspaper stresses that the results were amazing [the show was in Latvian and the newspaper draws the conclusion that people who took part in the survey were Latvians]–- 44% of people said ‘yes to granting Russian the status of the state language. writes about a phone survey conducted by the television company TV5 during a TV discussion between two politicians –- FF/LNNK Juris Dobelis and FHRUL Boris Tsilevich – about whether the Russian language should be granted official status in Latvia. The newspaper stresses that “the results were amazing [the show was in Latvian and the newspaper draws the conclusion that people who took part in the survey were Latvians]–- 44% of people said ‘yes’ to granting Russian the status of the state language.”

Panorama Latvii

publishes a discussion of representatives of two political parties – Valdis Lauskis, Latvian Social Democrats, and Miroslav Mitrafanov, FHRUL. Miroslaf Mitrafanov criticises the social democrats for claiming to represent political stances and ideology of left wing parties, while their real stances differ substantially from this ideology, in particular, in the stance of social democrats regarding the implementation of the education reform in 2004: social democrats believe that integration is going well in the country and secondary minority education should not be funded from the state budget. Valdis Lauskis states that according to the information at his disposal, 90% of parents and teachers of Russian students surveyed believe that it is possible to implement the education reform in 2004. Miroslav Mitrafanov argues that according to his information only half of parents and teachers support the reform. publishes a discussion of representatives of two political parties – Valdis Lauskis, Latvian Social Democrats, and Miroslav Mitrafanov, FHRUL. Miroslaf Mitrafanov criticises the social democrats for claiming to represent political stances and ideology of left wing parties, while their real stances differ substantially from this ideology, in particular, in the stance of social democrats regarding the implementation of the education reform in 2004: social democrats believe that integration is going well in the country and secondary minority education should not be funded from the state budget. Valdis Lauskis states that according to the information at his disposal, 90% of parents and teachers of Russian students surveyed believe that it is possible to implement the education reform in 2004. Miroslav Mitrafanov argues that according to his information only half of parents and teachers support the reform.