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

• Social anthropologist about ethnic relations in Latvia
• Newspapers comments on the first prize essay in the contest The Borders of My Language – Borders of My World
• Teacher from Salaspils asks asylum in Russia
• Israeli Ambassador concerned that Latvian politicians give interviews with the nationalistic newspaper

Jauna Avize

interviews social anthropologist Klavs Sedlinieks about interethnic relations in Latvia. He states that Latvian identity is formed on a negative ground and on the perception of Latvians as people who are not very successful, however, young people are more positive in their thinking. Regarding Russians in Latvia, Klavs Sedlinieks says that Russian-speakers who live in Latvia are not perceived as Latvians, but only as Russians who live outside Russia. He stresses that the State Language Law is one of the most important integration driving force of minorities in Latvia. However, at the same time it is very essential to talk about integration of Latvians in Latvia, that is, Latvians should fully integrate in the existing society and accept it as it is. He does not see that the further existence of the Russian community in Latvia is under threat.

Vechernaya Riga

and Chas looks into the essay written by Maxim Kovalenko who was given one of the first prizes in the essay contest The Borders of My Language – Border of My World organised by the public policy centre Providus, the Embassy of Norway, the public policy portal politika.lv and the Ministry of Education and Science. The Minister of Education Karlis Sadurskis disagreed with the decision of the jury that this essay should be given the first prize as it does not foster social integration. Maxim Kovalenko in his essay analysed the education reform.

The biology teacher from Salaspils who was fired due to her insufficient Latvian language skills and afterwards re-hired on the basis of the courts decision sent a letter to the Russian President Vladimir Putin asking to provide her asylum in Russia as in Latvia she is discriminated. The newspaper predicts that after the education reform is implemented, there will be a huge number of teachers who want be able to work at schools.

Telegraf

reports that the Israeli Ambassador Avraham Benjamin is concerned that some Latvian politicians and well know public persons give interviews with the nationalistic newspaper DDD led by notorious Aivars Garda.