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.

• Political experts discuss the upcoming municipal elections
• Two extreme political forces are running for seats in Liepajas municipality
• General Secretary of the Latvian Social Democrats and Workers party about ethnicity factor in elections
• Head of the LASHOR about ethnicity factor in elections
• Launching of the Ukrainian cultural days
• Chas reports on the events which will take place in the framework of the Tatiana Day

Rigas Balss prints a discussion about the upcoming municipal elections. Political scientist Ilze Ostrovska, sociologist Arnis Kaktins and PR expert Filips Rajevskis took part in the discussion. Ilze Ostrovska states that this time it is difficult to give any forecast about results of the elections. She adds that recently the tempo of naturalisation was very high and it is impossible to tell what could be choices of the recently naturalised citizens. While Arnis Kaktins argues that majority of Russian-speakers will vote for the union FHRUL, however, he does not believe that FHRUL could take control over Riga City Council. Political experts agree that still national factor plays the major role in elections in Latvia.

Liepaja Council is the only municipality in Latvia where extreme radical forces will run for municipal elections: the extreme right is represented by the Union of National Forces, while the extreme left – the Latvian National Democratic Party. The Security Police and political scientists categorise both parties as extreme. Although political scientists are concerned about intentions of the parties to come to power, they believe that both parties are too weak to win in elections.

Liepaja Council is the only municipality in Latvia where extreme radical forces will run for municipal elections: the extreme right is represented by the Union of National Forces, while the extreme left – the Latvian National Democratic Party. The Security Police and political scientists categorise both parties as extreme. Although political scientists are concerned about intentions of the parties to come to power, they believe that both parties are too weak to win in elections. Diena

The General Secretary of the Latvian Social Democrats and Workers Party Janis Dinevics responds to the article by MP Boris Tsilevich where Boris Tsilevich argued that the main problem in Latvia is a low representation of Russian-speakers in politics. In his turn, Janis Dinevics states that manipulations with ethnicity is a primitive approach and that several parties, such as FHRUL and FF/LNIM, simply manipulate with ethnic aspects and do not get down to real problems.

The General Secretary of the Latvian Social Democrats and Workers Party Janis Dinevics responds to the article by MP Boris Tsilevich where Boris Tsilevich argued that the main problem in Latvia is a low representation of Russian-speakers in politics. In his turn, Janis Dinevics states that manipulations with ethnicity is a primitive approach and that several parties, such as FHRUL and FF/LNIM, simply manipulate with ethnic aspects and do not get down to real problems. Chas

The member of the Latvian Association for Support of Schools with Russian

The member of the Latvian Association for Support of Schools with Russian
Language of Instruction (its Russian acronym LASHOR) Igor Pimenov prints an article about the upcoming municipal elections. He states that the key issue is not consolidation of Russian-speaking voters, but consolidation of Latvian and Russian voters. He believes that left wing parties should not be associated only with Russians. Chas

Yesterday the Ukrainian Cultural Days were launched. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis and the Ukrainian Ambassador to Latvia Miron Jankiv took part in the launching event. A number of events will take place in the framework of the Days: the day of the Ukrainian poetry, the Ukrainian movie night, presentation of the Ukrainian newspaper and gala concert.

Yesterday the Ukrainian Cultural Days were launched. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Ainars Latkovskis and the Ukrainian Ambassador to Latvia Miron Jankiv took part in the launching event. A number of events will take place in the framework of the Days: the day of the Ukrainian poetry, the Ukrainian movie night, presentation of the Ukrainian newspaper and gala concert. Latvijas Avize

Chas reports on the forthcoming events in the framework of the Tatiana Day, which in Latvia has been celebrated as the days of the Russian culture.