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.

• Constitutional Court reviews a claim about compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international standards
• A study ‘Ethnopolitical Tensions in Latvia: Looking for the Conflict Solution
• Articles about naturalisation process in Latvia
• Latvijas Avize about possibilities for maintenance of cultural identity foreseen by the minority schools curricular

Yesterday the Constitutional Court started reviewing a claim of 20 left-wing MPs challenging compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international standards. MP Boris Cilevics, who represents all plaintiffs, stated that by implementing the minority education reform the state discriminates against minorities, as quality of education is deteriorating because of the reform. A representative of Saeima Gunars Kusins responded that Cilevics’s claim is based on selective facts and subjective observations, as it is not possible to speak about any consequences of the reform before the end of the school year.  The president of the Latvian Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature (LATRLL) and a member of the Advisory Board on Minority Education Issues under the Ministry of Education and Science Tatjana Liguta stressed that the state does not want to listen to the opinion of Russian-speakers.  According to Liguta, not a single proposal of the LATRLL and the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools regarding minority education has been taken into account. Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands Kehre believes that there is no proof of discrimination, but that degree of minorities’ participation in political decisions on the reform could be questioned.

Yesterday the Constitutional Court started reviewing a claim of 20 left-wing MPs challenging compliance of the minority education reform to the Constitution of Latvia and international standards. MP Boris Cilevics, who represents all plaintiffs, stated that by implementing the minority education reform the state discriminates against minorities, as quality of education is deteriorating because of the reform. A representative of Saeima Gunars Kusins responded that Cilevicss claim is based on selective facts and subjective observations, as it is not possible to speak about any consequences of the reform before the end of the school year. The president of the Latvian Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature (LATRLL) and a member of the Advisory Board on Minority Education Issues under the Ministry of Education and Science Tatjana Liguta stressed that the state does not want to listen to the opinion of Russian-speakers. According to Liguta, not a single proposal of the LATRLL and the Latvian Association for the Support of Russian-Language Schools regarding minority education has been taken into account. Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands Kehre believes that there is no proof of discrimination, but that degree of minorities participation in political decisions on the reform could be questioned. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

‘The split between Latvians and Russian-speakers is increasing, and at the moment both communities are on edge of an ethnic conflict,’ writes Russian-language newspaper

‘The split between Latvians and Russian-speakers is increasing, and at the moment both communities are on edge of an ethnic conflict, writes Russian-language newspaper Telegraf referring to the results of the study ‘Ethnopolitical Tension in Latvia: Looking for the Conflict Solution by Baltic Institute of Social Sciences (BISS). According to the study, the main source of the conflict is a lack of agreement between ethnic majority and minorities on ethnic policies implemented by the state. For example, a significant majority of Latvians (77%) support minority education reform, while only 26% of Russians and 35% of representatives of other ethnic groups do so. On the other hand, 87% of Russians and 75% of representatives of other ethnic groups believe that Russian should be made a second official language in Latvia, while only 19% of Latvians support this idea. However, 84% of Latvians and 79% of Russian-speakers believe that in future Latvian society should be multinational, and 65% of Russians, as well as 75% of Latvians have never planned to leave Latvia forever. For the full text of the study, click here. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Newspapers feature articles about naturalisation process in Latvia.

Newspapers feature articles about naturalisation process in Latvia. Telegraf continues discussion on planned amendments to the Citizenship Law, featuring statements of different MPs about necessity of opening the law. The deputy head of Peoples Harmony Party parliamentary group Andrejs Agesins believes that naturalisation of persons older than 55 years should be facilitated, while chairman of the Unions of Farmers and Greens parliamentary group Augusts Brigmanis believes that the law should not be opened. Vesti Segodnya reports on meeting of the Saeima Subcommittee on Social Integration. According to the newspaper, head of Saeimas Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins proposed a moratorium on the naturalisation process.

Latvijas Avize prints an article about the everyday life of the Riga Estonian Secondary School, and an article on possibilities for minority students to maintain their cultural traditions foreseen by the minority schools curricular. The head of the Union of Latvias Poles Vanda Krukovska, as well as the chairman of the Riga Jewish Community Arkadijs Suharenko confirm that Polish and Jewish students learn about their national traditions during the school lessons. The chairman of Romany NGO Nevo drom Anatolijs Berezovskis draws attention to the fact that ethnic studies previously available for Romany students of the Tukums Secondary School Nr.3 are not offered anymore due to the lack of funds.