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.

• Professor Leons Taivans: there should be three official languages in Latvia – Latvian, English and Russian
• NGO Prata Speks launched free-of-charge Latvian language courses for the eighth year
• Naturalisation process after 1 March might be hindered
• MP Boriss Cilevics: naturalisation process is stalled
• Most popular parties in January: Concord Centre, New Era and Union of Greens and Farmers

Chas prints an interview with professor of the University of Latvia Leons Taivans. Mr. Taivans believes Latvia is a two-community country where authority belongs to ethnic Latvians. But such situation cannot last long because ethnic Russian residents of Latvia are stronger in economic field and are employed in sectors which bring bigger income, while, ethnic Latvians are employed mostly in agriculture and in cultural sphere which are not profitable anymore. According to Mr. Taivans, there should be three official languages in Latvia – Latvian, English and Russian because only thus ethnic tensions would disappear and it would be possible to built normal state.

Vesti Segodnya reports that an NGO Prata Speks launched free-of-charge Latvian language courses for the eighth consecutive year for people who want to pass naturalisation exams. Head of the NGO Igors Kuzmuks states that Latvian authorities have never provided any support for the courses because they are not interested in successful naturalisation process.

Representatives of the Naturalisation Board (NB) in an interview with Telegraf state that, most probably, NB will face serious problems after 1 March when it will be fully subordinated to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA). The main problem will arise due to lack of competence of the OCMAs workers who will have to implement NBs functions. The lack of competence might lead to serious organisational difficulties and hinder naturalisation process. Telegraf

Telegraf prints an article by the MP Boriss Cilevics (Concord Centre) on naturalisation process in Latvia. Mr. Cilevics believes that naturalisation process is stalled and situation with citizenship returned to the level of 90-ies. According to Mr. Cilevics, two paradoxes appeared in 2009 – persons receive Latvian citizenship with the main motivation to depart from Latvia; and there have been more Latvian non-citizens who received Russian citizenship than those who choose Latvian citizenship.

According to the latest public opinion survey held by Latvijas fakti, the most popular party in January is the Concord Centre – 18,8% of Latvian citizens support it. The New Era is supported by 9,9%, the Union of Greens and Farmers by 7,7% and the Civic Union by 5,5%. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of respondents. Chas, Diena (28.01)