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.

• Public opinion survey: main instigators of ethnic tensions – Nils Usakovs and Raivis Dzintars
• Newspapers report about the violations in the process of the collection of signatures in support of granting Russian language status of official in Latvia
• Concord Centre proposes to widen usage of foreign languages in education process

According to a public opinion survey conducted by a company “Gfk”, many Latvian residents believe that the main instigators of growth of ethnic tension between ethnic Latvians and Russian speaking residents are the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs (Concord Centre) (32% of respondents) and the leader of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM Raivis Dzintars (31% of respondents). 20 % of residents believe that the main instigators is leader of the Zatler’s Reforms Party, ex-President Valdis Zatlers and 16 % blame the Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (the Unity).

According to a public opinion survey conducted by a company Gfk, many Latvian residents believe that the main instigators of growth of ethnic tension between ethnic Latvians and Russian speaking residents are the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs (Concord Centre) (32% of respondents) and the leader of the nationalists union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM Raivis Dzintars (31% of respondents). 20 % of residents believe that the main instigators is leader of the Zatlers Reforms Party, ex-President Valdis Zatlers and 16 % blame the Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (the Unity). Chas

Chas and Vesti Segodnya report about the violations in the process of the collection of signatures in support of granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. The initiators of the collection of signatures complain that many signatures collection stations open later and close earlier than scheduled, or close even if there are still persons waiting in a queue. The initiators also allege that some municipalities have intentionally opened the signatures collection stations in locations which are difficult to access or sparsely populated by Russian speaking residents, while in some locations with large number of Russian speakers no stations are situated.

The parliament’s faction Concord Centre (CC) prepared the draft amendments to the Law on Education widening usage of foreign languages in education process. The CC proposes to allow teaching in all foreign languages in paid programs of state funded higher education establishments. The CC also proposes to give bigger freedom to ethnic minority schools choosing subjects which are taught in state language and in other languages. The CC also wants to establish that local governments should ensure education programs for ethnic minorities in schools if there is such demand from residents of municipality.

The parliaments faction Concord Centre (CC) prepared the draft amendments to the Law on Education widening usage of foreign languages in education process. The CC proposes to allow teaching in all foreign languages in paid programs of state funded higher education establishments. The CC also proposes to give bigger freedom to ethnic minority schools choosing subjects which are taught in state language and in other languages. The CC also wants to establish that local governments should ensure education programs for ethnic minorities in schools if there is such demand from residents of municipality. Chas