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.

• Lindermans: Results of the referendum show the demand for Russian language among the citizenry
• Former head the State Language Centre argues to improve the quality of the citizenry and revoke citizenship of disloyal persons

According to the leader of the society “Native Language” Vladimirs Lindermans, one of the main results of the referendum is that it demonstrated the demand for Russian language among the citizenry. Mr.Lindermans believes these results will change language policy in Latvia, especially at the local level, and cites the example of Daugavpils, where 85% of citizens voted for Russian, yet the city authorities provide official communication to its citizens only in Latvian. Mr.Lindermans also believes these results will bring changes at the national level, and although the radical nationalists still push for liquidation of education in minority languages starting from the kindergartens, the government now develops special development programme for Latgale, where 55% of citizens voted for Russian language. He proposes a 5-year moratorium on the activities of the language inspections, which regularly impose fines for unsatisfactory language usage and easily destroy small businesses, and to use this time to provide Latvian language learning for all to the necessary level. Mr.Linderman also announced plans to establish new political party on the basis of the society “Native Language” and participate in the upcoming municipal elections.

According to the leader of the society Native Language Vladimirs Lindermans, one of the main results of the referendum is that it demonstrated the demand for Russian language among the citizenry. Mr.Lindermans believes these results will change language policy in Latvia, especially at the local level, and cites the example of Daugavpils, where 85% of citizens voted for Russian, yet the city authorities provide official communication to its citizens only in Latvian. Mr.Lindermans also believes these results will bring changes at the national level, and although the radical nationalists still push for liquidation of education in minority languages starting from the kindergartens, the government now develops special development programme for Latgale, where 55% of citizens voted for Russian language. He proposes a 5-year moratorium on the activities of the language inspections, which regularly impose fines for unsatisfactory language usage and easily destroy small businesses, and to use this time to provide Latvian language learning for all to the necessary level. Mr.Linderman also announced plans to establish new political party on the basis of the society Native Language and participate in the upcoming municipal elections. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

In an article published in

In an article published in Latvijas Avize, former head the State Language Centre Dzintra Hirsa argues for revocation of Latvian citizenship of those persons, who have shown through their words or their deeds that they are not loyal to the state. Mrs.Hirsa does not offer a definition of loyalty or a mechanism to measure loyalty. Mrs.Hirsa argues that the referendum on the status of Russian language was an attempt to undermine Latvian state, and the time has come to use all political legal opportunities to improve the quality of the citizenry, including through revocation of citizenship.