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.

• Free-of-charge Latvian language courses in Daugavpils are successfully concluded
• Government’s coalition speeds-up draft amendments to the Citizenship Law
• Vladimirs Lindermans: we will receive about 30% of votes in the municipal elections
• Almost half or 49% of Latvian residents do not support restitution of Jewish properties

Chas reports on the conclusion of free-of-charge Latvian language courses funded by the Daugavpils City Council. 260 Daugavpils’ residents received certificates by the end of the courses. According to the organisers of the courses almost all the students learned language with zeal and received grades good and excellent. The participants of the courses also expressed the desire to continue the studies in the same way.

The government’s coalition agreed to speed up the revision of the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law.  Most likely, the Saeima will review the amendments in the second reading in August. Chas

One of the leaders of a movement “For Native Language” Vladimirs Lindermans believes his party will receive about 30% of votes of Latvian citizens in the municipal elections next year. This is the amount of those who voted for granting Russian language status of a state language in Latvia at the referendum in February 2012. According to the experts interviewed by Chas, Lindermans’s expectations are exaggerated and his party should expect 5% of votes at maximum.  Chas, Vesti Segodnya

According to a public opinion survey conducted by agency “TNS” and TV channel LNT, Almost half or 49% of Latvian residents do not support restitution of Jewish properties in Latvia. 39% of respondents, in their turn, support the return of Jewish properties lost because of the Holocaust to the Jewish community. Latvijas Avize