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.

• Interview with the head of the control department of the State Language Centre Antons Kursitis
• Security Police arrested radical nationalist Igors Siskins for an attempt to buy explosives
• Saeima refused to return the record of person’s ethnic belonging in passports

Telegraf and Vesti Segodnya print interview with the head of the control department of the State Language Centre Antons Kursitis. According to Mr Kursitis, all Russian residents of Latvia who do not want to study Latvian language are Russian chauvinists. Mr Kursitis believes Russian speakers cannot ask for their language more rights for usage in Latvia than other foreign languages have. Mr Kursitis also believes it is wrong to divide the society on Latvian and Russian speakers, because it would be more correct to say “those who speak Latvian” and “those who do not speak Latvian”. Regarding the scandal around the national football team and statement of one of the players that he can live in Latvia without Latvian language proficiency, Mr Kursitis states that it is almost impossible to check this player’s state language proficiency because thus he might be psychologically traumatised before the game, while after the game he departs to play for his club in another country. In total, during the first 9 months of 2012, the State Language Centre inspected 4,000 cases on insufficient state language usage. The acts on violation of the State Language Law were drawn in 3,000 cases and 816 persons got fined.

The Security Police arrested radical nationalist Igors Siskins for an attempt to buy explosive materials most likely with an aim to arrange sabotage and terror acts in Latvia. In the past, Igors Siskins already spent two years in prison for undermining the Monument to the Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. According to Chas, Igors Siskins and his organisation “Gustavs Zemgals’ Centre” (or previously “Perkonkrusts”) is characterized by the Security Police as organisation with Nazi ideology. Chas, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, after long debates, the Saeima refused to return the voluntary record on person’s ethnic belonging in passports. Such proposal came from the nationalists’ union All for Latvia/FF-LNIM arguing that it would strengthen Latvians’ national identity. Despite the fact that the proposal was refused this time, the nationalists’ union plans to submit the initiative again, arguing that the voting results were very close. Latvijas Avize, Chas, Telegraf