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.

• Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs: there will be no Russian tanks in Latvia
• Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov: Russia is ready to save Latvian non-citizens from poverty
• Minister of Education Ina Druviete has met with the activists for protection of Russian schools Vladimirs Buzajevs and Aleksandrs Gilmans

The  Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs in an interview with radio Baltcom stated that it is important to understand that part of ethnic Latvians are really frightened by the current events in Ukraine as also in the history of Latvia there were times of foreign military intervention, including Soviet forces. Mr Usakovs called Russian speaking residents of Latvia to help to minimize such fears by saying to ethnic Latvians that there will be no Russian tanks in Latvia.

According to the Russia’s Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Veshnyakov, Russia is ready to save Latvian non-citizens from poverty by granting them citizenship and pension without a requirement to reside in Russia. Presently, the Russian government discusses a draft law on granting Russia’s citizenship to foreigners who are native Russian language speakers. The Ambassador Veshnyakov said that, thus, Russia want to provide social protection to compatriots living abroad and promote voluntary resettlement to Russia.  Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports that during the protest action against transition of ethnic minority schools into Latvian language, the Minister of Education Ina Druviete has met with the activists for protection of Russian schools Vladimirs Buzajevs and Aleksandrs Gilmans. The newspaper notes that A.Gilmans is known for his anti-Latvian statements. According to the Minister, both persons did not represent any organisation and the dialogue was civilised. The Minister stressed that she uses every opportunity to explain government’s position.  One of the leaders of the nationalists’ union, MP Raivis Dzintars did not condemn the Minister for such meeting considering that it shows that the Minister has strong personal confidence. At the same time, Mr Dzintars expressed his worries about further steps for implementation of the language reform in schools as the government does not work on elaboration of the corresponding draft amendments to the Education Law.