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.

• Diena: government ordered a secret study about integration in Latvia
• Security Police detained Latvian National Bolshevik Ajo Benes
• Saeima’s Consolidation Committee discussed how to improve preparation of teachers of the ethnic schools for reform 2018

Diena reports that the government ordered a secret study about integration in Latvia. The study will discover the attitude of Russian speaking residents towards Latvia. According to a representative of the government, information about the study is secret because it is closely connected with the state security. Results of the study will be available publicly as far as security concerns would allow it.  Integration expert Deniss Hanovs criticizes such approach stressing that information about who will conduct the study and its results should be publicly available. Mr Hanovs also does not agree to the state integration program according to which basis for integration are Latvian language and culture. He believes that the basis should be civil and democratic values because language could also be used by disloyal persons.

Yesterday, the Security Police (SP) detained Latvian National Bolshevik Ajo Benes. The SP initiated criminal proceeding against Mr. Benes for calls to violent overthrow of Latvia’s state power and liquidation of Latvia’s state independence. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize reports about a session of the Saeima’s Consolidation Committee discussing how to improve preparation of teachers of the ethnic schools before planned language reform in schools in 2018.  The Minister of Education Ina Druviete promised to introduce improvements for teacher’s training, however the Ministery has not elaborated specific plan yet. The Minister also said that there is a need to merge Latvian and Russian language schools in future.