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.

• Vesti Segodnya reports about Ukrainian citizens escaping from the Eastern Ukraine to Latvia
• Minister of Education Marite Seile supports gradual increase of Latvian language proportion in minority schools

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA), there were 69 Ukrainians out of 335 asylum seekers in Latvia in 2014. According to a representative of the OCMA, in order to receive the status of refugee or alternative status in Latvia it is necessary to prove that an individual is persecuted because of his/her race, religion, ethnicity or social belonging, or political views and that there are threats to individual’s life, he/she is subjected to death penalty or torture. For Donbas residents it is difficult to receive such status in Latvia because within Ukraine there is sufficient safe space where they can find shelter from the military actions. Therefore, according to the OCMA, the most likely solution for those Ukrainian citizens who want to stay in Latvia during the military conflict is to apply for temporary residence permit which gives also the right to study and work, or to apply for long-term visa. During the first six months of 2014, 380 Ukrainians received residence permits in Latvia, while the number of those who received long-term visas is much higher but it is not separately recorded. Vesti Segodnya

In an interview with Latvijas Avize the Minister of Education Marite Seile says that she supports increase of Latvian language proportion in minority schools but she stresses that such transition should be gradual. The Minister also doubts that it could be accomplished by 2018 as it was planned by the previous government. According to the Minister, the ministry is currently working on a programme for Latvian language learning in pre-school education establishments. The programme possibly will promote involvement of not only little children but also their parents in the learning process.