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.

• Synod of Latvian Orthodox Church responded to a statement made by the Chief of the Security Police
• Russia’s internet portal RuBaltic.ru: number of closed Russian language schools is proportionally greater that number of Latvian language schools
• SKDS director Arnis Kaktins: political elite learned well how to use the split of society in its struggle for power

The Synod of Latvian Orthodox Church (LOC) responded to a statement made by the Chief of the Security Police Normunds Mezvietis. The Synod stated that the LOC is independent and working in accordance with the Law of the LOC and Latvian legal acts and is not involved in politics. It also denied any internal or external political influence on the LOC.  As reported, Mr Mezvietis made an assertion that Russia might use the Latvian Orthodox Church in order to influence Russian speaking residents in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

According to a Russia’s internet portal RuBaltic.ru, despite the fact that demographic problems affected all Latvia’s residents – Russian and Latvian speakers – equally, the number of Russian language schools decreased more that schools with Latvian language of instructions. During 2000-2014 number of Russian language schools decreased almost twice – from 189 to 99, but number of Latvian language schools only for 15% - from 727 to 634. The internet portal asserts that thus the government uses demographic problem as a cover to close Russian language schools. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize interviews the director of a public opinion research centre SKDS Arnis Kaktins. According to Mr Kaktins, the fact that Latvian society is split is clear without any researches and this split goes along ethnic or language lines. He also stressed that in daily life ethnic split does not cause big problems. But there are serious problems in politics because the political elite learned well how to use this split in its struggle for power.