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.

• 150,000th person was granted Latvian citizenship since the naturalisation procedure was launched in 1995
• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers: non-citizens are the most privileged part of Latvian residents
• FF/LNIM propose draft amendments to the Constitution stipulating free-of-charge education only in Latvian language
• Head of the New Eras faction in the Riga City Council Edgars Jaunups: ethnic Latvian parties should unite ethnic Latvian electorate like the Concord Centre unites ethnic Russian electorate
• There are 48 asylum seekers in Latvia

150,000

150,000th person was granted Latvian citizenship since the naturalisation procedure was launched in 1995. This includes 132,636 persons who received citizenship through naturalisation, 9,278 persons who received citizenship through registration and 8,086 persons who were born after 21 august 1991 and also granted citizenship through registration. The citizenship was granted to 578 persons in 2007, 601 in 2008 and 620 during the nine months of 2009. Chas

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers in interview with Polish newspaper

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers in interview with Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita regarding situation of non-citizens in Latvia stated that they are the most privileged part of Latvian residents because non-citizens have right to travel without visa on two continents from Gibraltar to Kamchatka. Vesti Segodnya

The political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) fears that after the next Saeima’s elections the Concord Centre might take part in the governing coalition, therefore the FF/LNIM elaborated draft amendments to the Constitution of Latvia stipulating that the state guarantees free-of-charge elementary and secondary education only in Latvian language. According to the FF/LNIM only amendments in the Constitution would preserve state language’s positions in Latvia. 

The political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) fears that after the next Saeimas elections the Concord Centre might take part in the governing coalition, therefore the FF/LNIM elaborated draft amendments to the Constitution of Latvia stipulating that the state guarantees free-of-charge elementary and secondary education only in Latvian language. According to the FF/LNIM only amendments in the Constitution would preserve state languages positions in Latvia. Latvijas Avize

Head of the New Era’s faction in the Riga City Council Edgars Jaunups in an interview with

Head of the New Eras faction in the Riga City Council Edgars Jaunups in an interview with Latvijas Avize stated that ethnic Latvian parties should find a way for co-operation in order to unite ethnic Latvian electorate, alleging that the Concord Centre unites ethnic Russian electorate. Mr. Jaunups criticized the governing coalition of the City Council for its contacts with cities in Russia and Belarus and accuses it does not put priority on the contacts with the EU countries. Mr. Jaunups also believes that co-operation of the New Era with the Concord Centre is not possible due to mistrust of ethnic Latvian residents to the Concord Centre because of its position regarding ethnic issues.

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, presently there are 48 asylum seekers in Latvia and every year the number grows. The majority of asylum seekers are from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, presently there are 48 asylum seekers in Latvia and every year the number grows. The majority of asylum seekers are from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. NRA