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.

• Number of naturalisation applicants continues to grow
• Number of ruling coalition MPs express their concern about persecution of two journalists of the national radical newspaper
• Interview with the leader of the National Democrats
• Nils Muiznieks about the project ‘Personalities in Latvias Democracy

Vesti Segodnya reports that yesterday record number of Latvian residents – 566 - was granted Latvian citizenship. According to the data of the Naturalisation Board the number of people who want to receive Latvian citizenship is continuously growing. This year already 11,000 Latvian non-citizens have received Latvian citizenship, while last year the total number of people who naturalised were 16,000.

Vesti Segodnya reports on the case of two journalists Liga Muzikante and Ilze Liepa whoare accused in incitement to national hatred. As reported the two journalists published an article in the national radical newspaper DDD that contained anti-Semitic statements. Vesti Segodnya reports that the preliminary investigation by the General Prosecutors Office has been closed and it files both journalists with charges for incitement of national hatred. This week the case has been forwarded to the Riga District Court (Rigas Apagabaltiesa). According to the newspaper, a number of ruling coalition MPs – Leopolds Ozolins and Arvids Ulme (The Union of the Greens and the Farmers), Peteris Tabuns, Maris Grinblats and Imants Kalnins (FF/LNIM) have sent a letter to the General Prosecutor Janis Maizitis expressing their incomprehension and concern about persecution of journalists as it poses threats to the freedom of speech.

Vesti Segodnya interviews the leader of the National Democrats Jevgenijs Osipovs. The main goal of Jevgenijs Osipovs is to raise self-awareness of Russians so their views are considered not only in the Baltic States but also in the world. He claims that his organisation stands for democracy, however, for all people in Latvia irrespectively of their ethnicities. He believes that now Russians have been discriminated against and blames ‘political correctness of Russians in that. He argues that the [Russian] people are escaping from discrimination through total passiveness and ‘only loud actions can wake them up.

Former social integration minister Nils Muiznieks talks about the implementation of the project Personalities in Latvia’s Democracy. The main goal of the project is to recognise those individuals who have contributed to the development of democracy in Latvia. Nils Muiznieks believes that the project will also help the Russian people to realise closer ties with Latvia.

Former social integration minister Nils Muiznieks talks about the implementation of the project Personalities in Latvias Democracy. The main goal of the project is to recognise those individuals who have contributed to the development of democracy in Latvia. Nils Muiznieks believes that the project will also help the Russian people to realise closer ties with Latvia.