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 reports that various anti-Semitic books are sold without restrictions in bookstores in Riga
• Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to take part in discussion about the draft project on cancellation of visa requirements for non-citizens
• Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament has forwarded a petition on Latvian non-citizens to the Coordinators meeting
• Chas reports about a project Citizenship – My Responsibility, Rights and Opportunities
• FF/LNIM: persons who want to change their ethnicity to ethnic Latvian must know Latvian language

Diena reports that various anti-Semitic books are sold without restrictions in bookstores in Riga. According to a representative of the Security Police, there is no list of prohibited literature in Latvia, therefore, any publication might appear in bookstores, while only in the framework of the criminal process a publication can be withdrawn from trade. Representative of the Ombudsman Office in an interview with the newspaper has stated that residents should appeal in writing to the Ombudsmans Office about trade of publications which might incite hatred.

The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov has stated that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to take part in discussion about the draft project on cancellation of visa requirements for Russian compatriots living in Baltic countries without citizenship.

The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov has stated that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to take part in discussion about the draft project on cancellation of visa requirements for Russian compatriots living in Baltic countries without citizenship. Chas

Yesterday, the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament has reviewed a petition to grant Latvian non-citizens the right to vote in municipal elections. After the hearing the Committee forwarded the petition to the Coordinators’ meeting recommending to view the problem as an issue of discrimination against a part of population of the country.

Yesterday, the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament has reviewed a petition to grant Latvian non-citizens the right to vote in municipal elections. After the hearing the Committee forwarded the petition to the Coordinators meeting recommending to view the problem as an issue of discrimination against a part of population of the country. Chas, Latvijas Avize

Chas reports about a project Citizenship – My Responsibility, Rights and Opportunities which is aimed at informing school students about Latvian citizenship. The Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane has stated that a recent study has showed that prestige of Latvian citizenship is low especially outside the capital. Several information seminars will be held in the framework of the project until the end of the year. Essay competition My Latvian Citizen will be held at the end of the project.

The political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) are preparing proposals to the new draft law “On Change of Name, Surname and Ethnicity Record” stipulating that a person who wants to change ethnicity to ethnic Latvian will have to prove Latvian language proficiency. The FF/LNIM considers that without this requirement non-citizens could avoid naturalisation and receive Latvian citizenship according to a different provision of the Citizenship Law, which envisages granting automatic citizenship to ethnic Latvians and Livs. As reported, presently, the draft law stipulates that a person who wants to change ethnicity to Latvian will only have to present a document certifying that at least one of his/her parent or grandparent was ethnic Latvian.

The political party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) are preparing proposals to the new draft law On Change of Name, Surname and Ethnicity Record stipulating that a person who wants to change ethnicity to ethnic Latvian will have to prove Latvian language proficiency. The FF/LNIM considers that without this requirement non-citizens could avoid naturalisation and receive Latvian citizenship according to a different provision of the Citizenship Law, which envisages granting automatic citizenship to ethnic Latvians and Livs. As reported, presently, the draft law stipulates that a person who wants to change ethnicity to Latvian will only have to present a document certifying that at least one of his/her parent or grandparent was ethnic Latvian. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize