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.

• Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs visited the Museum of Occupation in Riga
• Riga Regional Court sentenced a man to one year of suspended imprisonment for incitement of ethnic hatred
• Number of non-citizens applying for the status of the EU permanent resident permit noticeably increased
• Saeimas Committee on Education, Science and Culture refused proposal stipulating obligation of state and municipalities to ensure education in languages of ethnic minorities if there is sufficient demand for it
• 143 persons received Latvian citizenship
• Academician Feliciana Rajevska: formation of Latvian political nation would be more successful if non-citizens were granted voting rights in municipal elections

Yesterday, the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs visited the Museum of Occupation in Riga. Replying to a question whether he agrees that Latvia was occupied by the USSR, Mr. Usakovs replied that Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union in anti democratic way in 1940 but only historians should evaluate whether it was occupation. The Mayor also stated that evil deed made by Joseph Stalin in Latvia cannot be forgiven but it is wrong to blame Soviet veterans for those crimes.

Yesterday, the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs visited the Museum of Occupation in Riga. Replying to a question whether he agrees that Latvia was occupied by the USSR, Mr. Usakovs replied that Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union in anti democratic way in 1940 but only historians should evaluate whether it was occupation. The Mayor also stated that evil deed made by Joseph Stalin in Latvia cannot be forgiven but it is wrong to blame Soviet veterans for those crimes. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, NRA

The Riga Regional Court sentenced a 25-year-old man to one year of suspended imprisonment for comments hostile towards ethnic Russian residents of Latvia published on the Internet.

The Riga Regional Court sentenced a 25-year-old man to one year of suspended imprisonment for comments hostile towards ethnic Russian residents of Latvia published on the Internet. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Telegraf reports that number of non-citizens applying for the status of the EU permanent resident permit noticeably increased during this year. According to a representative of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, there were only 17 persons who applied for the status in 2007, while, already 159 persons applied for the status in 2009. According to the newspaper, non-citizens became more active in receiving the status in order to have better opportunities of resettling in other EU countries.

The Saeima’s Committee on Education, Science and Culture refused proposal of the MP Igors Pimenovs (Concord Centre) stipulating obligation of state and municipalities to ensure education in languages of ethnic minorities if there is sufficient demand for it. Majority of the Committee’s members considered that there are no problems in this field in Latvia.

The Saeimas Committee on Education, Science and Culture refused proposal of the MP Igors Pimenovs (Concord Centre) stipulating obligation of state and municipalities to ensure education in languages of ethnic minorities if there is sufficient demand for it. Majority of the Committees members considered that there are no problems in this field in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the government accepted list of 143 new Latvian citizens who successfully went trough naturalisation process.

Yesterday, the government accepted list of 143 new Latvian citizens who successfully went trough naturalisation process. Vesti Segodnya

Prominant Latvian academician Feliciana Rajevska in an interview with

Prominant Latvian academician Feliciana Rajevska in an interview with Vesti Segodnya stated that formation of Latvian political nation would be more successful if non-citizens were granted voting rights in municipal elections. The fact that non-citizens are excluded from this process weakens municipalities and their connection with residents and separates authorities from the nation.