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.

• British businessman of Nigerian origin complains against allegedly racist statement addressed to him byon the acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Health
• MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere discussed language usage with the EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding for insulting racial statement addressed towards him

The U.K. Embassy in Latvia forwarded to Latvian state institutions a complaint from a British businessman of Nigerian origin who claims a racist statement addressed to him was made by on the acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Health Juris Bundulis for insulting racial statement addressed towards him. The statement was made at a meeting of ministers discussing measures on regulation of electronic cigarettes. When the businessman, representative of a company distributing electronic cigarettes tried to explain the ministers that these cigarettes are not equal to ordinary cigarettes, Juris Bundulis told him “You are not in the jungle!” Later Mr. Bundulis brought his apologies to the businessmen. 

The U.K. Embassy in Latvia forwarded to Latvian state institutions a complaint from a British businessman of Nigerian origin who claims a racist statement addressed to him was made by on the acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Health Juris Bundulis for insulting racial statement addressed towards him. The statement was made at a meeting of ministers discussing measures on regulation of electronic cigarettes. When the businessman, representative of a company distributing electronic cigarettes tried to explain the ministers that these cigarettes are not equal to ordinary cigarettes, Juris Bundulis told him You are not in the jungle! Later Mr. Bundulis brought his apologies to the businessmen. Chas

Latvijas Avize reports about a meeting of MEP from Latvia Inese Vaidere with Viviane Reding, the European Commission Vice-President in charge of Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. The Commissioner has once again apologised for the fact that information about gender equality available at the official EU homepage and distributed in printed copies was translated not only to Latvian, but also to Russian language. The Commissioner and MEP were unanimous in opinion that integration of Russian-speakers should take place through publicising materials only in Latvian language.