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.

• 16,668 new naturalised citizens to take part in the forthcoming Saeima (parliamentary) elections for the first time
• Latvian non-citizens will have to apply for Turkish visas
• Latvian Choir Conductors Association calls upon political parties to include in their party programmes commitment to preserve the Latvian language and culture
• MEP Tatjana Zdanoka: Russian language will be granted the status of an official language on municipal level in Latvia in the near future

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 16,668 new naturalised citizens will take part in the forthcoming Saeima elections for the first time.

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 16,668 new naturalised citizens will take part in the forthcoming Saeima elections for the first time. Diena

Chas reports that the new procedure for Latvian non-citizens on entry to Turkey is to come into force on 1 November. According to the new procedure, non-citizens will have to apply for visa in the Turkish embassy, while now non-citizens can buy their visas on the Turkish border and in airports. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it is preparing an agreement with Turkey to return to the existing procedure.

The Latvian Choir Conductors’ Association called upon all the political parties running for the Saeima elections to include in their programs a commitment to preserve the Latvian language as the only state language in the country and grant support to the Latvian culture. According to

The Latvian Choir Conductors Association called upon all the political parties running for the Saeima elections to include in their programs a commitment to preserve the Latvian language as the only state language in the country and grant support to the Latvian culture. According to Telegraf only five of 13 political parties have included such commitment in their programmes.

Tatjana Zdanoka, MEP from Latvia and the candidate for the Prime Minister’s post from the party For Human Rights in United Latvia believes that the Russian language will be granted the status of official language on municipal level in Latvia in the near future. Mrs. Zdanoka believes that if the next governing coalition wants to change something in the country it will have to rely on the votes of Russian parties.

Tatjana Zdanoka, MEP from Latvia and the candidate for the Prime Ministers post from the party For Human Rights in United Latvia believes that the Russian language will be granted the status of official language on municipal level in Latvia in the near future. Mrs. Zdanoka believes that if the next governing coalition wants to change something in the country it will have to rely on the votes of Russian parties. Telegraf, Chas