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.

• Police detained a group of persons suspected of desecrating Jewish cemetery in Riga
• Chas prints an interview with Boriss Cilevics about the freedom of speech
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about possible changes in naturalisation process and survey about non-citizens attitude towards naturalisation
• Vladimirs Lindermans and Jevgenijs Osipovs are calling on Latvian non-citizens to stop paying taxes

Police detained a group of persons suspected of desecrating Jewish cemetery in Riga. As reported, more than 100 gravestones got painted with white swastikas in December 2010. The police initiated criminal proceedings according to article 78 – incitement to ethnic hatred and article 228 desecration of a grave. Telegraf, Latvijas Avize

Chas prints an interview with MP, member of Latvian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Boriss Cilevics about the freedom of speech and criminal liability for public statements. Mr. Cilevics believes that Latvian practice is close to American practice where freedom of speech is almost absolute. Mr. Cilevics also believes that it is a shame for Latvia that the court acquitted Andris Jordans - a self-confessed neo-Nazi who publicly called Roma people as non-humans who would preferably to be exterminated. At the same time, Mr. Cilevics believes that following acquittal of Jordans it would be strange if the court would convict other person who presently is charged for statements justifying Stalinist deportations.

Latvijas Avize reports about draft Cabinet of Ministers Regulations stipulating that those applicants for Latvian citizenship who have state language proficiency certificate for level B (middle level) and received it after 1 September 2009 are set free of Latvian language proficiency test. The newspaper also reports about a survey conducted by the Naturalisation Board among non-citizens. The survey shows that the main reasons why non-citizens do not go through naturalisation are: naturalisation exams (28%), willingness to receive citizenship automatically (by registration) (24%), waiting for easing of naturalisation process (17%), belief that is it easier to travel to the CIS countries as non-citizens (14%).

Leader of the party Movement 13 January Vladimirs Lindermans and the leader of Osipovs party Jevgenijs Osipovs are calling on Latvian non-citizens to stop paying taxes as a protest against the fact that they are excluded from political life – do not have right to take part in the elections and to be elected in municipal government and the Saeima. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize