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.

• Saeima’s Legal Committee approves draft amendments to the Citizenship Law
• Central Election Committee to check whether the draft amendments on granting Latvian citizenship to non-citizens have been properly elaborated and do not contravene the Latvian Constitution
• Student from Georgia establishes an international integration students’ alliance in Latvia

Yesterday, the Saeima Legal Committee approved the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law elaborated by the Sub-Commission on Citizenship Law Amendments. According to the draft amendments, dual citizenship can be granted or retained by  Latvian citizens who received also the citizenship of EU, EFTA, or NATO Member States. Latvian citizenship can also be granted to Latvian exiles and their descendants who left Latvia as refugees or were deported during the Soviet and Nazi occupation and did not return to Latvia for permanent residence. The draft amendments stipulate the granting of Latvian citizenship to children one of whose parents is Latvian citizen regardless of the child’s country of birth. The amendments foresee that children of non-citizens born after 21 August 1991 [but no retroactively] can be registered as Latvian citizens if one of the parents expresses their will for it and vows to help the child learn the Latvian language and instill respect and loyalty towards the state. The draft amendments also stipulate that if a citizenship applicant is a threat to national security, public order or values written in the Constitution, is against Latvia’s independence, democratic parliamentary system, or expresses ideas of communism, fascism, chauvinism, national-socialism or other totalitarian ideas inciting ethnic hatred after 4 May 1990 (restoration of state independence), he or she is not eligible for Latvian citizenship. The Saeima will review the amendments in the second reading on 6 September. It is foreseen that the amendments will come into force on 1 January 2013. Chas, Latvijas Avize

The Central Election Committee (CEC) is planning not only to check the validity of signatures collected in support of the referendum on granting Latvian citizenship to non-citizens but also to check whether the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law have been  properly elaborated as required by law and do not contravene the Latvian Constitution. Authors of the initiative are planning to submit 10,000 collected signatures and the draft amendments to the CEC in the coming days. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya interviews a student from Georgia studying in Latvia who has set up an international integration students’ alliance in Latvia. The alliance unites students from different higher education establishments with an aim to help them be integrated in the Latvian society.