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.

• Draft law stipulate the procedures for becoming ethnic Latvian
• Nationalists’ union repeatedly submitted proposal on voluntary record on person’s ethnic belonging in passports
• Telegraf prints an article about criteria of evaluation of naturalisation test
• Free-of-charge Latvian language courses for residents of eastern Latvia

The Saeima’s faction Unity prepared a draft law stipulating the procedures whereby an ethnic non-Latvian can officially change his/her ethnic belonging for ethnic Latvian. According to the draft amendments, applicants for Latvian ethnic identity would have to match four criteria: to be a Latvian citizen; to be permanent resident of Latvia for at least past 15 years; to be proficient in Latvian language for the highest level; and to feel belonging to Latvian culture. Persons matching the mentioned criteria will have the right to apply to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs asking to change record on ethnic belonging for ethnic Latvian in the registry of residents. Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the Saeima forwarded a repeated proposal of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia-FF/LNIM on voluntary record on person’s ethnic belonging in passports to the parliamentary commissions. As reported, couple of weeks ago, Saeima refused to support such proposal. However the nationalists’ union made one more attempt and submitted the same proposal again. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Telegraf prints an article about criteria of evaluation of test for naturalisation. Reacting to accusations that the criteria are kept in secrecy, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs published the evaluation criteria on the Internet for public access. There are two parts of the naturalisation test – Latvian language proficiency test (listening, reading, writing, and speaking) and test on Latvian history, knowledge of the Constitutional basis and state anthem.

Residents of Dagda, Daugavpils and Kraslava (cities in the eastern part of Latvia) are offered free-of-charge Latvian language courses. Upon completion of courses the attendees will have an opportunity to pass a language test paid by the State Education Content Centre. Neatkariga