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.

• MPs elaborate draft amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating punishment for denial of occupation
• The Minister of Education Ina Druviete: everybody should study in common schools and those who want could learn native language and culture as additional subjects

Members of the Saeima’s sub-committee on Criminal Law Policy agreed to add to the Criminal Law punishment for “public denial of USSR and Nazi German aggression against Latvia, for justification, glorification or for intentional, rude or offensive attempt to question the fact of aggression.” The MPs propose to punish for such crime with imprisonment up to three years, community service or pecuniary penalty. Newspapers note that such draft amendments mean that it will be possible to punish a person, for instance, for denial of occupation of Latvia by the USSR. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize (7.02)

The Minister of Education Ina Druviete in an interview with Latvijas Avize says that she would not support the idea of full transition of national minority schools into Latvian language only. The Minister believes that it would not be possible to do that and ethnic minority children should have right to study subjects concerning their ethnic identity in native language after 2018. Regarding national minority schools, the Minister believes that “the segregation of schools should be stopped” and everybody should study in common schools and those who want could learn native language and culture as additional subjects.